Choosing a wax is usually the first decision in a candle project, and it shapes almost everything that follows. We carry over 15 different waxes, each formulated for a specific candle type and look. Most are pre-blended, which means the manufacturer already added what the wax needs, so additives are optional. A smaller set of base waxes and special cases do call for an additive like Vybar. This guide covers both: how to match a wax to your candle, and what the common wax additives do and how much to use. Browse the full range in our candle wax.
Choosing a Wax by Candle Type
The wax you need is determined by the type of candle you are making. The deciding factors are how hard the wax sets, how much it shrinks as it cools, and whether it has to release from a mold or hold to a container. Each candle type sits at a different point on those tradeoffs.
Match the Wax to the Candle
Container Candles
The most popular style and the easiest for a beginner. Because the candle burns in the vessel it was poured into, the wax does not need to support itself or release from a mold. Shrinkage is unwanted here: it pulls the wax away from the glass and looks flawed, so container waxes are soft and many are single-pour, which shortens production time. See How to Make Container Candles.
Votive Candles
Votives burn in a holder, so the wax does not need to be as hard as a pillar. It does have to release from the votive mold, so some shrinkage is required. Some votive waxes are single-pour and others need a second pour. See How to Make Votive Candles.
Pillar Candles
A pillar stands on its own while burning, so it needs a hard wax that holds its shape. It also has to release from the mold, and the shrinkage that allows release usually means a second and sometimes a third pour. See How to Make Pillar Candles.
Wax Tarts and Melts
Tarts are close to votives: firm enough to release from a mold, but with a melt point low enough to melt in a warmer. A wax that is too soft will not release cleanly. See How to Make Wax Tarts.
The other major distinction is what the wax is made of. Candle waxes have traditionally been paraffin based. Soy waxes have grown in popularity as their quality improved, and many makers prefer a natural wax grown by American farmers. Both perform well across candle types when matched correctly. Our soy wax guide and paraffin wax guide cover the selection within each base, and Soy vs. Paraffin: The BIG Debate compares the two head to head. Shop both families in the candle wax, including dedicated soy wax and paraffin wax sections.
Wax by Candle Type at a Glance
| Candle type | Hardness needed | Shrinkage | Typical pours | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Container | Soft | Minimal (unwanted) | Often single-pour | Burns in the vessel; shrinkage pulls wax from the glass |
| Votive | Medium | Some required | Single or double | Releases from a votive mold |
| Pillar | Hard | Required | Two, sometimes three | Stands on its own; shrinkage releases it from the mold |
| Tart or melt | Firm, low melt point | Some required | Single or double | Releases from a mold, then melts in a warmer |
When a Wax Needs an Additive
Most of our waxes are pre-blended. A base paraffin was enhanced by the manufacturer with the ingredients it needs, so no additives are required, and as a general rule we do not recommend adding them to a pre-blended wax. A wax described as a base paraffin is the exception: it is a base product, usually at a lower price, with no performance-enhancing additives blended in. A base paraffin will likely need an additive such as Vybar to reach its best results.
Candle-Making Additives
Two additives cover most needs: Vybar, which helps wax hold fragrance and deepens color, and UV stabilizer, which slows color fade. Both come in measured rates per pound of wax, and both are worth understanding before you reach for them. Browse the full set in our wax additives.
Vybar
Vybar is a polymer used mainly to help wax retain fragrance oil. With Vybar in the mix, the wax holds more oil before any of it separates out, which lets you raise the fragrance load and improve hot throw, the scent a candle gives while burning. Vybar also raises opacity and deepens dye colors. It is the modern alternative to stearic acid[2], the older fatty-acid hardener that earlier candle makers used for similar purposes. Vybar belongs to a class of branched poly(alpha-olefin) polymers shown to inhibit fragrance and dye from separating out of paraffin during storage[1].
The two grades differ by the wax they suit.
Vybar 103 vs 260
Vybar 103
For harder, higher melt point waxes such as pillar and votive waxes. Use it when the wax sets firm and stands or releases from a mold.
Vybar 260
For softer, lower melt point container waxes. Use it when the wax stays soft and adheres to the vessel.
A typical rate is a quarter to a half teaspoon per pound of wax, and it varies by application. You can use Vybar to push fragrance load higher, but do not overdo it: too much Vybar can trap fragrance inside the wax and reduce hot throw, the opposite of what you want. Add conservatively, then test a candle before scaling up.
UV Stabilizer
UV stabilizer, also called a UV inhibitor or UV absorber, slows the color fade that comes from light exposure. Dyed wax fades because ultraviolet light photodegrades the dye over time, a light-driven process that heat and moisture accelerate[3]. A UV stabilizer works the way UV absorbers do in other dyed materials: it absorbs UV in the roughly 290 to 400 nanometer range and converts that energy to harmless heat before it can break down the color[4]. Fragrance oils can also shift or fade a color. A UV stabilizer slows the fade but does not stop it completely.
UV stabilizer is not present in a pre-blended wax, and it is worth adding for any wax and candle type, especially candles that will sit on a store shelf or in a window for an extended period. Recommended usage is about 0.2% if measuring by weight, and about 1/2 teaspoon per pound if measuring by volume.
Additives at a Glance
| Additive | What it does | Typical rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vybar 103 | Holds fragrance, raises opacity, deepens color | 1/4 to 1/2 tsp per lb | Hard, high melt point pillar and votive waxes |
| Vybar 260 | Holds fragrance, raises opacity, deepens color | 1/4 to 1/2 tsp per lb | Soft, low melt point container waxes |
| UV Light Stabilizer | Slows color fade from light | 1/4 to 1/2 tsp per lb | Any candle displayed under light |
Once your wax and additives are chosen, our How to Heat & Pour Wax for Candle Making guide covers melt and pour temperatures for each wax type, and How to Prepare Wax for Pouring walks through measuring and setting up before you pour.