What’s the Best Candle Wax for Beginners? Our *Honest* Soy 464 Review

If you’ve progressed past candle kits and want to get into candle making, you’ve inevitably wondered, what’s the best candle wax for beginners? Almost everyone will recommend Soy 464, a natural soy-based wax that’s lauded for its clean burn and forgiving nature (making it easier for beginners to master). That said, reactions to it run the gamut: 200+ reviews on one major candle supply company, The Flaming Candle, rate it five stars, whereas 1,100+ reviews on another, Candle Science, rate it a mere three. What’s the deal?! Let’s investigate.

Is Golden Brands Soy 464 really the best candle wax for beginners?

I don’t know about the “best,” but it is a great choice for people making container candles. (FYI: The wax doesn’t harden enough to create sculpted or pillar candles.) It’s all natural and contains an additive that reduces frosting—that crystal-like look on the sides of a glass jar, almost like frost on a window—and has an opaque, even finish. Plus, it comes as flakes of wax, rather than a giant brick, making it easier for newbies to melt down using the double boiler method.

In my experience, it adheres well to jars too, so you’re less likely to see the wax pull away from the container or create bubbles on the side.

What’s the Cold Throw Like?

It’s more fragrant than other soy waxes (like Makesy’s Supernatural Soy) that I’ve tried, though it’s not so strong that you’d smell the candle unlit from across the room. You have to get a few inches away from it to really capture the scent.

What’s the Hot Throw of Soy 464?

The hot throw—aka how strong the candle’s scent is when lit—is impressive. That’s another perk of the soy additive in this blend; it doesn’t just reduce frosting, it improves the throw of the scent, and it shows. I smell it more than other coconut soy and soy blends I’ve tried, though it’s still not as powerful as, say, a Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works candle (which both use paraffin wax in their formulas, an ingredient that boosts scent throw and makes for hardier candles, yet it poses some concerns about how cleanly it burns).

Soy 464 Pros:

• Melts easily and cools evenly
• Fewer tunneling or sinkhole issues than other blends
• Great hot and cold throw
• Relatively affordable
• Smooth, even tops are fairly easy to achieve

Soy 464 Cons:

• Lower melting point = hard to ship in summer or in warmer areas
• Some say its quality is inconsistent from batch to batch (I haven’t experienced this personally though)

How Does Soy 464 Compare to Makesy’s Supernatural Soy?

Both waxes come in easy-to-melt flake form, have a creamy opaque white finish and are generally more affordable than coconut soy and other blends, but that’s where the comparison ends. In my experience, Soy 464 better adheres to jars, melts more evenly (with fewer pitting and sinkhole issues) and has a stronger cold and hot throw.

The Verdict: Is Soy 464 Worth Trying?

Yes, Soy 464 is a great choice for pouring your first candles. If you live in the South (or any warmer climate), you may want to try Soy 444, as it has a higher melt point than 464 and can better withstand those tropical temperatures.

You can also order Soy 464 through Candle Science, The Flaming Candle and other major manufacturers.