Soy vs. Beeswax vs. Paraffin Candles: Which Makes the Best Gift?

Candles are one of the most-gifted things of the holiday season, and for good reason. They're cozy, they're easy to wrap, and almost everyone likes them. But walk down any candle aisle and you'll see soy, beeswax, coconut, paraffin, and blends. What's the difference, and does it matter? As beekeepers who also hand-pour soy candles, we have some thoughts.

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Paraffin

Paraffin is the most common candle wax. It's made from petroleum, it's inexpensive, and it holds a lot of fragrance, which is why many big-brand candles smell so strong. The trade-offs: it comes from a non-renewable source, and it tends to burn faster than natural waxes.

Soy

Soy wax is made from soybean oil, so it comes from a renewable crop. It's softer and melts at a lower temperature than paraffin, which means it usually burns slower and cooler. That low melting point is also why soy is almost always poured into a container instead of shaped into pillars. Soy holds fragrance well and gives a smooth, creamy look.

That's what we use for our Savannah Rae Candles: soy wax, hand-poured in small batches.

Beeswax

Beeswax is the wax honey bees make to build their comb. It burns bright and warm with a faint natural honey scent, and it's hard enough to make pillars and tapers that stand on their own. It's also the most expensive of the three, because bees make only a small amount of wax. (Read more in our post What Is Beeswax and Why Do We Love Using It?)

Because beeswax has its own scent, beeswax candles are usually left unscented. The wax from our own hives goes into our lip balm and board butter. (Here's how we collect and clean it.)

So Which Is Best?

• For a scented gift: soy. It carries fragrance beautifully and burns slowly.
• For an unscented, natural glow: beeswax, especially tapers for the holiday table.
• For the lowest price: paraffin, though you'll likely go through it faster.

A quick honest note: you'll see lots of claims that one wax is "totally clean" or "non-toxic." Every candle makes some soot. How cleanly a candle burns depends a lot on the wick and how you care for it, not just the wax.

How to Make Any Candle Burn Better

1. Take your time on the first burn. Let the wax melt all the way to the edges before blowing it out. A good rule is about one hour for every inch of the candle's width. This prevents tunneling, where the wick sinks into a hole and leaves wasted wax on the sides.
2. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before every burn. A wick trimmer makes this easy, even in a deep jar. Long wicks smoke and flicker.
3. Don't burn it more than about 4 hours at a time. Let it cool, trim, and relight.
4. Keep it out of drafts. Drafts make flames flicker, smoke, and burn unevenly.
5. Stop when there's about 1/2 inch of wax left. The container can get too hot near the bottom.

Candle Safety

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep candles away from pets, kids, curtains, and holiday greenery.
• Set candles on a heat-safe surface.

Gift It Well

Pair a candle with a jar of raw local honey and a wick trimmer for a cozy night-in gift set. For more ideas, see our Beeholden Holiday Gift Guide.

Looking for a candle to give (or keep)? Shop our hand-poured Wanderlust Soy Candle.