- Animal wax
- Vegetable wax
- Mineral wax
Animal wax:
It is produced by animals. The most common is that made by bees. It consists mainly of fatty acid and alcohol chains.
Yellow in color reminiscent of honey, it has been used for millennia for its combustion properties, thanks to its high melting point, it burns slowly.
But beeswax is not only used in candles, it has natural properties which are also used in the cosmetic industry and in food.
Vegetable wax:
Vegetable wax is a wax made from plants such as soy, rapeseed or even coconut for the most used. It burns slowly, and generates little or no soot at all. Cultivated sustainably, they are biodegradable and therefore more environmentally friendly. However, not all vegetable waxes are produced in a way that reduces ecological impact, which is why it is important to ensure that they come from sustainable and responsible production.
Mineral wax:
More commonly called paraffin, it is a wax derived from crude oil which is a non-renewable source. Mainly used in commercial candles for its relatively low cost, it nevertheless remains very controversial due to its environmental impact. Its production can cause various ecological problems such as the degradation of the ecosystem or even the emission of greenhouse gases.
If we look at it from a purely economic point of view, paraffin wax remains the best solution, however its ecological impact is far too important, in my opinion, not to take it into consideration.
In order to best respect the environment, the choice will be between vegetable wax and animal wax. Whether we choose animal or vegetable wax, we must always take into account the source of production in order to reduce the environmental impact.