Most candles sold in Australia are made from one of three waxes: paraffin, soy or beeswax. They look similar on a shelf but behave very differently once lit. Here is an honest comparison.
At a glance
| Beeswax | Soy | Paraffin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Made by honeybees, collected by beekeepers | Hydrogenated soybean oil | By-product of petroleum refining |
| Hardness | Hard; can be free-standing | Soft; mostly used in jars | Varies with blend |
| Burn speed | Slow | Moderate | Moderate to fast |
| Scent | Faint natural honey; no fragrance needed | Neutral; usually fragranced | Neutral; usually fragranced |
| Colour | Natural pale to deep gold | White to cream | White; easily dyed |
| Price | Highest | Mid | Lowest |
Beeswax
Beeswax is the oldest candle wax and the only one made by an animal. It is hard and dense, melting at roughly 62 to 64°C, so it holds sculptural shapes and burns slowly. The flame is bright and warm, and the wax carries a faint scent of honey on its own. Its natural colour varies with the flowers the bees visited. The trade-off is price: pure beeswax is the most expensive of the three.
Soy wax
Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. It is soft, so it is almost always poured into jars, and it is usually blended with other waxes and fragrance oils. It is popular for scented candles because it holds fragrance well.
Paraffin
Paraffin is a by-product of refining petroleum. It is cheap, easy to dye and scent, and found in most mass-market candles.
What about air-purifying claims?
You will often read that beeswax candles purify the air by releasing negative ions. The evidence for that is thin, so we don't rely on it. What matters more for a clean burn, with any wax, is a trimmed wick and a draught-free spot.
Which should you choose?
If you want a natural wax, a long burn, free-standing shapes and a gentle honey scent instead of perfume, choose beeswax. If you mainly want a strong fragrance in a jar, soy is the usual choice.
Browse our pure beeswax candles, handcrafted in Queensland from 100% natural Australian beeswax, or read our beeswax candle buyer's guide.