Candle Making

Best Soy Wax for Candle Making – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

Candles are a welcome luxury to many homes. They add both visual and scented ambiance to lounges, bedrooms, and bathrooms worldwide. However, many candles come with a health risk: paraffin. ...

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Written by Ged Richardson
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Bowl of white soy wax flakes

Candles are a welcome luxury to many homes. They add both visual and scented ambiance to lounges, bedrooms, and bathrooms worldwide.

However, many candles come with a health risk: paraffin. Candles made with paraffin release toxic fumes when they’re burnt, ruining the magic of their beautiful look and smell. Fortunately, there is an alternative to paraffin wax: soy.

Soy wax is safe to use as it contains no toxins and therefore no health risk. All soy wax is 100% natural, making it biodegradable as well as easy to clean up.

At a Glance: Our Choice of the Best Soy Wax for Candle Making On the Market

Note: The links above take you to more information, current prices and customer reviews on Amazon. If you do purchase something we get a small commission, which has absolutely no effect on the eventual price that you pay.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

Buyer’s Tips – Key Considerations

Before you rush out and buy the first bag of soy wax you find, there are a few things to consider.

Clean Burn

It’s important to make sure your soy wax candles burn cleanly. This is, without any black soot. Most soy wax candles do achieve this, but lower quality ones can release black soot as they reach melting point.

Lower quality soy waxes give off excessive smoke and can leave traces of soot marks, whilst high quality, 100% soy leaves no residue and burns cleanly.

All Natural

It’s also essential to ensure your soy wax product is 100% soy. Thankfully, this is the norm, but there are cheaper brands that fuse soy with paraffin or beeswax, in order to keep their costs down.

If you find soy wax at such a bargain price that it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Free of Carcinogens

Something to look out for on the label is your wax being carcinogen-free. Pure soy waxes contain no paraffin and thus no carcinogenic substances such as toluene, which can be very unhealthy.

Carcinogen-free, pure soy wax can be safely burnt in your home without any fear of pollution.

Quantity

While on your mission to find the best soy wax for candle making, it’s also important to consider how much you need.

If your candle making is strictly for personal use, a small pack of the product will be enough for your needs. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to sell candles in a shop or give them away as gifts, it’s worth looking for a larger package.

Soy wax comes in packages of all sizes, from 1lb to 50lb, so there’s bound to be the perfect pack for you.

Note: If you haven’t got all the other equipment you need for making candles, you should also consider buying a candle making kit which includes wax as well as all the other bits (melting pot, molds, wicks, dyes, etc.)

Best Soy Wax For Candle Making – Product Round-up & Reviews

Hearts and Crafts

Hearts & Crafts Natural Soy Wax for Candle Making - 10lbs Natural Soy Wax - 100 6-Inch Pre-Waxed Candle Wicks, 2 Metal Centering Devices, 10lbs Soy Wax Flakes - Candle Wax & Candle Making Wax Supplies

Click to learn more / buy from Amazon

Another 10lb pack, this product also contains 100 pre-waxed wicks. This is great for those who want to get started, right away with everything they need and can save you a lot of time.

It’s 100% natural, with additives that are plant-based, making it completely biodegradable.

Finished products hold their scent very well and show no signs of bubbles or frosting. It’s a perfect product for beginners, hobbyists and advanced crafters alike.

Suited to: Hobbyists, gift-givers and seasoned crafters who want to get started quickly.

PROS

  • 10lb bag gives you plenty to work with, with room for mistakes.
  • Comes with 100 pre-waxed wicks, so you don’t need to buy them separately.
  • Uses only plant-based additives, so you can rest assured your home will be free of toxins.

CONS

  • Though it’s great for container candles, it’s no good for taper candle making.
  • Less budget-friendly than some of the other products.

The Candlemaker’s Store

The Candlemaker's Store 05417002641 Natural Soy Wax, 10 lb. Bag, White, 160 Ounce

Click to learn more / buy from Amazon

The Candlemaker’s soy wax comes in a 10lb bag, which is enough to make plenty of candles including room for mistakes if you’re new to the craft.

This wax can hold fragrance oils pretty well and it burns for a long time. It’s one of the longest-lasting soy waxes you can find, making it great value for money.

It melts at a low temperature, making it great for container candles, but you’ll need to mix it with beeswax or another natural additive if you’re looking to create taper candles.

Suited to: Beginners and gift-givers looking for quality.

PROS

  • 10lb bag gives you plenty to work with; great if you’re a beginner or want to give candles as gifts.
  • 121-125 melt point is quite low, which is great for container candles.
  • It can hold fragrance and color pretty well.
  • There’s a soy-based additive making up 2% of this wax, giving is a visually appealing shine.

