Difference Between Paraffin Wax and Candle Wax

The key difference between paraffin wax and candle wax is that paraffin wax is a form of wax that we produce from petroleum, coal or shale oil whereas candle wax is any form of wax that we can use to make candles.

Paraffin wax is a form of candle wax because we can produce candles using paraffin wax. There are some other forms of waxes as well. Not all wax is used to make candles, but there are some certain waxes which are very useful in this purpose.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Paraffin Wax
3. What is Candle Wax
4. Side by Side Comparison – Paraffin Wax vs Candle Wax in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Paraffin Wax?

Paraffin wax is a form of wax that we produce from petroleum oil, coal or oil shale. It is a soft and colourless solid compound. Also, it contains a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds (C-20 to C-40 hydrocarbons). Furthermore, it exists as a solid at room temperature. At or above 37 °C, this wax begins to melt. The boiling point is >370 °C. However, the typical melting point is between 46 and 68 °C.

Moreover, this organic compound is insoluble in water. But, we can dissolve it in organic solvents such as ether, benzene, and certain esters. It burns readily, but unaffected by most of the chemical reagents. Also, it has a high resistivity, thus, acts as an electrical insulator. In addition, this material is important in storing heat because it has a high specific heat capacity. The most common applications of this wax include lubrication, electrical insulation, and candle making.

What is Candle Wax?

Candle wax is any form of wax that we can use to make candles. Therefore, these waxes can be natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic. Earlier, people used beeswax for candle making, but now there are different forms of waxes, most commonly, paraffin wax.

Some natural forms of waxes include plant waxes such as soybean wax, beeswax, palm and bayberry. The synthetic forms include paraffin and microcrystalline waxes. Furthermore, the production method of a candle is the extrusion moulding of the wax. Besides, some candle burn with a sweet fragrance because the wax has an odour, i.e. beeswax candles. Sometimes, manufacturers mix different candle waxes to get desired properties such as hardness, odour, colours, etc.

What is the Difference Between Paraffin Wax and Candle Wax?

The forms of waxes that we use to make candles are the candle waxes. We can use paraffin wax for candle making; thus, Paraffin wax is also a form of candle wax. The key difference between paraffin wax and candle wax is that paraffin wax is a form of wax that we produce from petroleum, coal or shale oil whereas candle wax is any form of wax that we can use to make candles. Furthermore, paraffin wax is a synthetic wax while candle waxes can be natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic. Another important difference between paraffin wax and candle wax is that paraffin wax is odourless while some forms of candle waxes have sweet wax, i.e. beeswax.

Summary – Paraffin Wax vs Candle Wax

Wax is a group of organic compounds that are lipophilic and malleable near ambient temperature. The forms of waxes that we use to make candles are the candle waxes. Therefore, paraffin wax is also a form of candle wax because we can use it for candle making. Hence, the key difference between paraffin wax and candle wax is that paraffin wax is a form of wax that we produce from petroleum, coal or shale oil whereas candle wax is any form of wax that we can use to make candles.

Reference:

1. “Paraffin Wax.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Nov. 2018. Available here  
2. “How to Choose the Best Wax to Make Candles.” The Spruce Crafts. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.”Paraffin”By Gmhofmann – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.”Candles (Christmas 2009)”By GdML – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia