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Everything you need to know about Coconut Wax - Why is it better?

Posted by: Patricia Anne Fernandez (January 2021)


All About Coconut Wax Candles


Coconuts are widely known as superfoods and some even consider it as  the “fruit of life.” You can even survive on a deserted island with just eating coconut meat and coconut juice! But we’re not here to talk about that. We’re here to know more about the application of its products, especially if you’re talking about candle making.


Coconuts are so versatile that they are not only used to create various food and health products, they are also used in cosmetics and other things especially for coconut oil and coconut wax. Now, if you’re here because you’re into candles, then you already know that coconut wax candles are one of the best types of candles in the market.

What is Coconut Wax?

Coconut wax is a colorless and odorless wax made from cold-pressed coconut meat or coconut oil mixed with soy wax. It is considered as one of the best and healthiest types of wax to make candles because it doesn’t produce as much soot as the other types of wax. It is also commonly blended with other natural waxes to produce candles that have better burn quality and aromatic throw.



Benefits of Using Coconut Wax in Candles

Let’s take a look at the benefits of coconut wax in terms of using them for your candles.


Coconut Wax VS Other Types of Wax

Coconut wax has a bright and white color. If you’re into colorful candles, it’s natural color means that you can easily dye the wax and create various colored candles depending on your needs.


Candles made from coconut wax burn the cleanest compared to other types of wax. It produces less soot so you don’t have to worry about keeping your surfaces clean.


Love your scented candles? Coconut candle waxes are perfect for those who enjoy using their candles for aromatherapy. It has a superior scent throw which means you can produce long lasting and strongly scented candles using this wax.


You can also enjoy your candles longer because coconut wax burns slower than other wax and it can blend perfectly with other natural, harder waxes. This is the reason why it is usually seen in wax blends and why it is widely used in candle making.


If you’re all about saving the planet, coconut wax candles are the perfect fit for you because they are the most eco-friendly type of candle to produce. They are non-toxic and burn cleaner because as mentioned previously, coconut wax emits no smoke and is soot-free.


However, natural waxes on the market even when labeled as Soy wax or Coconut wax are actually blended with paraffin. Light 4 Life uses its own proprietary all natural coconut wax blend made from Coconut, Soy Beeswax and Apricot Oil providing a natural wax that rivals the department store paraffin candles in performance which is much cleaner and healthier for you to burn.


Now that you know all about Coconut Wax, let’s take a look at the other types of wax that you might have heard of when making candles. The most popular ones used for candle making are soy wax, paraffin wax, palm wax, and beeswax. 


There are many factors to why candle makers use these types of wax and each one has their pros and cons. The right choice of wax really depends on what you value more. Some candle makers value affordability and availability, while others are more concerned with the ability to hold scent and the physical appearance or finish it gives to a candle.


Soy wax is made from soybean oil and is known to have good burn quality. It is cheap and produces minimal soot but it looks crumbly and it has a more subtle scent. They are commonly used to make container candles and are usually blended with other types of wax.




Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum and is relatively cheaper than coconut wax. Most commercially available candles are made from paraffin wax because it comes in different melting points which means it can be used for various types of candles like pillars, container candles and so on.


Candles made of paraffin wax can hold a stronger scent but it burns quickly so you will have to buy more candles often. Of all the types of wax mentioned in this article, this is the least environmentally friendly so if you’re eco-conscious, you’re probably one of the people who’d stay away from this kind of wax.


Palm wax is obtained from palm oil and was once believed to be a sustainable option. This would have been true if it was only possible to produce its products 100% organically but because of the high global demand of the various products in the palm industry, a lot of the palm oil available in the market is produced either unnaturally or unsustainably.


Palm wax produces a very firm and almost brittle kind of wax which is perfect for pillar and votive candles. It has the same burn quality as paraffin wax and has high contraction which means that de-molding it is easy.


Beeswax are harvested from the beehives, melted and filtered several times, and then rolled out or turned into blocks. It is the oldest type of wax used in candle making –dating back to the time of ancient Egyptians and ancient Romans. It can be quite expensive because it is the purest kind of wax. It has low yield and, like coconut wax, it is usually derived naturally and organically. Beeswax candles have a better burn quality than paraffin wax and it burns brighter, hotter and cleaner too!


Pure beeswax are natural air purifiers that actually clean your air of odors and produce negative ions which means that adding scent can be challenging. But since it has a naturally sweet scent due to the honey it was infused with, this shouldn’t be a problem. It also has a natural golden color which means that coloring it may also be a challenge so if you want those vibrant colors, you might want to consider a blend.


What are Wax Blends?

We’ve mentioned “blends” or “wax blends” a few times in this article and mixing different waxes is nothing new in the world of candle making. But what does it mean when we say blends?


To put it simply, one type of wax is mixed with another (or several) types of wax to take advantage of the qualities they possess. For example, coconut wax can be blended with palm wax to create candles with good burning quality and throw.


Blends are usually labeled according to which type of wax is in the majority of the blend. For example, if the candle is made of 51% coconut wax, then it is labeled as coconut blend.


At the end of the day, the type of wax or blend you choose for your candles depend on what you value most. A candle made of coconut wax might seem a bit more pricey than the bigger and cheaper paraffin wax candle next to it but it is important to look at the burn time and scent quality of the candle too.


As always, don’t forget to keep your burning candles within sight. Enjoy your candles and burn responsibly!