Candle Wax Chart
Each candle wax has its own melt point, its own ideal pour temperature, and its own ceiling for how much fragrance oil it can hold before the scent sweats out or the burn goes wrong. This chart lists typical values for the main waxes, with the reminder that every manufacturer publishes exact figures for their specific wax that override any general chart.
Melt point and pour temperature by wax
Soy wax (container blends): melt point roughly 49-57°C / 120-135°F, typical pour 52-60°C / 125-140°F. The most common container wax, prone to frosting and rough tops.
Paraffin (container grade): melt point roughly 49-60°C / 120-140°F, typical pour 60-71°C / 140-160°F. Excellent scent throw and smooth tops, which is why it remains an industry standard.
Coconut wax blends: melt point roughly 38-49°C / 100-120°F, typical pour 52-57°C / 125-135°F. Very smooth finish and strong scent throw, usually sold as a blend rather than pure.
Beeswax: melt point roughly 62-65°C / 144-149°F, typical pour 71-77°C / 160-170°F. Burns long and clean with a natural honey scent, but holds added fragrance poorly.
Palm wax: melt point roughly 57-60°C / 135-140°F, typical pour 85°C / 185°F for the crystalline feathering effect it is known for.
Fragrance load limits
Soy: typically 6-10 percent fragrance oil by weight of wax. Above this, oil pools on the surface, the candle sweats, and the burn can become unsafe.
Paraffin: typically 6-12 percent, the highest common load, which is part of why paraffin has a reputation for strong scent throw.
Coconut blends: typically 8-12 percent, holding fragrance well thanks to the softer wax structure.
Beeswax: typically 3-6 percent at most, and many makers skip added fragrance entirely since beeswax has its own scent and does not carry added oils well.
Fragrance percentage is always calculated against wax weight, not total candle weight: for 500g of wax at 8 percent, use 40g of fragrance oil.
Why pour temperature matters
Pouring too hot causes wet spots (where the wax pulls away from the glass), sinkholes as the candle cools unevenly, and can burn off delicate fragrance top notes. Pouring too cool causes rough, lumpy tops and poor glass adhesion.
Fragrance oil should be added at a higher temperature than the pour temperature, usually around 80-85°C / 175-185°F for most waxes, so it binds properly with the wax before the mixture cools to pour temperature. Stir gently for a full two minutes after adding fragrance.
Cure time before testing
Soy and coconut candles need roughly 1-2 weeks of cure time before the scent throw reaches its full strength, while paraffin often reaches full throw within 24-48 hours. Testing a soy candle the day after pouring gives a misleading and usually disappointing result.
Always burn-test every new wax, wick, vessel, and fragrance combination before selling, since changing any one of those four variables changes how the candle burns. A candle that passes testing at 8 percent fragrance in one vessel can tunnel or smoke in a wider one.