🌿 Benefits & Uses

Health & Wellness Benefits 

Soy Wax (hydrogenated soybean oil) is a plant-derived, vegan wax valued for its smooth structure, cleaner burn in candles, and gentle occlusion in cosmetic balms. In leave‑on products, its long‑chain fatty acid network provides light occlusive benefits that help reduce transepidermal water loss, improving feel on dry elbows, heels, and lips when combined with emollients. As a candle base, it supports stable flames and scent throw when paired with compliant fragrances under IFRA.

Traditional & recent use: Derived from soybean oil, hydrogenated to raise the melt point, Soy Wax gained prominence as a renewable alternative to paraffin in container candles and as a vegan structurant in balms and sticks.

Mechanism of action:

• Crystalline lipid matrix provides firmness and payoff in sticks/balms.
• Lower melt behavior gives a smooth topical melt and soft glide.
• In candles, triglyceride crystallinity moderates contraction and adhesion to glass, aiding container performance.

Skin, hair & cosmetic benefits:

• Skin: Adds light occlusion/softness in lip balms and body balms when blended with oils and butters from Butters.
• Texture: Improves structure and payoff; reduces greasiness when balanced with lighter esters.
• Vegan positioning: Pairs well with Candelilla Wax for higher-melt sticks.

For antioxidant support in oil phases, add Vitamin E at 0.2–0.5%.

Practical Applications & Uses 

Cosmetics & personal care

• Lip balms/sticks: 5–20% Soy Wax with Candelilla Wax or Beeswax to tune hardness; blend with plant butters from Butters for slip.
• Body balms/solid lotion bars: 5–15% for structure; combine with esters for glide.
• Creams/lotions (oil phase structuring): 1–3% to add body/consistency alongside an emulsifier like White Emulsifying Wax.

Candles

• Container candles: 100% Soy Wax or blends with Paraffin Wax for improved hot throw. Typical fragrance load 6–8% (up to 10% if the wax grade allows); follow IFRA.
• Melting/pour guidance: Melt 60–75 °C; add fragrance at 60–65 °C; pour at 50–60 °C (grade and vessel-dependent). Cure 24–48 h before testing.

Home & DIY: Container candles, wax melts, vegan lip balms, solid perfumes. For step-by-step lip balm suited to PK climate, see lip balm formulation guide.

 Industry‑Specific Applications 

Manufacturing: Container candles, wax melts, paper coating blends, vegan cosmetics, crayons. As a cosmetic structurant, Soy Wax offers renewable sourcing and consistent batch reproducibility.

Recommended concentrations

• Lip balms/sticks: 5–20% (raise with Candelilla Wax for firmness)
• Body balms/solid lotions: 5–15%
• Creams/lotions (oil phase): 1–3%
• Container candles/wax melts: 100% or blends; fragrance 6–10% (check grade limit)

Compatibility & stability: Compatible with plant oils, esters, Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, and paraffin. Insoluble in water—use proper emulsification for creams.

Processing considerations:

• Melt point (typical): 45–52 °C (grade-dependent). Process 10–20 °C above melt for homogeneity; avoid overheating > 80 °C to reduce frosting.
• Crystallization control: Cool steadily; avoid rapid chilling to minimize frosting in candles.