• Prior to the 19th century, a "wax" candle typically referred to a beeswax candle.
• All waxes are primarily hydrocarbons, whether the wax is of animal, vegetable, or petroleum origin. The chemical composition of all waxes used for candle-making is similar.
• An estimated 1 billion pounds of wax are used in the candles sold each year in the United States.
• Candles account for the second largest use of waxes in North America, after packaging and package coatings.
• Paraffin is the most commonly used candle wax today. Beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes are also used in candle-making for the U.S. market, as are blends of waxes.   Note: Country Light Candle Company manufactures hand-crafted candles made from high quality soy and/or palm wax - only.
• Waxes burn with a yellow flame due to the presence of carbon.
• No specific type of wax or wax blend is considered "best" for candlemaking. All candle waxes - when provided in high-quality format - have been shown to burn cleanly and safely.
• No candle wax has ever been shown to be toxic or harmful to human health.
• There is no such thing as a soot-free wax. All organic compounds when burned will emit some carbon (soot) due to incomplete combustion. Sooting is primarily a factor of wick length and disturbance of the flame's steady teardrop shape.
• Reputable candle manufacturers use only high-quality waxes in their formulations.

*The National Candle Association is widely recognized as the leading technical authority on candles and candle manufacturing.  For more information, please go to their website at www.candles.org