To ensure your safety and achieve the best results in candle-making, knowing the right temperature at which to melt your candle wax is crucial.
In general, most wax types should never be melted to a temperature of over 200F. Instead, it will likely be between 100F and 190F; however, this changes according to the type of wax and any additives inside.
We've composed a short guide below, taking you through the different waxes and their melting points, how to test and melt the wax, and a few safety tips to follow during the process.
Depending on the wax you are using to make your candle, these waxes have varying melting points; knowing the melting point of your type of wax is essential before you start the candle-making process.
Beeswax is a great natural type of wax for candle making and has a very high melting wax point of 144-149F; it is known to be a hard wax.
It is also the perfect candle wax for burning if you want natural scents inside your home.
Another common natural wax choice is soy wax. It has a melting point of 113-127F and is affordable too. The downfalls are that it needs to hold scent better and colour.
Paraffin wax is mostly commercially used, with a melting point between 115F-142F. It holds colours and scents well and has an excellent hot/cold throw for making scented candles.
Gel candle wax has a very high melting wax point of around 180F; this is also the pouring point. Gel candles are also more fun to make since you can put non-flammable items in to watch the gel candles burn.
Coconut wax is typically blended with soy wax to make it more suitable for candle making, and it can mix and hold fragrance well too. It has a melting point of between 124F-127F.
Knowing the melting temperature of your candle wax is essential, but knowing how to melt it and test the temperature of your candle wax is equally as important too.
We've listed the basic steps to melting down your candle wax to the right temperature below; you can use a double boiler or a microwave to do this safely.
If you're making a batch of candles at home with different types of waxes, beginner candle makers should ensure they are following safety precautions when dealing with hot wax.
We've listed a few essential tips worth knowing below.
To conclude, common candle waxes melt below 200F; the exact melting point depends on the wax you are using.
We recommend melting your wax on a double boiler and taking the temperature of your wax often, always add your fragrance in at the right temperature to have the best throw.
