Different Types of Candles: All You Need to Know

I’ve been hand-pouring candles for a while now, and one thing I’ve learned is there’s no single “right” type of candle. The wax, shape, and size all change how a candle burns and how it fits into your space. Here’s a simple guide to the main types of candles you’ll run across, with a few pros and cons of each.

Understanding Different Types of Candles by Wax Material

Wax Types Comparison Table

Paraffin Wax Candles

Paraffin wax candles are the most common and affordable option on the market. Made from petroleum byproducts, these candles burn evenly and hold fragrance well. They're available in virtually every color and scent imaginable, making them popular for decorative purposes.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Excellent scent throw
• Wide variety of colors and fragrances
• Readily available

Cons:

• Not eco-friendly
• May produce soot
• Petroleum-based

Soy Wax Candles

Soy wax candles have gained tremendous popularity as an eco-friendly alternative. Made from soybean oil, these candles burn cleaner and longer than paraffin candles. They're biodegradable and support sustainable farming practices.

Pros:

• Natural and renewable
• Clean burning
• Longer burn time
• Easy cleanup
• Biodegradable

Cons:

• More expensive
• Softer wax that may not hold intricate details

For example, when I test soy wax in my jars, it usually burns cleanly without leaving a ring of soot. Small details like that are why I lean toward natural waxes.

Beeswax Candles

Beeswax represents one of the oldest and most natural types of candles. These premium candles are made from honeycomb and offer a subtle, sweet honey scent. They burn with a bright, warm flame and naturally purify the air.

Pros:

• All-natural
• Air-purifying properties
• Long burn time
• Beautiful natural color
• Subtle honey scent

Cons:

• Most expensive option
• Limited color variety
• May not hold added fragrances well

Coconut Wax Candles

Coconut wax is a newer, luxury option among different types of candles. Made from coconut oil, these candles offer excellent scent throw and a clean burn. They're often blended with other natural waxes for optimal performance.

Pros:

• Sustainable
• Excellent fragrance retention
• Slow burning
• Creamy appearance
• Clean burn

Cons:

• Premium pricing
• Limited availability
• Often requires wax blending

Palm Wax Candles

Palm wax candles are made from palm oil and create unique, crystalline patterns as they cool. These candles offer good scent throw and burn time, though sustainability concerns about palm oil production have affected their popularity.

Pros:

• Interesting crystalline appearance
• Good performance
• Natural origin
• Unique texture

Cons:

• Environmental concerns
• Harder to find
• Limited color options

Types of Candles by Shape and Form

Pillar Candles

Pillar candles are freestanding cylinders that don't require containers. They come in various heights and diameters, making them versatile for different decorative arrangements. These substantial candles are perfect for creating dramatic focal points.

Taper Candles

Taper candles are long, slender candles designed to fit in candlesticks or holders. They're classic choices for formal dining, religious ceremonies, and romantic settings. Quality taper candles burn evenly without dripping.

Container Candles

Container candles are poured into jars, tins, or other vessels. They're convenient, safe, and often reusable once the wax is consumed. Glass jar candles are particularly popular for their safety and aesthetic appeal.

Votive Candles

Votive candles are small, typically cylindrical candles designed to burn in special votive holders. They're perfect for creating ambient lighting and are commonly used in religious settings and spa environments.

Tea Light Candles

Tea lights are small, round candles in metal or plastic cups. They're ideal for warming dishes, creating soft lighting, or floating in water. Their compact size makes them perfect for subtle accent lighting.

Tealight Candles

Similar to tea lights but often referring to the slightly larger versions, these candles typically burn for 3-5 hours and are excellent for aromatherapy diffusers and decorative displays.

Floating Candles

Floating candles are specifically designed to float on water while burning. They create magical ambiance for special events, outdoor gatherings, and romantic settings.

Novelty and Shaped Candles

These decorative candles come in countless shapes, from flowers and animals to seasonal designs. They're primarily used for decoration and special occasions rather than regular lighting.

Classification by Purpose and Function

Aromatherapy Candles

Aromatherapy candles are infused with essential oils designed to promote relaxation, energy, focus, or other therapeutic benefits. Popular scents include lavender for relaxation, eucalyptus for clarity, and citrus for energy.

Massage Candles

Massage candles melt into warm massage oil when burned. Made with skin-safe ingredients like soy wax and natural oils, they serve dual purposes as ambient lighting and personal care products.

Citronella Candles

Citronella candles contain citronella oil, which naturally repels mosquitoes and other insects. They're essential for outdoor entertaining and camping, combining practical pest control with ambient lighting.

Emergency Candles

Emergency candles are designed for long burn times and reliable performance during power outages. They prioritize function over fragrance and typically come in simple, sturdy forms.

Religious and Ceremonial Candles

These candles serve spiritual and ceremonial purposes. They include memorial candles, baptismal candles, and various religious observance candles, often featuring specific colors or designs with symbolic meaning.

