A million years ago I used to make traditional pillar candles with a paraffin based wax blend. Not sure anymore what's in it but it can from a very reputable local supplier. I switched to soy ( I just do these for personal use and gifts) because of the soot and clean up issues but I have recently unearthed two giant slabs of the old stuff. I'd love to make good use of it and am hoping to make wax melts. Good idea? Pros and cons? Any advice??? Thanks in advance!

Kevin??? I'm sure you must know!

I don't see what the issue is with paraffin, it's will make a perfectly good candle or melts. If your using paraffin for melts then it will only hold up to 6% FO, were as soy will hold up to 10%.  I use both waxes for varying style candles, it depends what effect your after also, but my paraffin candles have just as good scent throw as my soy ones. Paraffin is also a lot more reliable, and i would say easier to work with, were as soy wax is a bit more tricky to get right and can also change slighly from batch to batch.

I think its very much down to the individual- if your all for suistainability then go with soy, as soy is farmed from a suistainable source. And i think the soot issue, is just something made up by paraffin bashers, to big up soy. A well made and tested paraffin candle with the right wick, which is kept trimmed will not produce soot.  Soot isn't really an issue when your making wax melts though as the wax is never burning.

So i'd just go ahead and make them in the paraffin if you have a lot to use up. Yankee make their melts from paraffin and look how popular they are!

Thanks, Vicky! I apprereciate your help. This is great news - I have a lot to use up (maybe 40lbs?) and several candle only fragrances. I'm sure it won't end up as melts (wow, that would be a lot) but not having to mess with wicks sounds nice right now. Thanks! Hey, BTW, where are you? You're up late!

You could always make some votive candles to use up the excess wax as well. They're pretty easy to wick.

I'm in the U.K, so yeah i'm up pretty late. Can't sleep so having a read on hear, looking at all these wonderful cp soap creations, and thinking i'm going to have to have a try myself soon.

votives are a great idea. I have a ton of 4oz. mason jars left over from making my birdie's baby food and some short wicks somewhere... I'm trying not to order anything either - more of a spring cleaning by using things up ( I have a hard time letting go...)

try a new recipe or try CP for the first time?