Candles are obviously made mainly of wax, but there are several different sorts of wax available. Each wax type possesses its own features and advantages, and each has a very slightly different appearance and consistency. Most candles on the market presently are made of paraffin, which is a petroleum product. However when paraffin candles are burned they give off hazardous toxins. These days a new candle wax is becoming popular and that is soy candles. Scented soy candles when used do not discharge harmful toxins. Soy wax and paraffin wax can be prepared in many different consistencies, including a soft wax for container candles and harder waxes for hurricane candles. Many candles fall somewhere in between, with a mid-density paraffin that can be applied in molded candles of all kinds. It can also be used for taper candles, although there is also a special formula particularly for tapers.

Other forms of wax include soy wax, as pointed out earlier, bees wax and also a new unique palm wax. All of these forms are celebrated as being more natural, and are better for the atmosphere. Soy wax, made from soy beans, is a clean-burning wax with an equivalent consistency to the mid-range paraffin waxes. Bees wax is a more gentle wax, and is prized for its flexibility. Beeswax is often shaped into sheets with a honeycomb design. Someone purchasing these sheets can then make a convenient taper candle by wrapping the malleable sheet around a wick and pressing it strongly. One disadvantage of beeswax however is that it is very pricey. As you can notice, soy candles are your best alternative to paraffin wax candles.

Candle wicks are available in different sizes that represent the diameter of the candle. Larger candles, often candles over six inches in diameter, need more than one wick. Wicks are made of cotton treated with chemical substances that delays their burn rate. A wick may consist of only the treated cotton, or it may have a firm core to enable it to stay straighter as it burns. The cores are generally made of either a thickened piece of cotton, a tightly rolled strip of paper, or zinc. Lead candle wicks are not anymore made because of the health risks associated with lead.

Candle wax is treated with different chemicals to give it the color, stiffness and fragrance desired. Color usually is available in pigment blocks that can be melted into the wax. Fragrance comes in either liquid or solid block form. To produce firmer candles, Stearine or Vybar is often added to increase the burning spell of the candle. Additional effects can be created with other additives that can make the wax dappled, translucent or give it a snowflake design. Changing the wax's additive recipe can greatly change the look of the wax, giving candles the wide range of colors and effects that are there on the market now.