Scented candles play an important role in modern life, creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for people. However, few people understand the raw materials of candles and their impact on candle quality and the environment. This article will explore four common candle raw materials: coconut wax, beeswax, soy wax and palm wax in depth, and present you with a comprehensive and objective perspective through data analysis and professional interpretation.
Coconut Wax
Coconut wax is a natural plant wax whose raw materials come from the extraction of coconut residue and coconut oil. Coconut wax has the following characteristics in scented candles:
Excellent burning performance: Coconut wax has a lower melting point and a higher burning point, making the candle burn more stable and lasting.
Good aroma carrying: Coconut wax can effectively carry and release aroma, making the aroma of scented candles more lasting and rich.
Sustainability: Coconut wax is a renewable resource, and its production process has less impact on the environment.
High compatibility: Coconut wax has good compatibility with other candle raw materials, and can be mixed with beeswax, soy wax, etc. to create more types of candles.
Coconut wax is the raw material of candles, which is made from coconut oil through a hydrogenation process. Coconut wax has a long burning time, about 1.5 times that of ordinary candles, which means that consumers can enjoy the aromatherapy effect for a longer time. Moreover, coconut wax produces less smoke when burning than other waxes, which makes it more environmentally friendly. However, the relatively high cost of coconut wax and its low melting point lead to its low market share.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural waxy substance produced by bees in their nests. The following are the characteristics of beeswax in aromatherapy candles:
High melting point: Beeswax has a high melting point, which means that a higher temperature is required when the candle burns, which may lead to incomplete combustion and more black smoke.
Strong natural aroma: Beeswax itself has a unique natural aroma, but it may also interfere with other aroma ingredients added to the candle.
Limited supply: The supply of beeswax is limited because it relies on the production of bees, which may lead to higher prices.
Beeswax is a natural and very environmentally friendly candle material. Beeswax candles produce very little smoke, almost no smoke, which makes it the first choice for consumers who have high requirements for air quality. In addition, beeswax can produce negative ions when burning, which helps to purify the air and make people feel relaxed and comfortable. However, beeswax is more expensive and its burning time is slightly shorter than other waxes.
Soy Wax
Soy wax is a kind of plant wax extracted from soybean oil. The following are the characteristics of soy wax in scented candles:
Renewability: Soy wax is a renewable resource, and its production has less impact on the environment.
Longer burning time: Soy wax has a longer burning time, which can extend the service life of the candle.
Good aroma carrying: Soy wax can effectively carry and release aroma, making the scented candle emit a long-lasting and rich fragrance.
Easy to operate: Soy wax is easy to melt and make, suitable for large-scale production.
Soy wax is made from soybean oil, which is a renewable and biodegradable resource. However, the hardness of soy wax is low, and the shape of the candles made may be relatively single. In addition, the fragrance of soy wax may be covered by the original smell of soybeans, which may affect the consumer’s experience.
Palm Wax
Palm wax is a kind of plant wax extracted from palm oil. Compared with other candle raw materials, palm wax has unique advantages, which we will explore in depth below:
Excellent burning performance: Palm wax has the characteristics of low melting point and high burning point, which allows candles to burn evenly and reduce the generation of burning residues and smoke. Palm candles usually burn longer than other candles, extending the service life of the candle.
Excellent stability: Palm wax has good stability and can maintain its shape and structure even in high temperature environments. This allows palm candles to perform well in different seasons and climate conditions and are not easy to deform or melt.
Strong aroma carrying capacity: Palm wax can effectively carry and release aroma components, making the candle emit a rich and long-lasting fragrance. Scented candles made with palm wax usually have a stronger aroma persistence than other candles.
Sustainability and environmental protection: The raw materials of palm wax come from sustainably grown palm trees, and its production has a relatively small impact on the environment. Palm trees are efficient plants that can produce a large amount of palm fruits every year. Extracting palm wax from them will not have a significant impact on the survival of palm trees. In addition, palm wax is biodegradable and has a low degree of pollution to the environment.
Palm wax is made from palm oil, and its advantages lie in its high hardness, long burning time, and the variety of candle shapes it can produce. The burning time of palm wax is about 10% longer than that of soy wax, which means that consumers can enjoy the scent of the candle for a longer time. Palm wax can also be made into candles of various shapes and sizes, which makes it more adaptable in the market. In addition, palm candles produce less smoke than soy wax and coconut wax when burning, which makes it more environmentally friendly.
According to statistics, the share of palm candles in the global aromatherapy candle market has exceeded 25%, which means that one in every four consumers chooses palm candles. Although the price of palm wax is slightly higher than that of soy wax and coconut wax, its advantages of high hardness, long burning time and low smoke production make it the first choice of consumers.
Comprehensive ranking of coconut wax, beeswax, soy wax and palm wax as wax bases for aromatherapy candles:
Based on the above analysis, we can come up with the following comprehensive recommended rankings:
- Palm wax: Long burning time, high hardness, low smoke production and diversified candle shapes make it highly competitive in the market. Although its price is slightly higher, its excellent performance makes it the most cost-effective candle raw material.
- Beeswax: Environmental protection, smokeless and negative ion generation are its main advantages, but its high price and short burning time may affect its market acceptance.
- Soy wax: Environmental protection, smokeless and long burning time are its main advantages. However, its low hardness and possible odor problems may affect its market acceptance.
- Coconut wax: Long burning time and less smoke are its main advantages, but its high cost may affect its market share.
