What’s in a Candle? Understanding Wax Blends & Fragrance Oils

Candles have a unique way of transforming a space, providing warmth, ambiance, and delightful scents. But have you ever pondered what goes into making a handmade candle? Understanding the science of wax blends and the art of fragrance oils can enhance your candle experience.

At Melt Magic Candles, we believe that the best candles are more than just wax and wick—they’re a blend of carefully chosen ingredients that work together to create the perfect moment.

Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes to understand what’s actually in your candle and why it matters.

The Art of Handmade Candle Making

Handmade candles are a blend of creativity, science, and skill. Each aspect, from the wax to the wick, plays a pivotal role in creating the perfect candle. Let's delve into these components to better appreciate the nuance behind your favorite warm glow.

The Foundation: Wax

Wax is the fundamental building block of a candle. It's the material that holds the fragrance and sustains the flame. There are several types of waxes used in candles, each offering distinct benefits, characteristics, and burning qualities.

✅ Soy Wax: A popular alternative to paraffin, soy wax is a natural, renewable resource. It burns cleaner and slower, offering better sustainability and reduced carbon footprint. Made from soybeans, burns cleanly, and is eco-friendly. It has a soft, creamy appearance and is great for a long, steady burn.

✅ Paraffin Wax: The most traditional and widely used type, paraffin is known for its excellent scent throw and affordability. It’s often used in candles where strong fragrance and color vibrancy are desired, however, it's derived from petroleum, making it a less sustainable choice.

✅ Coconut Wax: Derived from the meat of coconuts, this was is luxurious and eco-friendly, with a slow burn and great scent throw, derived from the meat f coconuts.  Often blended with other waxes for stability and smooth tops.

✅ Beeswax: One of the oldest waxes used, beeswax is natural and has a subtle honey aroma. It often comes in a golden hue and is prized for its hypoallergenic properties. Naturally honey-scented, burns cleanly, and is a premium option often used in natural candles.

Curious about other wax options and how they impact your handmade candles? This guide from CandleScience breaks down the pros and cons of each wax type if you’re diving deeper into the world of candles.  

Wax Blends: Custom-Made Solutions

Candle makers often use blended waxes to combine the strengths of different wax types, optimizing characteristics such as scent throw, melting point, and texture. For instance, combining soy and paraffin can provide both a cleaner burn and a strong fragrance release.

What We Use at Melt Magic Candles

At Melt Magic Candles, we use a custom wax blend that combines the best of multiple waxes to achieve:

✨ A clean, steady burn
✨ Strong hot and cold scent throw
✨ Smooth tops and beautiful appearance

Our current blend is 85% IGI 6000 paraffin wax and 15% apricot coconut wax with a 10% fragrance load, which allows our scents to truly shine while maintaining a beautiful, consistent burn.

The Symphony of Scents: Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils are what give candles their pleasant aromas. These oils are complex mixtures of natural and synthetic ingredients, crafted to recreate a vast range of scent profiles.

Natural vs. Synthetic Oils

• Natural Fragrance Oils: Derived from flowers, fruits, spices, and herbs, these oils bring authentic aromas into your spaces. However, they are usually more subtle and may vary with production batches.
• Synthetic Fragrance Oils: Created in a lab, these oils offer consistent, robust scents and can mimic virtually any fragrance in nature. Yet, they may contain chemicals that some people avoid.

Finding the Perfect Balance

The art of candle making involves meticulous balance. Handmade candle makers must ensure the ratio of fragrance oil to wax is precise for optimal scent diffusion and burning quality. Too much fragrance can cause smoking and uneven burning, while too little may result in a weak scent.

At Melt Magic, we:

✅ Use high-quality, phthalate-free fragrance oils.
✅ Test each fragrance in multiple wax blends before launching.
✅ Choose scents that create moods—from cozy (Less is S’more) to bright and playful (Straw to My Berry).

Fragrance oils blend with the wax to release scent gradually as your handmade candle burns, creating that immersive sensory experience you love. Our testing ensures each candle has the perfect balance, so you get a strong scent and a clean, even burn every time.  

Burning Bright: Choosing the Right Wick

The wick’s job is to carry the flame to the wax, allowing it to vaporize and release fragrance. Choosing the correct wick is critical to guarantee a steady, even burn without soot or excess smoke.

• Cotton Wicks: Most common, these wicks provide a consistent burn rate.
• Wood Wicks: Becoming popular for their crackling sound, similar to a fireplace, wood wicks offer a unique aesthetic but require careful maintenance.
• Eco-friendly Wicks: Made from a blend of cotton and paper, these wicks aim to provide clean-burning and sustainability.

🌿 Clean Ingredients, Better Experience

Our customers care about what’s in their candles—and so do we.

✅ No phthalates
✅ No unnecessary additives
✅ Thoughtfully sourced ingredients
✅ Small-batch, hand-poured with intention

Because you deserve to breathe in scents that make your space feel like home.

Elevating Your Candle Experience

Knowing what's in your candle allows you to make informed choices that enrich your environment and well-being. When selecting a candle, consider factors like sustainability, scent preference, and specific occasions to match the mood and purpose.

Care Tips for Lasting Candles

• Trim the Wick: Keep the wick trimmed to about 1/4 inch before each burn to prevent soot.
• First Burn: Allow the wax to melt to the edge during the first burn to prevent tunneling.
• Burn Time: Limit the burn time to 3-4 hours for optimal performance and safety.

Understanding the components of a handmade candle heightens your appreciation for this timeless accessory. From wax blends to fragrance oils, each element is crafted to create a unique sensory experience. When choosing your next candle, consider these factors, and let the light illuminate your world beautifully.

Ready to Experience the Melt Magic Difference?

🛍️ Shop Our Candles to find your signature scent, backed by our wax + fragrance craftsmanship.

Or, learn more about how to get the best burn in your Candle Care Guide.