Types of Candles by Scent Categories

Floral Scented Candles

Floral candles feature fragrances like rose, jasmine, gardenia, and peony. They're popular for creating romantic, fresh, and elegant atmospheres in bedrooms and living spaces.

Fresh and Clean Scented Candles

These candles offer crisp, clean scents like cotton, ocean breeze, and fresh linen. They're perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, and creating an overall sense of cleanliness and freshness.

Woody and Earthy Scented Candles

Featuring scents like sandalwood, cedar, pine, and patchouli, these candles create warm, grounding environments perfect for dens, offices, and cozy spaces.

Fruity Scented Candles

Fruity candles include citrus blends, berry scents, and tropical fragrances. They're energizing and perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and summer entertaining.

Seasonal Scented Candles

Seasonal candles capture the essence of different times of year with scents like pumpkin spice for fall, pine and cinnamon for winter, and fresh grass for spring.

Unscented Candles

Unscented candles provide pure ambiance without competing fragrances. They're ideal for dining areas, when burning multiple candles, or for those sensitive to fragrances.

Specialty Types of Candles

Multi-Wick Candles

Multi-wick candles feature two or more wicks for enhanced scent throw and more even burning in larger candles. They're perfect for bigger spaces and create beautiful, dramatic flames.

Wooden Wick Candles

Wooden wick candles create a crackling sound reminiscent of a fireplace while burning. They typically provide excellent scent throw and add an auditory element to the candle experience.

Color-Changing Candles

These innovative candles change colors as they burn, either through layered colored waxes or special additives that create shifting hues during burning.

Smokeless Candles

Smokeless candles are specifically formulated and wicked to produce minimal smoke and soot. They're ideal for indoor use and people sensitive to smoke.

Long-Burning Candles

Long-burning candles are designed for extended use, often burning for 50+ hours. They're economical choices for regular use and emergency preparedness.

How to Choose the Right Types of Candles

Consider Your Space

Large rooms benefit from bigger candles or multiple smaller ones, while intimate spaces work well with single votives or tea lights. Consider ceiling height and ventilation when selecting candle sizes.

Think About Purpose

Dining candles should be unscented or lightly scented to avoid interfering with food aromas. Relaxation candles might feature lavender or vanilla, while energizing spaces benefit from citrus or mint scents.

Factor in Burn Time

Consider how long you'll typically burn your candles. If you enjoy long sessions, invest in candles with longer burn times. For occasional use, smaller candles might be more practical.

Safety Considerations

Always consider safety features like stable containers, appropriate wick sizes, and burn characteristics. Some types of candles are safer for certain environments than others.

Budget and Value

While beeswax and coconut wax candles cost more initially, their longer burn times often provide better value. Consider cost per hour of burning rather than just initial price.

Caring for Different Types of Candles

Proper Storage

Store candles in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight to prevent warping, fading, and scent loss. Keep different scented candles separated to prevent fragrance mixing.

Wick Maintenance

Trim wicks to 1/4 inch before each use to prevent smoking, uneven burning, and excessive soot. Different types of candles may require different trimming approaches.

Burn Time Guidelines

Follow the one-hour rule: burn candles for one hour per inch of diameter for optimal performance. This helps prevent tunneling and ensures even wax consumption.

Discover Premium Hand-Poured Soy Candles with Cozyees

When exploring the world of high-quality soy candles, Cozyees stands out as a premium brand specializing in hand-poured soy candles crafted in small batches. Their commitment to quality begins with natural soy wax, premium fragrance oils, and ECO cotton wicks that provide a soft, steady glow and clean, even burn.

Cozyees offers an curated collection of sophisticated scents designed to bring comfort and elegance to any space:

Fruitquake Collection features vibrant grapefruit and berry scents that energize and refresh your environment. Available in both single and double-wick 8 oz options, these candles deliver a bright, uplifting fragrance perfect for kitchens and living areas.

Vanelithe Collection combines elegant vanilla with floral notes and cherry blossom, creating a sophisticated aroma that's perfect for bedrooms and relaxation spaces. The complex scent profile offers both warmth and refinement.

Cedarvale Mist Collection brings together refreshing cedarwood and sea salt for a unique woody-fresh combination that evokes the tranquility of coastal forests. This distinctive scent works beautifully in offices and meditation spaces.

Each Cozyees candle represents the artisanal approach to candle making, where attention to detail and quality ingredients create superior products. Their hand-poured process ensures consistency and quality, while their use of natural soy wax provides the clean burn and long-lasting performance that eco-conscious consumers seek.

The brand also offers convenient tea light options, making it easy to enjoy their signature scents in smaller spaces or for shorter burning sessions. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift or creating a cozy atmosphere at home, Cozyees exemplifies the best qualities of premium soy candles in today's market.

Conclusion

At Cozyees, I keep things small batch so I can test each recipe and make sure it burns the way it should. If you are not sure which type to try first, start with a soy container candle. It is the same base I use in most of my hand poured jars.