CONS

  • Though the low melting temperature is perfect for container candles, it’s less suited to standing candles.
  • They can build pretty fast.

Wild Herb

USA Made Bulk Soy Candle Wax Pure, Natural

Click to learn more / buy from Amazon

If you’re looking for a premium wax, this offering from Wild Herb is right up there. This USA Made soy wax always has a smooth finish and thanks to its ability to be poured at very high temperatures, there’s zero frosting.

In addition, it holds fragrances extremely well and melts at 121 degrees. It’s perfect for acquainting yourself with the craft, as it’s also very easy to clean up, should spillages occur around your containers.

PROS

  • Low melting temperature of 121 degrees; ideal for container candles.
  • Easy to clean up should spillages occur.
  • Can hold fragrance very well.

CONS

  • It’s only really suitable for making candles that belong in containers.
  • Pricey.

Golden Brands

Natural Soy 444 Wax: 5 pound bag by Golden Brands

Click to learn more / buy from Amazon

Golden Brands’ soy wax has a very high melting point. Whilst this won’t suit all creators or indeed all containers, it’s great for glass/jar-based creations (like the best scented Yankee candles).

5lb is enough to make a fair few candles, making it a great sized pack for those thinking about Christmas gifts for loved ones.

The wax comes in flake form, so it’s easy to use and it also holds fragrances extremely well, with a good scent throw as it has almost no scent itself.

Suited to: Those who want their candles to keep on burning.

PROS

  • This wax melts at 185 degrees, making it longer-lasting than other soy waxes.
  • With 5lb in the bag, it’s enough to make 8 13oz candles: perfect for Christmas gifts or personal use.
  • Almost scentless itself, this wax holds onto your added fragrances extremely well with an excellent scent throw.

CONS

  • Like the Candlemakers’ product, this wax is ill-suited to standing candles as it dissolves so readily.
  • Although it’s very close to scentless, there’s a slight chemical smell to this wax.

Akosoy

Akosoy Natural Soy Wax, 3-Pound

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This bag, from Akosoy is perfect for those who want to make a small batch of candles. With just 3lb, you can get a decent taster of the craft.

The flakes themselves are very small and easy-to-melt into containers. This will suit beginners as well as those who like to work fast.

The end products themselves have a unique, creamy texture. This makes them stand out from other soy wax candles.

Suited to: Those looking for a creamier look in their candles.

PROS

  • 3lb bag is great for those who want to make a small batch.
  • Flakes are small and easy-to-melt.
  • They produce candles with a creamy colour, making them stand out from other soy waxes.

CONS

  • The finished products can show signs of frosting.
  • It’s very much a container wax; unsuitable for making candles which stand.

Candlewic

Candlewic Natural Soy Wax, 10 lb. Bag

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Another bag at 10lbs, there’s plenty of wax to play with here.

Like the Hearts & Crafts product, it’s blended with natural additives. These help prevent bubbling, giving you a smooth finish. It’s not quite as smooth as the Hearts & Crafts wax, and may show signs of frosting, but it’s still a high quality, all-natural wax.

This wax holds scent very well, making it great for those who want to release beautiful aromas throughout their living space.

Suited to: Beginners wanting to try out the craft, especially with nice-smelling candles.

PROS

  • 10lb bag gives you plenty to play with.
  • Low melting point of 121 degrees makes it perfect for container candles.
  • Blended with a soy-based additive, to prevent bubbling.

CONS

  • It’s very soft, so you might want to add beeswax to stiffen it.
  • It may show signs of frosting.

CandleScience

CandleScience All Natural Soy Candle Wax (5 lb)

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Candle Science’s wax pack is great for those who like to do things by the book. Whilst it comes as a 5lb pack, this is separated into 1lb bags, saving you the need to weigh things out yourself.

The small flakes are easy to melt and work with. They also have a low melting point for your final creations.

Candles made from this wax burn very cleanly, with zero soot or unpleasant smoke.

Suited to: Those who like to work to the book, with exact measurements of their wax and other ingredients.

PROS

  • The 5lb pack is separated into 1lb bags, making it needless to weigh things out yourself.
  • The small flakes are easy to melt, and have a low melting point.
  • This wax burns very cleanly, without unpleasant smoke.

CONS

  • It’s a little pricey.
  • Would need to be blended with beeswax if you required a harder candle.

Candlemakers

Natural Soy 125 (415) Wax: 10 pound bag

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Candlemakers’ all natural wax comes in a 10lb bag. This can make a good amount of container candles, and the small flakes make that easy to do.

The wax has a low melting point of 121 degrees, making it great for the safety-conscious or those who would like to use delicate containers.

This wax burns very slowly, giving you long-lasting products and value for money.

