One of the most important factors in selecting the best paraffin wax for your candle-making projects is the type of candles that you will make. The type of paraffin wax that you will use for pillar type candles is totally different than the type of paraffin wax you will use for container candles. This article will guide you through determining what wax you should use for your particular candle project.

 There are so many different paraffin waxes available and your choosing the right wax could be very confusing. So, to keep it simple for you, I will break out the different types of paraffin waxes by melting point; low, medium and high and what type of candles to make with each.

 Low Melting Point

This type of paraffin wax will melt at a temperature of approximately 127 degrees Fahrenheit or 53 degrees Celsius and is a soft wax. A soft wax is ideally used for container candles and has the ability to retain scent until the candle is burned. This type of wax is extremely flexible and does not require the use of additives. These softer paraffin waxes have a lot of benefits, however, they can be tricky to work with and they tend to give off more soot than other waxes.

 Medium Melting Point

 This type of wax is commonly used for votive candles and sometimes for container candles. The melting point is between 127 degrees and 145 degrees Fahrenheit or between 53 degrees and 63 degrees Celsius. This type of wax will be harder to the touch and will keep its shape much better than the lower melting point waxes. This wax will hold its scent fairly well but will require the use of additives. It comes in blocks and must be cut off in small chunks to melt.

 High Melting Point

 This type of wax is perfect for pillar candles, hand-dipped taper candles, molded candles or candles that are shaped or carved. This wax is extremely firm but does not retain its scent. The melting point of this type is 145 degrees Fahrenheit or 63 degrees Celsius. This type of wax needs to be used for these types of candles so that your candles won’t cave in on themselves while they cool. When making candles from this type of wax, you will need to use additives. I will go into the use of these additives in a future article.

 Once you determine the type of candle you want to make, you can then choose the type of paraffin wax that will work best. When shopping for paraffin wax either in your local store or on line, make sure that you know the melting point of the particular paraffin wax so that your candles look great. Complete instructions on how to use each of these types of wax should be included when you make your purchase.