Soy Wax vs Coconut Wax: Which Is Better for Candle Making in 2025

When comparing soy wax vs coconut wax, the differences are as striking as they are essential for candle makers. Both natural waxes offer unique benefits, making them top contenders in the eco-friendly candle industry.

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Why Compare Soy Wax vs Coconut Wax?

Soy wax dominates 45% of the natural wax market, making it a staple for cost-effective, sustainable candles. Meanwhile, coconut wax has carved out a reputation as the premium choice for luxury candles, offering unparalleled scent performance and a silky texture.

Composition and Sustainability

Soy wax is derived from hydrogenated soybean oil, making it a renewable and biodegradable resource.

Coconut wax comes from the hydrogenation of coconut oil, also renewable and biodegradable. Both waxes are eco-friendly, but coconut wax is often considered more sustainable due to the minimal environmental impact of coconut cultivation.

Fragrance Performance

Coconut wax excels in scent throw, both hot and cold, due to its ability to hold a higher fragrance load, often up to 18%.

This means candles made with coconut wax can fill a room with aroma more effectively. Soy wax typically holds a fragrance load of up to 12%, offering a more subtle scent experience.

Burn Time and Cleanliness

Both soy and coconut waxes burn cleaner than paraffin, producing minimal soot. Coconut wax candles often have longer burn times due to their slower melting rate, providing extended enjoyment.

Soy wax also offers a slow burn, though generally not as prolonged as coconut wax.

Cost Considerations

Soy wax is generally more affordable, with wholesale prices ranging from $2 to $4 per pound. Coconut wax is pricier, typically between $4 and $8 per pound, reflecting its premium qualities and production costs.

Aesthetic Qualities

Soy wax may develop frosting, a natural white crystalline layer, which can affect the candle's appearance but not its performance. Coconut wax, with its smooth and creamy texture, resists such imperfections, resulting in a more polished look.

Ease of Use for Candle Makers

When it comes to handling, both soy wax and coconut wax are user-friendly, but their characteristics influence how makers work with them.

Choosing between soy wax and coconut wax depends on your priorities. If you seek a cost-effective, eco-friendly option with a subtle scent, soy wax is suitable. For a luxurious candle with superior scent throw and longer burn time, coconut wax is the preferred choice.

Soy Wax Varieties: Detailed Breakdown

EcoSoya CB-Advanced Soy Wax

EcoSoya CB-Advanced is a premium container wax made from 100% soy and soy-based additives, ensuring smooth surfaces, excellent glass adhesion, and resistance to frosting. Candles crafted with this wax form an even burn pool, retain color beautifully, and ship well in all climates.

• Manufacturer Recommendations: Heat to 160°F, add fragrance oil (FO) at the same temperature, and pour at 150°F for optimal hot throw (HT).
• Performance: Delivers a consistent burn with a smooth top finish and minimal imperfections.
• Your Tip: Using 8% FO and LX wicks produced excellent results.

This wax is perfect for candle makers seeking a polished, eco-friendly finish with reliable scent throw and minimal maintenance. Available at California Candle Supply.

Golden Brands 444 Soy Wax

Golden Brands 444 is a versatile container wax made with a soy-based additive to reduce frosting and increase structural integrity in warmer climates. It boasts a higher melting point than 464, making it a go-to option for makers in hot or humid environments.

• Your Technique: Adding 9-10% FO and pouring at 135-140°F resulted in amazing hot throw. Occasional bumpy tops were easily smoothed with a heat gun.
• Performance: While CD12 wicks delivered excellent fragrance release, mushrooming was observed—a sign to experiment with wick types.

Golden Brands 444 is ideal for candles exposed to higher temperatures while maintaining a smooth, opaque finish. Find it at The Flaming Candle.

Golden Brands 464 Soy Wax

Golden Brands 464 is an all-natural soy wax that creates smooth, opaque finishes and contains soy-based additives to minimize frosting and improve fragrance throw.

• Features: Designed for container candles, it has a lower melting point than 444, making it suitable for cooler climates.
• Performance: Offers excellent glass adhesion and delivers a strong hot throw when paired with the right FO percentage and wick size.

This wax is a top choice for makers who prioritize ease of use and consistent performance. It’s widely available at CandleScience and Lone Star Candle Supply.

 

Pro Tips for Working with Soy Waxes

1. Fragrance Load: For the best results, adhere to the recommended FO percentages—typically 8-10%—but always test to find your preferred balance of HT and cold throw (CT).
2. Wicking: Test different wick types (e.g., CD, LX, or ECO) to achieve clean burns and avoid mushrooming.
3. Temperature Control: Heating wax to 185-190°F ensures all fragrance molecules bind properly. Pouring at lower temperatures (135-150°F) minimizes frosting and improves surface smoothness.
4. Surface Finishing: Bumpy tops or uneven surfaces can often be corrected with a quick pass of a heat gun.

Coconut Wax Varieties

Accu-Pure Coco #83

A natural coconut container wax blend that combines coconut and palm waxes with a minuscule amount of FDA food-grade paraffin for added body and stability. It is free of soy, gluten, toxins, parabens, and phthalates and is Leaping Bunny Certified as cruelty-free.

• Features:

  • Single-pour wax with smooth tops, requiring no heat gun.
  • Bright white color with excellent jar adhesion.
  • Handles 8-12% fragrance load (9-10% recommended).
  • Shorter curing time than most waxes.
  • Minimal frosting and clean burning.

• Performance: This wax burns cooler, providing longer burn times, and delivers superior hot and cold throw. Blends may vary slightly from batch to batch due to natural ingredients.

Available at Hive & Honey Candle Co.

Coconut Apricot Ceda-Serica (Calwax)

A premium wax blend of coconut and apricot waxes with a small amount of FDA food-grade paraffin for improved body and stability. It does not contain soy and is free of gluten, toxins, parabens, and phthalates.

• Features:

  • Smooth, bright white tops with single-pour behavior.
  • Handles 8-12% fragrance load (8-9% optimal).
  • Excellent color retention and UV protection.
  • No sinkholes and minimal frosting.
  • Suitable for multi-wick candles with small diameters (as little as 3.25 inches).

• Performance: Known for its amazing scent throw (hot and cold), even burn, and excellent container adhesion.

Available at Calwax

IGI 6046 - Vegetable-Based Coconut Wax Blend

A pre-blended wax combining vegetable-based coconut wax with a small amount of paraffin. This off-white wax provides a creamy finish and is designed to perform well in round containers.

• Features:

  • Single-pour with excellent adherence to container walls.
  • Handles up to 10% fragrance load with great scent throw.
  • Bright white finish with minimal frosting.
  • Works best with round containers for even results.

• Performance: Robust in various climates and delivers clean, even burns.

Available at Aztec Candle Supply.

Coconut Apricot Wax (CandleScience)

This luxury blend features coconut and apricot waxes with enhanced stability and performance.

• Features:

  • Single-pour wax with smooth tops.
  • Excellent hot and cold throw.
  • UV-resistant with superior color retention.
  • Perfect for multi-wick candles and smaller-diameter containers.

• Performance: Offers a bright white appearance and even burn, making it a popular choice for premium candles.

Available at CandleScience.