Why I Switched my candle Wax

When I first started making candles, way back in 2017, I used soy wax. It was advertised as ‘cleaner’ than paraffin wax and I took this to mean that not only was the wax better for you while it burned (meaning it contained less chemicals etc.) but that it was also better for the environment.

While that is true to some extent, there are also issues with soy wax that I didn’t fully realise when I first began candle making. So follow my timeline of wax discovery and see where I am now!

Paraffin vs Soy

Paraffin is a by product of petroleum, it comes from a non renewable source and so is not considered sustainable. However, because it diffuses fragrance oils aggressively it has a strong hot scent throw (one of the reasons it’s favoured by larger candle companies). The down side to this is that it burns quicker. Meaning your candles don’t last very long.

Soy is derived from a renewable agricultural crop, its plant based and also has a slower burn rate so your candles have a longer burn time compared with paraffin.

However, as I grew as a candle maker I researched more and more into the origins of the wax and where it was sourced from.

Soy wax does come from agricultural crops but these crops are grown primarily in North and South America. Shipping them to the UK means a huge carbon footprint. There is also the issue of the deforestation that comes from planting the soy bean crops.

Soy wax as a candle base is also one of the poorest performing. It’s slower burn comes from its cooler burn which means scent throw is much subtler. To counteract this, a lot of soy wax contains additives. Either paraffin, a synthetic additive or a plant based additive like coconut or rapeseed.

My loves and loathes of Coconut Soy

I have been using coconut soy wax for the past six years. It’s easy to work with when compared to pure soy, meaning frosting is minimal, scent throw is strong and the end appearance is beautiful.

However, my original wax supplier discontinued their coconut soy wax. Sourcing a different brand proved harder than necessary, if it was out of stock it stayed that way for a long time. The price had also doubled since I first started using it, to the point where I was forced to increase my own prices, the alternative would have been saying goodbye to the business.

And niggling in the back of my mind was always the origins of the soy I was using. Was I contributing to deforestation, to the use of heavy chemicals and pesticides on the soybean crop, to the high carbon footprint due to production in North and South America?

The advertised sustainability of the soy wax wasn’t so sustainable.

Introducing Coconut Rapeseed Wax

As a candle maker, changing wax is not an easy process. Candles need to be test burned multiple times to ensure they burn cleanly and safely. Each container size, each wick, each fragrance…multiple times! If one component is off, the candle doesn’t perform as it should.

This process took a long time but to me it was worth it.

The benefits of using coconut rapeseed wax are numerous.

Firstly, its performance is amazing! The coconut wax has the ability to hold and disperse fragrance oils incredibly well, but combining this with the rapeseed gives it a powerful hot scent throw. One that rivals paraffin and easily outperforms pure soy.

The coconut also liquefies at a very low temperature, meaning the candle burns slowly and coolly. Your coconut rapeseed candles will give you up to 15% more burn time compared to soy candles.

It also has an incredibly clean profile while burning, meaning sooting is rare as is the compromising of indoor air quality.

It also looks stunning! Dyes take to it perfectly and the end product is glossy, smooth and vibrant. If left undyed, the finish is creamy white and beautiful.

The Final Piece of the Puzzle

The final question was, how sustainable is this wax?

Since the rapeseed is grown in the UK, this slashed the transport miles of the soy. Transporting coconut, however, did mean transport miles since its only grown in tropical climates. Yet the cultivation of them is very different to the destructive nature of soy.

Coconuts are harvested from long established groves, no deforestation is caused by their production. The trees are also high yield and resilient having an active production lifespan of 60-80 years. Most plots provide a stable and ongoing livelihood for multiple generations of the farming family who care for them, without the need to clear new land. They also require virtually no chemical pesticides or herbicides to thrive and once harvested the whole of the coconut is used in various ways meaning there is zero waste.

Going Forward

Going forward, all of our candles will be made using coconut and rapeseed wax. It was already used for our wax melts and I am so excited for you to see the benefits for yourself in our candles.

By supporting us, you are not only supporting my small business but also supporting sustainability and the environment and giving yourself a cleaner, higher performing candle.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Let me know any questions or thoughts below.

Holly x