Soy Wax Melts vs Paraffin Wax Melts: What Is the Difference?

Soy wax melts and paraffin wax melts do the same job: you warm them in a burner and they scent the room. The difference is the wax that carries the fragrance. Soy wax is made from soybean oil, paraffin comes from refining crude oil, and that changes how each one melts, how it feels in the dish, how it looks and how easy it is to clear away. Here is what actually differs, what does not, and how to choose.

Where each wax comes from

Soy wax is made by hydrogenating soybean oil, a process that turns the liquid oil into a soft, creamy solid. Paraffin wax is separated out when crude oil is refined, then refined further into the hard white wax used in many candles and melts. Plenty of melts sold in the UK are blends of two or more waxes, which is why a label that says "soy blend" does not necessarily mean there is no paraffin in it. A label that says the melts contain no paraffin is a more specific statement.

How they differ in the burner

• Melting point. Soy wax melts at a lower temperature than most paraffin used for melts, so a soy melt turns liquid quickly over a tealight and stays soft for a while as the dish cools.
• Texture. Soy feels creamy and a little oily between your fingers. Paraffin is harder and snaps cleanly, which is why paraffin melts often come in crisp, sharp-edged shapes.
• Appearance. Soy wax often develops a pale, crystalline bloom on the surface, known as frosting. It is a natural feature of the wax and makes no difference to the fragrance. Paraffin tends to stay smooth and glossy and holds strong colours.
• Scent strength. Paraffin has a reputation for a strong scent once melted, and soy for a softer, rounder one. In practice the fragrance oil, how much of it went in and the size of your room count for more. A well-scented soy melt will fill a small room; a weakly scented melt of any wax will not.
• Clearing up. Soy is soft, so it wipes out of a cool dish with kitchen paper, and any spills come off hands and worktops with warm soapy water. Paraffin sets hard and usually pops out of the dish in one disc once it is cold.
• Warm rooms. Because soy is softer, soy melts can soften in a hot room or a sunny window. Store them somewhere cool and they keep their shape.

What stays the same

Whichever wax you choose, you use a melt the same way. The wax does not burn away. Only the fragrance is released as it warms, so the same piece can be melted several times until you can no longer smell it. Use an unscented tealight or an electric warmer, never leave a lit burner unattended, and let the wax cool and set before you move the burner. Our guide to cleaning a wax melt burner covers getting old wax out, and if you use a plug-in warmer, see wax melts in an electric burner.

It is worth being clear about what the choice is not. Neither wax should be sold to you as safer or better for you than the other. Choose on how the melt looks, feels and performs in your home, and on the fragrances you enjoy.

How to choose

• Choose soy if you like a soft, creamy melt that turns liquid quickly in a tealight burner, if you change scents often and want an easy clear-up, or if you simply prefer a wax made from a plant oil.
• Choose paraffin if you want bright colours and crisp shapes, or a melt that holds its shape on a warm windowsill.
• Read the ingredients. A good label names the wax and the fragrance type, for example fragrance oil or essential oils. If it only says "wax", ask the seller.
• Check the size of each piece. Melts range from small hearts to 15g blocks, so the right amount for one session varies. Start with one piece and add a second only if the room needs more.

Common questions

Are soy wax melts better than paraffin?

Neither is better in every way. Soy melts quickly, clears up easily and comes from a plant oil. Paraffin is harder, glossier and often strongly scented. The best one is the one whose texture, look and fragrance you like.

Why do my soy wax melts look white and crystalline?

That is frosting, a natural bloom that forms on soy wax as it sets. It does not affect how the melt smells or works, and it disappears as soon as the wax melts.

Can I mix soy and paraffin melts in the same burner?

You can, but the waxes and the fragrances blend together, so you lose the character of each. It is better to let the dish cool, lift out the old wax and start the new melt in a clean dish.

Do soy wax melts last as long as paraffin ones?

The wax itself lasts as long as you keep it; what fades is the fragrance. A piece of either kind usually scents a room over several sessions, depending on its size and the strength of the fragrance.

Do soy melts work in an electric burner?

Yes. Their lower melting point suits the gentle heat of an electric warmer, and they melt evenly across the dish.

Our soy wax melts and burners

Every soy melt in our home fragrance range is made with soy wax, and the supplier states they contain no paraffin. They come in three formats.

• Jars of hearts. Each jar holds about 16 small hearts, roughly 80g in all. Try the Dark Sandalwood soy wax melts jar (£9.95) for something warm and woody, or the Cinnamon and Orange jar (£9.95) for autumn evenings. One or two hearts are enough for a session.
• Boxes of six. A Box of 6 Wax Melts in Brandy Butter (£8.45) holds six melts of about 15g each, separated by card dividers. One at a time is plenty for most rooms. White Musk (£8.45) is a softer, powdery choice.
• Aroma melts. The Ginger and Clove aroma wax melts (£11.95) are soy wax hearts scented with essential oils, around 14 to 16 to a glass jar.

To warm them, our ceramic Pebble Wax Burner in matt black (£6.95) and the large speckled off-white pebble (£6.95) each take an ordinary tealight; see them all in our wax burners. For seasonal pairings, our autumn and Christmas wax melt scents guide has ideas. Delivery is free in the UK on orders over £40.