Collection: Cosmetic and Candle Waxes

The exact temperature your fragrance should be added to your wax at depends on your chosen ingredients, however, it’s typically recommended to stay within the 54-66 degrees Celsius range. You can measure this using an infrared, digital, or candy-making thermometer! 

As a general rule, it's important to avoid adding fragrance to wax that’s too cool or too hot. If it’s on the cold side, your fragrance might not fully incorporate, which can result in an uneven distribution of scent. If the wax is too hot, it may evaporate or "flash off," which can result in a weaker scent throw.

Candle wax hardening times depend on a few factors, including the type of wax used, size and shape of the candle, and temperature and humidity of the environment it’s stored in. For this reason, it can take anywhere from a few hours to several days for candle wax to harden completely.

If hardening/setting times are high on your priority list, we recommend exploring every wax base option before jumping into candle making. Soy wax, for example, tends to take longer to harden, often taking several days to fully set, whilst beeswax tends to harden more quickly.

It's important to allow your wax to fully harden before attempting to use or handle your candle, as it will be more prone to damage if it is not fully set.

The amount of wax you’ll need to make a candle depends on a few factors, including your chosen wax type, and of course, your final vision for size, shape, and overall design.

To determine how much wax you'll need, our experts recommend using the average density candle-making formula. First, measure the volume of your container. This could be, for example, 300ml. Multiply this by your chosen wax's average density (typically around 0.85 for many waxes) to estimate the amount of wax required. In this example, you'd need approximately 300ml × 0.85 = 255 grams of wax.

If you're adding fragrances, remember that they can account for about 6-10% of your candle's total weight. This will reduce the wax amount you'll need proportionally.

With this being said, it's always a good idea to have a little extra wax on hand in case you need to make adjustments or make a mistake while pouring the wax.

There’s a long list of candle waxes available online, from paraffin to beeswax. Whilst each and every option has its own pros and cons, our candle-making enthusiasts recommend natural options above all else. Here are just a few of their favourites: 

Soy wax: This is a natural wax made from soybeans. It’s biodegradable and burns cleanly, making it a popular choice for environmentally conscious candle makers and buyers alike. 

Beeswax: This natural option is used by bees to build their honeycomb. Its high melting point, clean burn, and natural, honey-like scent make it a brilliant choice for candle making. 

Candelilla wax: Candellia wax is a classic natural candle making option derived from the leaves of the Candelilla shrub, native to Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Its high melting point and creamy, opaque appearance make it an ideal choice for decorative pieces, absorbing colour with ease.

Not all candle wax is vegan. If you want to make sure your next creation is vegan friendly, we recommend avoiding beeswax – as it’s an animal product derived from the protective substance living bees produce for their hives. Luckily, there are many other options available. 

At The Soapery, we pride ourselves on offering several plant-based waxes perfect for candle making, including soy wax and candelilla wax, which are 100% vegan, ethically sourced, and free from animal by-products. Your values matter, and we're here to help you craft with confidence.

Beeswax has been a valuable ingredient in candles and cosmetics for hundreds of years thanks to its unique properties, including its ability to form a water-resistant barrier and pleasant, honey-like scent. Our makers love using this ingredient in:

Candles: Beeswax candles are long-lasting, burn cleanly, and produce a pleasant, natural scent. They can be made by melting beeswax and pouring it into moulds or by rolling beeswax sheets around a wick.

Lip balm: Beeswax is a natural humectant, meaning it can be used in products like lip balm to lock in moisture.

Skincare products: Beeswax can be used to make lotions, creams, and other skin care products requiring a moisturising formula, providing both hydration and protection.

Emulsifying wax (or E-wax) is a self-emulsifying base used for making lotions and other oil-in-water emulsions. Despite their name, emulsifying waxes don’t perform anything like beeswax or other waxes and can’t be substituted for them. This means they can’t be used in candle making - keep this in mind!

This ingredient’s main role in recipes, as its name suggests, is as a thickener and emulsifier. It’s generally used to make sure that the oil and water ingredients in a recipe bind together well and stay combined. Without an emulsifier, this wouldn’t be possible. 

It’s most often found in cosmetic products such as lotions, creams, body butters, ointments, conditioners, and hair treatments.

Cosmetic wax is a long-used ingredient in all things bath and body. It’s made up primarily of oils or fats, some of which are used in their natural form, and some of which are carefully refined for colour or texture. Used for its thickening, emulsifying, and humectant properties, this ingredient can be found in everything from lip balm and hair care products to moisturisers.

In addition to its use in personal care products, cosmetic wax can also be found in candles, where it serves as a fuel source and helps hold shape.

Comedogenicity refers to the potential of a substance to block pores, which can lead to breakouts. This is, of course, an important consideration in cosmetics making, particularly where recipes call for the use of thick-looking waxes.

The truth is, when it comes to cosmetic waxes, the answer isn't one-size-fits-all. Different waxes have different comedogenic ratings - meaning they’re more suitable for some recipes than others. For example, beeswax is typically considered non-comedogenic to mildly comedogenic, meaning it's unlikely to clog pores for most people. However, everyone's skin is unique, and what works for one individual might not for another.