Rapeseed wax, soy wax, or paraffin? Which candle wax is really better
Chigozie OgbuebeleRapeseed wax, soy wax, paraffin: Every candle label now states what the candle is made of. But what does that actually mean? Which wax is more sustainable, which burns better, and does it even make a difference to the air in your living room?
We pour our scented candles in Vienna using a rapeseed-coconut blend. Here is why. And what the other waxes can and cannot do.
The short answer
Paraffin comes from petroleum, is affordable and burns reliably, but it is not a renewable raw material. Soy wax is plant-based, but usually comes from far away. Rapeseed wax is also plant-based and grows in Europe. That is its biggest advantage.
What surprises many: The type of wax makes little difference to the pollutants released when burned. The difference lies mainly in origin, raw material and processing.
Paraffin: the petroleum classic
Paraffin is the wax that most affordable candles are made of. It is produced during the processing of petroleum as a byproduct of lubricant oil production.
- Pros: affordable, easy to shape, burns evenly, absorbs fragrance and color well.
- Cons: petroleum is a finite raw material, and its extraction and processing impact the environment and climate.
The Hamburg consumer advice center considers paraffin candles less advisable due to their petroleum base.
Soy wax: plant-based, but with a long journey
Soy wax is made from soybean oil, which is hardened under pressure and heat, similar to margarine production. It is soft, has a low melting point, and is therefore mainly suitable for candles in glass and for scented wax.
- Pros: renewable raw material, vegan, burns slowly and steadily.
- Cons: The majority of soybeans worldwide come from the USA, Brazil and Argentina, and most soy wax comes from the USA. This means long transport routes. Furthermore, soybean cultivation in South America is closely linked to the conversion of forest and savanna land into farmland.
Rapeseed wax: the wax from next door
Rapeseed wax is made from rapeseed oil, which is also hardened. Rapeseed grows throughout Europe. When it blooms yellow in spring, you can see the fields in Austria and Germany too.
- Pros: renewable, vegan, short transport routes. The rapeseed blossom is also an important food source for bees and other insects. And everything is used from the rapeseed kernel: besides the oil, a high-protein meal remains, which is used as animal feed, for example.
- Cons: Rapeseed is also a monoculture. Conventional cultivation uses fertilizers and pesticides that can impact soils and insects. And pure rapeseed wax is rather brittle.
Why we pour with a rapeseed-coconut blend
Pure rapeseed wax is hard and tends to crumble. For candles in glass, it needs a surface that can be poured well and melts evenly. That is why we do not pour with pure rapeseed wax, but with a ready-made rapeseed-coconut blend: coconut wax is significantly softer, and together they create a creamy wax that sits beautifully in the glass and carries the fragrance well.
This is why our scented candles (classic, small and in the tin) are made of rapeseed-coconut wax from Europe. We pour our scented wax and decorative candles such as the Bubble Candle from soy wax or a soy wax blend, because they need a different consistency.
And what about stearin and beeswax?
Stearin is obtained from plant or animal fats, mostly palm and coconut fat. It is only a good choice if the palm oil comes from controlled cultivation. And that often cannot be verified when buying.
Beeswax is a natural product with its own honey-like fragrance, but it is only available in limited quantities and accordingly expensive. It is not vegan.
Comparison at a glance
| Wax | Raw material | Origin | Vegan | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraffin | Petroleum | worldwide | yes | affordable, not renewable |
| Soy wax | Soybean oil | mostly USA | yes | soft, ideal for glass |
| Rapeseed wax | Rapeseed oil | Europe | yes | short routes, pure is rather brittle |
| Stearin | Palm, coconut or animal fats | various | not always | palm oil origin often unclear |
| Beeswax | Bees | regional possible | no | expensive, natural honey fragrance |
Is plant-based wax healthier?
Here we have to correct a popular narrative, including our own. A laboratory study in the specialist journal Environment International compared palm wax, paraffin, soy wax and stearin in 24 measurement series in 2021. Result: No type of wax consistently had better emissions than the others. What really drives the pollutants when burned are the fragrance and the way you burn the candle.
Plant-based wax is therefore mainly a question of raw material and origin and not a health promise. You can read more about this in our article Are scented candles harmful?, and how to burn every candle cleaner is explained in our guide Lighting candles correctly.
How to recognize a good candle
- The manufacturer tells you what is in it, with the wax just as with the fragrance.
- The origin is traceable. "Plant-based" alone does not say where the wax comes from.
- The wick has no metal core, but is made of cotton or wood.
- The RAL quality mark for candles is a good sign if it is on it. Small manufacturers often do not have it because the testing is extensive. Its absence is therefore not a warning sign.
Conclusion
Paraffin is practical, but comes from petroleum. Soy is plant-based, but travels far. Rapeseed grows right outside the door, and as a rapeseed-coconut blend, it is the wax we like to pour with.
None of them is a health promise. Whether your candle pollutes the air is decided mainly by you: with a short wick, a steady flame and one candle instead of five.
Frequently asked questions
Is rapeseed wax better than soy wax?
When burned, hardly at all, because both are plant-based and differ little in emissions. The difference lies in the origin: rapeseed grows in Europe, soy mostly comes from the USA or South America. Rapeseed wax therefore has significantly shorter transport routes.
Is rapeseed wax vegan?
Yes. Rapeseed wax is made exclusively from rapeseed oil and contains no animal components.
What is rapeseed wax made of?
From rapeseed oil, which is pressed from the seeds of the rapeseed plant and then hardened. During this process, the liquid oil becomes solid, similar to the production of margarine.
Are paraffin candles harmful?
The studies on emissions when burned show no clear disadvantage compared to plant-based waxes. The criticism of paraffin is mainly the raw material: petroleum is not renewable.
What are Makagi candles made of?
Our scented candles (classic, small and in the tin) are made of rapeseed-coconut wax from Europe, with French fragrance oils and a cotton or wood wick. We pour scented wax and decorative candles from soy wax or a soy wax blend.
Sources
- Utopia: Rapeseed wax, vegan wax without paraffin
- Utopia: Soy wax, properties, sustainability and use
- Hamburg consumer advice center: One candle is one candle is one candle
- Salthammer, Gu, Wientzek, Harrington, Thomann: Measurement and evaluation of gaseous and particulate emissions from burning scented and unscented candles, Environment International 155, 2021
