Different Waxes for Candle Making

One of the first choices you’ll face if you want to make candles is which wax to use. At one time, the only choice was to stick a piece of wick into a lump of tallow or dip a reed into some grease to make a rushlight, but nowadays we have many different options.

Types of Candle Wax

• Paraffin wax
• Soy wax
• Gel wax
• Beeswax
• Palm wax

Illustration: The Spruce / Alex Dos Diaz

There are several types of candle wax readily available for making candles today: some natural, some synthetic, some a little bit of both, and each has its own particular qualities. Many candle makers are picky about the wax they use, while others use different types for different applications. Read on for more details on each of the types of candle wax.