Plant-based waxes for making candles

Container candles | Molded candles | Crystal modifiers

How to produce clean and long-burning candles with plant-based candle wax?

Candles have a long tradition of bringing light and warmth to people. Moreover, a candle creates an atmosphere of comfort, romance, and relaxation.

The best wax for candles

Traditionally candles have been made using petroleum-based waxes, such as paraffin or beeswax.  There are however a number of issues with using petroleum or animal fat-based raw materials:

  • Environmental concerns
  • Non-renewable resource
  • Possible health effects from smoke

There is however now a more environmentally friendly, healthier, and sustainable alternative, plant-based fats.  The use of a plant fat-based candle is not only more friendly to you and the planet, but it also produces a longer-lasting candle.

UmCandle plant-based waxes for producing candles

Our UmCandle range of waxes and crystal modifiers are manufactured from premium quality, natural plant-based ingredients such as Soybean oil, Palm oil, Sunflower oil, and Rapeseed oil. Moreover, our range of palm-based waxes is RSPO certified sustainable thereby giving our customers the assurance that oil has been responsibly produced and is fully traceable back to the source.

Key consumer perceptions of a quality candle are:

  • A clear shaped bright flame
  • Curve of the wick
  • Evenly burning of the correct and full amount of wax
  • Long burning characteristics
  • Safe and non-hazardous to health

Renewable plant-based oils

Plant-based oils and fats are now being used in a wide range of food and non-food applications because they are considered to be healthier, more renewable, and biodegradable compared to animal and petroleum-based products.

Burning petroleum-based waxes produce smoke and airborne particles that can be adverse to health if inhaled, whereas plant-based fats are clean-burning and odorless. Moreover, plant-based fats are easier to handle and give improved mold release.

Plant-based oils and fats are now being used in a wide range of food and non food applications because they are considered to be healthier, more renewable and biodegradable compared to animal and petroleum based products.

Improve longer burning characteristics

Getting the correct blend of fats and wax mixtures is vital to ensure the candle burns evenly and completely.   If not correctly designed the flame properties of a candle can deteriorate resulting in shorter burn time or a hole down the middle of the candle leaving the edges and sides unmelted. This is a particular problem with large diameter or pilar candles where the negative effects are more noticeable.

In addition to the design and raw material quality, the way in which the raw materials are processed is also very important. Even relatively small levels of impurities can cause the candle wick to clog leading to inconsistent burning or in the worse case the flame to die. But, the length and type of wick used is also important to avoid a dirty flame, resulting in soot deposits on walls and ceilings. To ensure this is not the case all of our UmCandle products are filtered at each production step using advanced filtration techniques.

UmCandle wick wax format

Choose the best wax for your application!

UmCandle range offers fully plant-based waxes with low-, mid-and high-range melting points. The melting point of the wax is an important consideration depending on the type of candle you wish to make alongside wick thickness and length, and type of fragrance.

The melting point and crystallization behavior for natural candles

The melting point and crystallization behavior of the wax are also important factors in the candle manufacturing process, in particular the time between the start of the process and packing. Choosing a wax with the correct crystallization properties and speed is critical to enable the candles to released from the mold (where applicable) and be packed without damage or loss of quality.

UmCandle® wax SFC for making candles
umcandle SFC solid fat curve
UmCandle® wax burning time

Average burning time of 6 samples, tested by Intertek labtest

umcandle burning time

UmCandle wax product range

All of our UmCandle wax range has been specifically designed and formulated to give excellent burning properties, ensuring complete, clean, and long-burning candles.

Main applications for UmCandle wax
Brand serie Candle type Melting point oC Advantage
UmCandle 100 Container candles in jars, cups 30 - 55 Low melting wax with longer burning properties
UmCandle 200 Pillars, and other molded candles 55 - 61 Correct crystallization and shrinkage
UmCandle 300 Crystal modifiers 61 - 70 Ideal for mixing with some paraffin to improve crystallization behaviour
UmCandle 400 Perfumed candles 30 - 60 Creates optimal circumstances for improved fragrance release

*UmCandle is also available as multi-purpose waxes for different candle types.

Download UmCandle leaflet

Case study: UmCandle wax burning behavior for a white Candle in plastic container.

The purpose of the testing was to observe the burning behavior of the candles under normal conditions of use and to determine whether this gave rise to any potentially hazardous events. During the testing, the wicks were not trimmed since this provides a worst-case burning behavior. The result of the test performed by Intertek:

Main applications for UmCandle wax
Brand Melting point oC Wick length mm Wax level to rim mm Burning time hours Wax consumed % Flame height mm
UmCandle 133 41 13 - 18 19 - 26 30 62 15 - 20
UmCandle 202 58 19 - 22 23 - 29 26 64 15 - 25

Case study: Sensory odour perception of lavender aroma above burning flavoured candles made with UmCandle.

This case shows that the use of UmCandle has a positive effect on the sensorial flavor intensity of the lavender fragrance. An important factor for this flavor release is that the wax has enough breadth.

The evaluation test existed of candles with different percentages of UmCandle with 2% lavender. The sensory panel consisted of trained professional sensory graders. They were selected via an ISO 8586 procedure.

UmCandle sensory evaluation of candles with 2% lavender

Umcandle sensory evaluation