Olive wax is an eco-friendly vegetable wax made from natural olive oil. Makers love it for its smooth, creamy texture and its excellent fragrance throw, both cold and hot. These qualities make it an ideal choice for crafting premium scented candles and other wax creations.
Naturally clean-burning, olive wax produces very little soot and gives a steady flame, for a long burn and a beautiful finish. It is a sustainable alternative to more traditional waxes such as paraffin wax. Its benefits are similar to those of rapeseed wax, although it is easier to work with. We particularly recommend it to anyone new to making scented candles or wax melts who wants a glossy finish.
It works with many types of containers, such as glass, metal or ceramic, and pairs beautifully with fragrances and dyes, for vibrant, personalised and eco-friendly creations.
Where olive wax comes from and how it is made
Usually developed in the United Kingdom, olive waxes blend perfectly with fragrance oils and oil-soluble dyes. They guarantee an excellent hot and cold throw. Natural, biodegradable, vegan and free from palm oil, paraffin and traces of GMOs, they offer a clean, sustainable alternative for candle making.
Made by hydrogenating olive oil, the wax gains stability and firmness while keeping its creamy texture. This process gives it a uniformity that makers appreciate when pouring, and a smooth finish that shows scented creations off at their best.
The benefits of olive wax for candles
Like every vegetable wax, olive wax has its strengths.
A sustainable vegetable wax
Olive wax is winning over many candle and wax melt makers. Made from hydrogenated olive oil, it is plant-based, biodegradable and free from traces of GMOs, palm oil and paraffin. Produced mainly around the Mediterranean basin, it is part of a responsible approach that favours short supply chains.
A gentle, clean burn
Olive wax burns slowly and steadily, with almost no soot. It releases fragrance beautifully, with a pleasant cold and hot throw. Its naturally creamy texture gives smooth tops and excellent adhesion to glass.
A safe composition for indoor use
Free from petrochemical substances, vegan and not tested on animals, olive wax does not release unwanted compounds when it burns. It is perfectly suited to indoor use.
Our main Kerax olive waxes
We offer wax for container candles and/or for moulded candles and wax melts.
Olive wax for container candles
EcoOlive wax by Kerax, designed for making container candles, offers excellent adhesion to glass and a steady, long-lasting scent throw. With our candle fragrances, a fragrance load of between 5% and 12% is recommended for the best scented result.
Olive wax for moulded candles and wax melts
For moulded candles, EcoOlive PillarBlend olive wax by Kerax ensures easy release from the mould and an even burn. It holds up to 12% fragrance for intensely scented creations. For scented wax melts, its fragrance retention and clean melt make it an ideal option for diffusing scents effectively, both cold and hot.
Which wicks to use with olive wax
For moulded candles, you can use flat or round cotton spooled wicks, wooden wicks, or tealight wicks for small sizes.
For container candles, it is compatible with a wide range of wicks: the TCR, ECO, STABILO and LX series, as well as flat or round cotton wicks and wooden wicks.
Like all vegetable waxes, it may need a slightly larger wick than paraffin. Testing is essential to check the flame, the melt pool and the burn.
Typical melting points by grade
Olive wax has a fairly low melting point, which makes it easy to work with. It is perfectly suited to beginners.
- Olive wax for container candles: 50°C to 56°C
- Olive wax for moulded candles and wax melts: 62°C
Colouring olive wax
Olive wax takes colour particularly well and is highly recommended for coloured creations. It naturally gives soft, elegant shades. For an even result, add the dye while the wax is hot (around 70°C), before the fragrance.
- Dye chips: up to 5% (depending on the intensity you want)
- Liquid dyes: up to 2%
Tip for an even colour: stir for 1 to 2 minutes after adding the dye so that it is perfectly distributed, then add the fragrance oil.
Scenting olive wax
Depending on the wax, a fragrance load of 5 to 12% gives excellent results. Add the fragrance as close as possible to the pouring temperature, then stir immediately and thoroughly so that the fragrance fully binds with the wax for the best possible throw.
Browse more than 500 fragrances on our website, all from Grasse in the south of France. Also discover our fragrance ranges with simplified labelling, without UFI at 7% and 10%, and free from CMR substances and phthalates.
Storing olive wax
Store your wax at room temperature, away from light, moisture and heat sources. It is best kept in an airtight container to avoid any contamination (dust, outside odours, moisture) and to preserve its performance over time.
Olive wax: an outstanding vegetable wax
Choosing Kerax olive wax means opting for an elegant vegetable base that performs well and is responsibly made. With the right wick, a carefully controlled melting temperature, dye added at the right temperature and a suitable fragrance load, you will create container or moulded candles with a premium finish. Always run tests before any large production batch.
And if you would like to explore other vegetable waxes, read our article on coconut wax, a high-performance plant-based alternative.
