Beeswax vs soy candles: which actually burns better?
The candle shelf at Jasper Pinecone stocks both beeswax and soy wax candles, and the question we get asked most often is: which is better? The honest answer is that it depends on what you want from a candle. Here's how they actually compare.
Burn time and drip
Beeswax burns at a higher temperature than soy wax, which means it burns more slowly and produces less drip. A well-made beeswax pillar candle will typically outlast a soy candle of the same size by 20-30%. The trade-off is cost: beeswax is significantly more expensive than soy, which is why beeswax candles tend to be priced higher.
Soy wax burns at a lower temperature and is softer, which makes it better suited to container candles (poured into a glass or tin) than to freestanding pillars. A soy pillar candle will drip more than a beeswax one in a warm room.
Scent throw
Soy wax holds fragrance oil better than beeswax, which is why most scented candles use a soy or soy-blend base. The lower melt point of soy wax releases fragrance more readily into the room. Beeswax has its own natural scent (a faint, warm honey note) that can compete with added fragrance, which is why most beeswax candles are sold unscented.
If you want a strongly scented candle, a soy or coconut-soy blend is usually the better choice. If you want a long-burning, clean-air candle with no added fragrance, beeswax is hard to beat.
Environmental considerations
Both beeswax and soy wax are natural materials, but neither is straightforwardly 'better' for the environment. Beeswax is a byproduct of honey production and is fully biodegradable, but the sourcing matters: wax from small, well-managed apiaries is very different from industrially produced beeswax. Soy wax is derived from soybean oil, which is a renewable crop, but large-scale soy farming has significant land-use implications.
The most useful question to ask is where the wax comes from and how the maker sources it. A maker who can answer that question clearly is usually one worth buying from.
Both types are on the current shelf. The beeswax pillars are unscented and available in two heights. The soy candle in the oak and amber fragrance is the one we burn in-store most often. Come in and smell both before you decide.