More and more people are looking for candles that not only burn cleanly without releasing harmful toxins into the air but also align with their values - specifically candles that are vegan and cruelty-free, ensuring no animals are harmed in the process. We’re here to give you a friendly rundown of the most common types of candle wax you’ll find on the market. We’ll share which ones are safe for animal lovers to choose, plus the pros and cons of each wax type to help you make the best decision for your home and lifestyle.
Stearin wax: marketed as sustainable, but often not vegan
Stearin wax is often promoted as “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” because it’s made from a mix of plant-based and animal-based fats. Sounds promising, right? Unfortunately, this is where the catch comes in: the animal-derived components in stearin are typically sourced from slaughterhouse byproducts, making it far from vegan or animal-friendly. Many customers are misled by the “green” labels and eco-friendly branding on these candles, not realizing they’re supporting practices that harm animals. If you’re passionate about animal welfare, stearin wax might not be the best choice for you.
Price and Production: Stearin wax falls in the mid-price range—it’s more expensive than paraffin but more affordable than pure plant-based waxes like soy, coconut, or rapeseed. It’s often blended with a bit of paraffin to make the wax smoother and easier to work with. In industrial candle production, manufacturers also tend to add synthetic additives to enhance scent throw without using much fragrance oil, which helps boost profit margins.
- Pros: Burns relatively cleanly, mid-range price.
- Cons: Usually not vegan, contains animal byproducts, may include synthetic additives.
Paraffin wax: affordable, but not so eco-friendly
Paraffin wax is the go-to classic in the candle world: it’s super affordable, widely available, and, with the right wick, provides a nice, even burn. That’s why it’s a favorite for mass-produced candles you’ll find at discount stores, drugstores, or big-box retailers. But here’s the downside: paraffin is derived from petroleum, which makes it neither eco-friendly nor sustainable. When burned, it can release soot and potentially harmful toxins into the air, which isn’t great for your indoor air quality or your health. Additives and Challenges: Paraffin candles often contain artificial additives to improve burn quality, color, and scent throw. This allows manufacturers to cut costs on expensive fragrance oils and dyes while still offering (scented) candles at a low price - profitable for everyone in the supply chain, but not always the best for you.
On the plus side, paraffin is typically vegan. However, the environmental impact and potential toxicity are big drawbacks. Oh, and if you’ve ever tried cleaning out a candle jar with paraffin wax, you know it can be a real mess—those stubborn residues are tough to remove!
- Pros: Very affordable, even burn, usually vegan.
- Cons: Petroleum-based, produces soot and toxins, environmental concerns, often contains additives, tricky to clean
Beeswax: natural, but not animal-friendly
Beeswax is a true natural gem, loved by candle enthusiasts who prioritize quality. It burns cleanly, lasts a long time and gives a subtle, honey-like scent taht`s perfect for creating a catch: beeswax isn`t vegan. The production of beeswax -especially in large-scale operations- can involve harm to bees, including stress, injury or ecen death during harvesting and processing. If you`re looking for candles that are completely free of animal suffering, you might want to explore plant-based alternatives instead. For scented candles: Beeswax has a natural honey scent which can sometimes overpower added fragrances, making it less ideal for scented candles. Pros: natural, clean-burning, long-lasting, pleasant natural scent Cons: not vegan, involves animal harm, less suitable for scented candles
For scented candles: Beeswax has a natural honey scent which can sometimes overpower added fragrances, making it less ideal for scented candles.
- Pros: natural, clean-burning, long-lasting, pleasant natural scent
- Cons: not vegan, involves animal harm, less suitable for scented candles
Soy wax: eco-friendly and the perfect pick
Soy wax (along with rapeseed, coconut wax or blends of these) is the ultimate choice for anyone seeking sustainable, animal-friendly candles. It`s biodegradable, burns cleanly and slowly and is 100% vergan. Soy wax also delivers an even scent throw without releasing harmful substances into the air (als long as high-quality fragrance oils are used), creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. No chemical additives are needed for pure soy wax, though a heads-up: some mass-priduced soy wax candles (especially from overseas) may still contain additives to cut cost, it`s worth double-checking - pure soy wax isn`t ususally that inexpensive.
Pracitcal Perks: Soy Wax has little to no natural scent and a low melting point, which makes cleaning candle jars a breeze. It wipes away easily without leaving stubborn residues.
- Pros: vegan, eco-friendly, clean-burning, great scent throw, easy to clean
- Cons: higher price point, some mass-produced options may contain additives
Our advice: look for quality and transparency
At RockstarCandle, wer`re proud to use only pure soy wax - creating candles that are as kind to the planet and animals as they are to your senses. Since there`s no legal requirement to declare the type of wax used in candles, we recommend reaching out to the manufacturer if it`s not clearly stated on the label. Brands that craft high-quality candles with care are usually happy to share this info an often highlight it in their marketing.
Here`s a little tip: super cheap candles are rarely "good" candles. There`s a noticable difference between professionally made small-batch candles and mass-produced supermarket options - both in quality and sustainability. Taking a closer look is always worth it, not just for your health and the environment, but also for the well-being of animals. Ready to find your perfect candle? Check out our collection of soy wax candles and light up your space with a clear conscience!