Bee Mine and La Flemme scented candles beside an olive sprig on a stone ledge

Vegetable wax

Vegetable wax is a blend of plant-derived waxes, made to burn cleanly without the petroleum base of paraffin. Biodegradable grades break down naturally rather than persisting, the right property for a product designed to be consumed entirely. The blend carries fragrance well at high concentrations, so a well-made vegetable wax candle scents a room from the melt pool rather than from the flame.

Properties

Plant-derived: typically soy, coconut or rapeseed oil rather than petroleum
Burns without soot: clean-burning compared to paraffin
Biodegradable grades break down naturally rather than persisting in landfill
Lower melting point than paraffin, so it carries fragrance from a wider melt pool
Softer at room temperature than paraffin, so it is poured into a jar or tin rather than moulded free-standing

Care

Trim the wick to about 5 mm before every burn. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and stop burning once about 10 mm of wax remains.

Caring for Scented Candles

Vegetable wax FAQs

Is vegetable wax better for the environment than regular candles?

Biodegradable grades break down naturally rather than persisting, unlike a petroleum-based paraffin candle. It also burns cleanly, without the black soot paraffin can leave.