PE Wax (Polyethylene Wax) for Candle Making - Hardness & Gloss Additive

PE Wax (Polyethylene Wax) for Candle Making is a high-melting candle additive used by makers to increase hardness, improve surface gloss and help pillar, votive and moulded candles hold their shape more cleanly. Lume & Co. PE Wax is supplied as white flakes for easy weighing and blending.

It is especially useful when you want a firmer finished candle, a cleaner polished look or better resistance to softening in warm conditions. Polyethylene wax is also widely used as a performance wax because it can raise the overall melt point of a wax system and influence viscosity, surface finish and burn behaviour.

Why Candle Makers Use PE Wax

• Adds hardness: helps produce firmer pillar and moulded candles.
• Improves gloss: can create a smoother, more polished surface finish.
• Supports shape retention: useful for freestanding and detailed moulded candles.
• Raises heat resistance: can help improve stability of the finished wax blend at higher temperatures.
• Useful for pillar & moulded candles: ideal when structural firmness matters more than container adhesion.

Recommended Use

Starting dosage: 1–5% of total wax weight.

Melt / dissolve guide: approximately 130–150°C for this grade. Add PE Wax to fully melted base wax and stir until completely dissolved and uniformly blended.

Start at the lower end of the range and increase only as required. The ideal percentage depends on your base wax, fragrance load, dye, mould, wick and desired finish. Always test a small batch before full-scale production because PE Wax can change melt point, viscosity and candle burn characteristics.

Best Suited For

• Pillar candles
• Votive candles
• Moulded / sculptural candles
• Paraffin-based candle formulations
• Candle blends requiring extra hardness or a glossier finish

Product Details

• Product: PE Wax / Polyethylene Wax
• Form: White flakes
• Use: Candle making additive
• Function: Hardness, gloss, shape retention and heat resistance
• Available packs: 100 g, 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg

How Much PE Wax Should I Use?

For a 1 kg candle-wax batch, a 1–5% trial range equals approximately 10–50 g of PE Wax. For a 500 g batch, this equals approximately 5–25 g. Begin low, evaluate hardness, finish and burn performance, then adjust your formulation gradually.

Important Formulation Note

PE Wax is a formulation additive, not a complete candle wax on its own. Compatibility varies by base wax. Higher additions can materially change hardness, melt point, fragrance behaviour and wick requirements, so finished candles should always be burn-tested before sale.

Storage & Safety

• Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry place.
• Keep away from children.
• Do not ingest.
• Use heat-safe equipment and avoid overheating.