If you've been trying to decide between beeswax and soy candles, you're not alone. It is one of the questions we get asked most often at Beeswax Bay Farm, and the honest answer is - it depends on what matters most to you.
Both are genuinely natural alternatives to paraffin. Both burn cleanly. Both have real merits. But they are different products with different strengths, and understanding those differences will help you choose the right one for your home.
We make both here at our smallholding in Atherstone, Warwickshire, so this is not a case of us pushing one over the other. Here is an honest comparison.
Beeswax is a natural substance produced by honeybees. It is one of the oldest candle-making materials in the world - used for thousands of years before paraffin existed. Our beeswax comes from Devon and is 100% pure, with no blending or additives.
Soy wax is derived from soybean oil, a plant-based material that became popular in the 1990s as a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to paraffin. It is vegan, widely available and biodegradable.
This is where the differences become most noticeable.
Beeswax burns slowly and evenly, with a warm golden flame. It has one of the longest burn times of any natural wax - our beeswax tealights burn for up to 5 hours each, and our pillar candles significantly longer. Beeswax has a naturally high melting point, which means it holds its shape well even in warm rooms.
Soy wax also burns cleanly and relatively slowly - typically 20-30% longer than paraffin. It has a lower melting point than beeswax, which makes it ideal for container candles like jars and tins. It pools evenly and holds fragrance very well.
Winner on burn time: Beeswax, slightly - though the difference is less significant in container candles.
Beeswax has a gentle, natural honey scent that comes from the wax itself - no fragrance oil needed. It is subtle rather than overpowering, which many people prefer, particularly those sensitive to strong scents or synthetic fragrances. Our pure beeswax candles contain no added fragrance whatsoever.
Soy wax is nearly odourless on its own, which makes it an excellent carrier for fragrance oils. If you want a strongly scented candle - lavender, vanilla, sandalwood, citrus - soy wax will hold and throw fragrance better than beeswax. Our soy candles are available in a range of carefully blended scents.
Winner on scent: Depends on your preference. Natural and subtle - beeswax. Strong and varied - soy.
This is where beeswax has a genuine, well-documented advantage.
Beeswax candles are the only candles known to emit negative ions when burning. Negative ions attach to positively charged particles in the air - dust, pollen, mould spores - and cause them to drop out of the air rather than staying airborne. For people with allergies, asthma or sensitivities to airborne particles, beeswax candles are consistently recommended over all alternatives.
Soy candles burn cleanly and produce minimal soot - significantly less than paraffin - but they do not share the air-purifying properties of beeswax.
Both are free from the toxins associated with paraffin candles, which release benzene and toluene when burned.
Winner on health: Beeswax, particularly for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Both waxes have genuine eco credentials, but with some nuance.
Beeswax is a natural, renewable by-product of beekeeping. It is biodegradable, requires no chemical processing and supports bee populations when sourced from responsible beekeepers. The main consideration is that it is not vegan - it is an animal-derived product.
Soy wax is plant-based, vegan and biodegradable. However, the environmental picture is complicated by the fact that most soy globally is grown in regions where deforestation is a concern. UK-sourced or certified sustainable soy wax addresses this, and our soy wax is responsibly sourced.
Winner on eco credentials: Broadly equal - beeswax wins on naturalness, soy wins on being vegan-friendly.
Beeswax is more expensive to produce than soy wax, which is reflected in the price. Pure beeswax candles cost more than soy equivalents of the same size - but they also burn longer, so the cost per burn hour is closer than the shelf price suggests.
If budget is the primary consideration, soy candles offer excellent value for money.
| Header | Beeswax | Soy |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Natural, bee-produced | Plant-based, soybean oil |
| Vegan | No | Yes |
| Burn time | Very long | Long |
| Scent | Natural honey | Fragrance oil (varied) |
| Air purifying | Yes - negative ions | No |
| Good for allergies | Yes | Better than paraffin |
| Eco-friendly | Yes | Yes (source-dependent) |
| Price | Higher | More affordable |
Choose beeswax if:
Choose soy if:
Choose both if:
Both ranges are handmade in small batches at our smallholding in Atherstone, Warwickshire, using natural materials and cotton wicks - no paraffin, no synthetic additives.