In candle making we have many options concerning which type of wax we can use in our candles. Many of us have our personal preferences to use in our candles. Even with our favorite type of was it is best to know the properties and melting points of the other options. You never know when you may get a specific request for a homemade candle from family, friends or acquaintances.

Wax melting point is the specific temperature at which the wax will changes from solid to liquid. This can be different from your recommended pouring temperature. A lower melting point is great for container candles and a higher melting point for molded candles. You can look at the article titled, "Types of wax," for more in depth properties of candle making waxes. We will cover these wax types briefly here concentrating on the wax melting point.

Tallow as you know is one of the first products used for making candles. It is produced from the fat of animals such as cows, pigs and sheep. It is without color, but smokes when burned and has an unpleasant odor. It is considered a soft wax, with a low melting point and is best used in container candles.

Paraffin wax is a by-product of crude oil and is the most popular type of wax used for candle making. There are numerous grades of paraffin, graded by their melting point.
A low melting point classified paraffin wax has a melting point of approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a very soft paraffin and is typically used in a container candle. Due to it's softness it is not recommended for carved or molded candles.

A medium melting point classified paraffin wax has a melting point temperature range of 130-145 degrees Fahrenheit. Once again this type of wax is considered too soft for carved or molded candles and should be used when making poured candles.

A high melting point classified paraffin wax has a melting point temperature of 145-150 degrees. Since it is a harder wax with a higher melting point, this makes it more suitable for carved or molded candle making projects. As a harder final candle product it provides for a longer burning time than the softer paraffin waxes with a lower melting point.

Bayberry wax has a low melting point of 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, this is a softer wax best suited for container candles. Bayberry has a pleasant scent and is a great shade of green. Bayberry is also expensive to manufacture due to the fact that it takes 15 pounds of bayberries to make 1 pound of wax.

Soybean wax has a varying melting point depending on the soy blend produced by the manufacturer. These ranges are from 120 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit based on the blend. A different type of wax may be blended to assist in the type of candle being made, such as pillar or container. The manufacturer will typically extract 49 pounds of soy meal and 11 pounds of soy wax from a 60 pound bushel. Soy wax is clean burning and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, making it a very popular choice. Soy wax mixes well with fragrant oils and holds scent better than paraffin wax, it also has very little shrinkage.

Beeswax has always been a very popular natural wax and has a natural sweet scent. It burns cleanly and slowly. Beeswax has a melting point of 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Its cost is relatively inexpensive since it is a natural product. Pure beeswax is sticky and is not very well suited for molded candles.

Many candle making suppliers produce various blends of waxes which may affect the melting point due to percentage of specific waxes combined and additves they use. Also, the individual candle makers own additives will affect your melting point so always keep this in mind. Be sure to read the specifications of the wax your using to guarantee safety when melting your candle making wax.