Candle Wax and Wicks 101: The Heart of Every Candle

Candle Wax and Wicks 101: The Heart of Every Candle

When you light a candle, you’re not just striking a match — you’re unlocking an entire experience. The flicker, the fragrance, the mood… it all comes down to one thing you might not think much about: the wax.

Wax isn’t just “wax.” Each type has its own story — how it’s made, how it burns, and how it impacts the environment. As a candle lover, knowing your waxes helps you choose candles that burn correctly, smell amazing, and align with your values.

So, let’s take a little journey through the world of candle wax — the good, the not-so-good, and how sustainable each one really is.

🌱 How We Rate Eco-Friendliness

We use a 5-star Eco Rating based on:

  • Renewability – Is it plant/animal-based or petroleum-based?
  • Carbon Footprint – How energy-intensive is production?
  • Biodegradability – Does it break down naturally?
  • Ecosystem Impact – Does it drive deforestation, biodiversity loss, or pollution?

(⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = most sustainable, ⭐☆☆☆☆ = least sustainable)

 

🌿 Soy Wax (including our Golden Brands 464)

Made from: Soybean oil that’s been hydrogenated into a creamy, solid wax.

Why we love it:

Plant-based and biodegradable.

Burns slower and cleaner than paraffin.

Smooth, modern look that suits container candles beautifully.

Things to know:

Sometimes shows “frosting” (a harmless, crystal-like effect).

Scent throw can be softer than paraffin unless carefully blended.

Higher price point

Eco Breakdown:

  • Renewability: Renewable (plant-based)
  • Carbon Footprint: Moderate – depends on transport and farming (Kumar et al., 2020)
  • Biodegradability: Fully biodegradable
  • Ecosystem Impact: Potential deforestation if not responsibly sourced; certification matters

Eco score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(if sustainably sourced)

👉 At Quiet Luxury Fragrance, we use Golden Wax 464 by AAK for all our wax melts and event favours, a premium soy wax known for its smooth tops and great fragrance performance. Read more about AAK's sustainability here.

🥥 Coconut-Soy Blends (like our Ecosystem SCX)

Made from: Coconut oil (hydrogenated into wax) blended with soy for stability.

Why we love it:

Amazing scent throw — both cold and hot.

Very clean burning.

Luxurious, creamy finish that feels high-end.

Things to know:

Usually comes in blends (pure coconut wax is too soft).

Higher price point.

Eco Breakdown:

  • Renewability: Renewable (plant-based)
  • Carbon Footprint: Slightly higher due to transport from tropical regions, but lower than palm (Rahman et al., 2019)
  • Biodegradability: Fully biodegradable
  • Ecosystem Impact: Coconut crops require less land and pesticides than palm; lower risk of biodiversity loss

Eco score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

👉 That’s why we also use Ecosystem SCX in all our luxury candles, a soy + coconut blend that ticks all the boxes for performance and eco-consciousness.

🍯 Beeswax

Made from: Honeybees’ combs — gently melted and filtered.

Why we love it:

Natural honey-like aroma.

Extra-long burn time.

100% natural and non-toxic.

Things to know:

Pricier and harder to source sustainably.

Natural golden color limits design options.

Eco Breakdown:

  • Renewability: Technically renewable (bee-produced), but depends on colony health
  • Carbon Footprint: Low — bees produce wax naturally during honey-making
  • Biodegradability: Fully biodegradable
  • Ecosystem Impact: Overharvesting may stress bee populations; ethical beekeeping is crucial

Eco score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

🕯️ Paraffin Wax

Made from: Petroleum by-product from crude oil refining.

Why some makers use it:

Holds fragrance and color extremely well.

Affordable and versatile.

Why we skip it:

Petroleum-derived and non-renewable.

Burns faster and may release more soot/VOCs.

Eco Breakdown:

  • Renewability: Non-renewable (fossil fuel-based)
  • Carbon Footprint: High — petroleum refining is energy-intensive
  • Biodegradability: Not biodegradable
  • Ecosystem Impact: Linked to oil extraction, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions

Eco score: ⭐☆☆☆☆

🌴 Palm Wax

Made from: Palm oil, hydrogenated into wax.

The truth:

Creates gorgeous feathered crystal patterns.

Works well for pillars and votives.

BUT… unsustainable palm farming is linked to deforestation.

  • Eco Breakdown:
  • Renewability: Renewable (plant-based)
  • Carbon Footprint: Moderate, but land clearing raises emissions significantly
  • Biodegradability: Biodegradable
  • Ecosystem Impact: Linked to deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss (Wilcove & Koh, 2010)

Eco score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (higher if certified sustainable).

💎 Gel Wax

Made from: Mineral oil + polymer resin.

Fun fact: It’s transparent — great for novelty candles with embedded objects.

But: It’s petroleum-based, not renewable, and not biodegradable.

Eco Breakdown:

  • Renewability: Non-renewable (petroleum-based)
  • Carbon Footprint: High due to oil extraction and refining
  • Biodegradability: Not biodegradable
  • Ecosystem Impact: Petroleum industry impacts ecosystems at multiple levels

Eco score: ⭐☆☆☆☆

🔥 Wicks: The Unsung Hero

Wax gets all the attention, but the wick is just as important. Here’s the quick rundown:

Cotton braided wicks: Clean, reliable, and widely used. Organic cotton = extra eco points.

Cored wicks (zinc, tin, paper): Safe (lead banned long ago), but metals have mining impacts. Paper cores are kinder to the planet.

At Quiet Luxury Fragrance, we test each wax with carefully chosen wicks to make sure your candle burns evenly, cleanly, and beautifully. We only use pure cotton wicks with an all fibre core offering the rigidity of zinc core wicks without the use of metal wire, giving our candles a cleaner burn.

Wooden wicks: FSC-certified wood makes them stylish and sustainable, with the bonus crackle sound.

✨ Quick Wax Comparison Table

Wax Type Made From Pros Cons Eco Score (⭐ out of 5)
Soy (GB 464) Hydrogenated soybean oil Clean burn, biodegradable, smooth look Frosting, softer scent throw, high price point ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Coconut-Soy (SCX) Coconut + soy blend Great scent throw, clean burn, luxurious finish More expensive, usually blended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Beeswax Honeycomb wax Natural aroma, long burn, 100% natural Pricey, golden color only ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Paraffin Petroleum by-product Strong scent/color, affordable, versatile Non-renewable, more soot/VOCs ⭐☆☆☆☆
Palm Hydrogenated palm oil Decorative patterns, hard wax Deforestation risk, brittle ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Gel Mineral oil + polymer Clear, long burn in some cases Petroleum-based, not biodegradable ⭐☆☆☆☆

💡 Final Thought

Next time you light a candle, you’ll know the story behind that little flame — the wax, the wick, and the care that went into it. When you choose a candle made with sustainable materials, you’re not just filling your home with fragrance… you’re making a choice that’s better for the planet, too.

At Quiet Luxury Fragrance, we’re proud to use Golden Brands 464 soy wax and Ecosystem SCX soy + coconut wax with fibre only cotton wicks, so you can enjoy luxury home fragrance with peace of mind.

Learn more about Quiet Luxury Fragrance here.


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