def: talk in a highly enthusiastic and effusive way
Let's talk wax!
I know, I know, it doesn't sound like the most thrilling topic in the world...but it can be REALLY interesting!
As a candle maker, I have spent more time than I would ever admit researching and testing different waxes. But why?
There are a HUGE amount of waxes on the market, and they're all different, giving distinct results. At The Moodie Store I've settled on a high quality Soy wax for our candles and an impressive Coconut and Rapeseed blend for our wax melts. I'll elaborate why I made these choices a little more below, but first let me explain a few different waxes and their properties.
Paraffin Wax
It's no surprise that the first wax on our list is Paraffin, this is the most popular wax on the market, nearly every large company selling candles in their homeware section will use Paraffin, it has everything many candle makers want in a product! It's cheap, has a great fragrance throw, looks nice, is very consistent and burns well. So why don't I use it?
If you've seen my social media, you'll know Paraffin wax(aka Mineral Wax) is a BIG no-no for me. Paraffin wax is a derivative of fossil fuels Petroleum and Coal which isn't the best start! A lot of scientific research has been conducted on mineral waxes and it's been concluded that burning a paraffin candle can release a whole host of carcinogens and irritants into your home including Benzene and Toulene.
Now, Toulene especially, is a problem causing compound, known to trigger a variety of adverse affects, from anxiety and insomnia. It would be pretty silly of me to offer candles that promote joy and relaxation that could also make you more stressed and tired! But the biggest issue for me personally is that it's also known to cause headaches.
Now as a migraine sufferer, and after a very unpleasant experience with a Bath & Bodyworks candle, that was when I vowed to never burn another shop bought candle, or paraffin candle again and Moodie was born!
Soy Wax
The shining star in our candles, Soy wax is a great, conscious choice for our range. Derived from soy beans, we use a sustainably sourced and renewable soy wax, which is also non-toxic, vegan and biodegradable. We specially source our Soy wax from a company that is committed to reducing their environmental impact through growing and harvesting.
As well as ranking higher on the health scale than Paraffin, it also has a lower melting point which means it will burn slower and candles can last up to TWICE as long as a paraffin option, so you get a lot more bang for your buck!
So why isn't everyone using it? Well firstly, its expensive! In comparison to Paraffin which is a by-product, Soy wax is very expensive which makes it hard for our end product to be competitive on price. Also, due to it's lower burning point, it can release fragrance a bit slower than mineral waxes. This means that you may not get the huge fragrance hit you get with many larger candle brands, but be patient and it will develop.
Thirdly, it can be susceptible to frosting, this is a small cosmetic defect which is only visible through clear glass, and it looks like frost you might find on your windows in the winter. It will not affect your candle in the slightest, but it is very hard to control and it does mean that every jar may not look perfect.
Coconut and Rapeseed Wax
Our Coconut & Rapeseed blend is composed exclusively of responsibly sourced premium rapeseed and coconut oils and strikes the perfect balance between environmental responsibility and top-tier quality.
It has all of the excellent benefits and credentials of the soy wax above, but it has a higher melting point which means its perfect for wax melts which need to be a bit sturdier for handling, de-moulding and snapping. It is also the combination of the great quality and higher melting temperature that means our wax melts are so long lasting and give that epic fragrance throw.
So, what are the downsides?! To be honest, there aren't many. Again, this is a super premium blend so it is expensiveeeeeee. However, I must've tested upward of twenty wax blends and this was the outright best. It does also present some of the frosting issue I stated with the soy wax, however I just embrace these, it's part of using a natural wax.
The third issue is minor, but it comes in huge 20kg blocks, so I have to Bob the Builder it and get my hammer and chisel out for this one!
Beeswax
I had to mention a quick note on Beeswax!
We don't use beeswax here at The Moodie Store as it is not vegan, and we are committed to offering vegan products.
However, Beeswax is another non-toxic and sustainable option. Created by the superheroes of our environment, Beeswax is a very hard wax with a high melting point which means it will create a long lasting product. It also creates a lovely ambient flame and has been rumoured to improve air quality.
It is understandably one of the most expensive waxes to source given the labour that goes into making it but if you are not looking for a vegan option it could be worth a try!
So in conclusion, there are lots of Pros and Cons that go into each wax but I think we have found a good balance in our blends at The Moodie Store.
If you have used candles previously in the past such as headaches or lots of sooting, don't give up on all home fragrance products. Give a natural wax product a try, you might just find you have no adverse affects at all. And as a rule of thumb, if you buy a wax product that doesn't mention the wax, says mineral wax or uses 'wax blend', 99% of the time it will be paraffin!
I hope this has been helpful and as always if you have any questions get in touch!
Love Jodie xxx