Suited to: Those looking for a simple product that’s easy to work with.

PROS

  • Low melting point makes it perfect for container candles.
  • Flakes are easy to melt, at a low melting point of 121 degrees.
  • 10lb bag gives you plenty to play with.

CONS

  • It’s not as budget-friendly as some of the other products.
  • There’s not 100% consistency from batch to batch.

PA Wax Distributors

Title All Natural Soy Wax 464 for Candle Making (10lb)

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PA Wax’s soy wax has the lowest melting point here, perfect for those who really don’t like super-hot candles.

It’s slow-burning and long-lasting, meaning you easily get your money’s worth. This wax is available in packs of all different sizes, so you can make sure to buy a size that suits you.

Finished products have a smooth, creamy appearance. There’s also little to no frosting with this wax, giving your candles a professional quality.

Suited to: Those looking or the lowest melting point.

PROS

  • Extremely low melting point of 115 degrees will suit those who don’t like super-hot candles.
  • Slow-burning and long-lasting; you get your money’s worth.
  • Finished candles have a smooth, creamy appearance.

CONS

  • It’s less budget-friendly than some of the products.
  • It’s a container wax; unsuitable for taper candle making.

NatureWax C3

NatureWax C3 Candle Blend Soy Wax - 50 lb Case

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This massive pack of wax is great for making large quantities of candles. At 50lb, this could also be a great pack to buy if you’re teaching others how to make candles.

The candles themselves burn cleanly, with zero soot. There’s an added benefit in the formula that reduces frosting to offer a super smooth finish, whilst the wax is still made of 100% soy.

It’s a bit pricey, but no more than would be expected for such a large quantity of wax.

Suited to: Those looking to buy – and create – in bulk.

PROS

  • A very big pack (50lb), great for making large batches of candles.
  • Formulated to reduce frosting, whilst still made of 100% soy.
  • Burns cleanly with no soot.

CONS

  • The candles don’t survive well in humidity.
  • It’s a bulky, expensive package that won’t suit everyone.

Golden Foods

Natural Soy 125 (415) Wax (1 lb)

Click to learn more / buy from Amazon

This natural, no scent soy wax is in a different league to the others on this list. The reason being: this wax should be blended with paraffin wax to get the best outcome. It can be used on its own but some frosting may occur which makes it look less than perfect. However, if blended properly, this soy wax makes candles look every inch as special as those sold in shops.

PROS

  • Can make excellent looking candles
  • Flake form
  • Can make a few candles from this 1lb bag

CONS

  • Needs to be blended to get quality looking candles
  • Expensive

100% Midwest

100% Midwest Soy Container Wax by American Soy Organics (5 Pound Bag)

Click to learn more / buy from Amazon

Made from 100% organic soybeans, the Midwest brand is for eco-warriors. Fine flakes are contained within a 5lb bag. Very easy to melt and pour, these flakes can suit a wide variety of molds and containers.

PROS

  • Organic and natural
  • Flakes easy to melt
  • 5lb bag enough to make several candles

CONS

  • Not the cheapest

So, Which Should I Buy?

As you can see, there are a lot of products on the market. If you want to make candles, particularly those which belong in containers, you really are sorted. It’s clear, to avoid toxicity and to keep low melting temperatures, that soy wax is the preference for the craft. But which is the best soy wax for candle making? Well, that’s up to you.

If you are looking for a big, bulk pack, the obvious choice is the NatureWax C3 Candle Blend Soy Wax. This massive, 50lb pack will make an enormous amount of candles, all of which are smooth and 100% soy.

If you are seeking a great scent throw, the USA Made Bulk Soy Candle Wax Pure And Natural, Candlemaker’s Store Natural Soy Wax, Candlewic Natural Soy Wax, and Golden Brands Natural Soy Wax are all exceptional choices for fragranced candles. The Candlemaker’s wax is also the best buy for those on a budget.

CandleScience’s All Natural Soy Candle Wax is the perfect choice for those who like candle making by the book, as the ready-measured packages set you up to succeed.

If you only want to make a small batch of soy candles, your best bet is the Akosoy Natural Soy Wax, available in small packages and also with a unique, creamy texture.

Our favorite wax is the Brooklyn based Hearts and Craft’s set. This is fantastic in value and quality, as well as offering 100 pre-waxed wicks and two centering devices.

The wax with the lowest melting temperature is the PA wax set, which is best for those candle making in delicate containers or with a need for extra safety.

We could ‘wax lyrical’ about all of these products, all day long, but it’s up to you to decide which size, melting point, and texture you’d like in a soy wax.

Good luck!

Image Credits:

Featured Image Source: mixtureusa​ / CC BY-SA 2.0