Why Coconut Wax Outperforms Soy: A Candle Comparison

I’ve said it from the very beginning—Ritual candles consistently outperform soy candles. And honestly, disappointing soy candles were the reason I started this business in the first place. I was tired of lighting something that was supposed to bring comfort and calm, only to end up with a tunneled mess, a fading scent, or a headache from overpowering fragrance.

During a time when I was really leaning into self-care, candles became part of my daily ritual. But the ones I kept bringing home from my favorite stores just didn’t deliver. They’d smell great at first, then lose their magic within an hour. It was frustrating—and disheartening.

So, I set out to create something better: a candle that was clean-burning, long-lasting, beautifully fragrant, and actually worth looking forward to.

Now that I’ve spent the past few years handcrafting Ritual candles with Coco Apricot wax and crackling wood wicks, I wanted to circle back—put soy candles to the test again—and see how they truly compare.

I chose four well-rated soy candles—two with cotton wicks and two with wood wicks—from popular retailers like Etsy and Amazon. I also included a candle from Bath & Body Works, since I often hear customers mention them (usually not in a good way).

Let’s meet our four contenders!

Disclaimer:

This candle test was conducted purely for educational purposes to explore the differences between soy wax and coconut wax. It is not intended to discredit or harm any small business or company. All observations reflect personal experiences and are shared with the goal of informing and empowering fellow candle lovers and makers.

Let’s Meet The Competitors

Competitor #1: Cabin Fever

Fragrance: Cabin Fever

Cost: $29.17 / 9.5 oz ($3.07/oz)

Wick Type: Wood

First Impressions: The scent is refreshing, herbal, and fruity. The fragrance is really well balanced and one of my favorites. I can definitely smell the sage, lavender, and amber the most.

Competitor #2: Get A Whiff

Fragrance: Sage Against The Machine

Cost: $29.21 / 7 oz ($4.17/oz)

Wick Type: Wood

First Impressions: Also one of my favorite fragrances for this competition. The camphor comes through first and then the earthy notes hit. I can clearly smell the sage and lavender.

Competitor #3: Bath & Body Works

Fragrance: Cactus Blossom

Cost: $25.92 / 8 oz ($3.24/oz)

Wick Type: Cotton

First Impressions: The fragrance is overpowering, but it’s a really nice floral scent. The soft vanilla comes through as a base note and the citrus brightens it.

Competitor #4: Miller Farm Candle Co.

Fragrance: Birch & Barrel

Cost: $19.10 / 9 oz ($2.12/oz)

Wick Type: Cotton

First Impressions: I can’t help but wonder if something went wrong with this batch, but this particular candle fragrance smelled rancid. I cannot tell what specifically went wrong with it, but the description for this scent wasn’t there at all unfortunately.

Competitor #5: Walk In The Sand

Fragrance: Ritual Candle Co.

Cost: $28.15 / 8 oz ($3.52/oz)

Wick Type: Wood

First Impressions: I am heavily biased here, but I love this fragrance. It’s such a pleasant scent of sandalwood, allspice, and leather.

The Candle Tests

I evaluated each candle across several key performance areas and overall quality. During the first burn, I recorded data and observations every 30 minutes over a 2-hour period. The specific areas I assessed included:

• Hot Throw – How well the fragrance filled the room while burning

• Wax Quality – Texture, appearance, and performance during the burn

• Flame Control – Flame safety, burn consistency, and how evenly the wax melted across the surface

• Overall Enjoyment – My personal experience with scent, ambiance, and burn quality

Test #1: Hot Throw

The first test was the Hot Throw—how well the fragrance fills a space and how far the scent travels while burning. This can be a bit subjective since everyone’s sense of smell is different and certain scent notes may stand out more to some than others. That said, I have a background in science (thanks to my math degree!) and did my best to reduce bias wherever possible.

At the end of the day, though, the only way to truly know how a candle performs in your space is to try it yourself.

For this test, I burned each candle on my kitchen island and evaluated the hot throw at 30-minute intervals. To help reset my sense of smell, I would step outside briefly before each check. Then, I walked through different areas of my home—living room, hallway, bedrooms—to see how far the fragrance had traveled.

I recorded the approximate distance at which I could still detect the scent, then repeated the process to confirm consistency.

It was clear that Cabin Fever and Birch & Barrel had the weakest performance. I made a genuine effort to move throughout my home and reset my sense of smell between checks, but I couldn’t detect either scent beyond the immediate area where they were burning on the kitchen island.

Sage Against the Machine had a moderate hot throw—not terrible, but not especially strong either. I was able to smell it about 10 feet into the living room, but that was the limit.

Surprisingly, Cactus Blossom performed quite well, holding its own alongside Walk in the Sand, which also did a great job dispersing fragrance throughout the space. But, then…

It was at this point where I made an incredible discovery…

Because of everything I’d heard from customers—and how most of the soy candles were performing—I decided to dig a little deeper into the wax blend used in the Bath & Body Works candle, Cactus Blossom. It stood out with surprisingly strong performance for a soy-based candle, and honestly, it wasn’t adding up.

After a bit of research, I discovered the reason: it’s not purely soy. Cactus Blossom is actually made with a soy and coconut wax blend. That explains a lot. The wax I use for Ritual candles is pure coconut wax, which is known for its superior scent throw, cleaner burn, and overall quality. So it makes perfect sense that Cactus Blossom held its own in this test—it shares some of the same wax benefits I rely on for every Ritual candle.

Test #2: Wax Quality

The quality test turned out to be more eye-opening than I expected. I anticipated some tunneling and minor performance issues, but what truly surprised me was the severe breakdown of the wax in several of the candles. The texture, consistency, and even the way some of them burned down was noticeably poor—far beyond what I imagined going into this test.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each candle—ranked from worst to best—while keeping our perspective as objective as possible.

5th Place: Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever was one of the more surprising results. It exhibited significant tunneling, visible dents, and air pockets, all of which impacted the overall burn quality. The wax breakdown was more severe than expected and raised some concerns about consistency in production.

I needed to know more…

Why Sinkholes Form in Soy Candles:

Soy wax is especially prone to sinkholes due to how it cools and contracts. As it solidifies, the edges and area around the wick cool faster than the center, causing uneven surfaces or voids. Soy wax also naturally shrinks as it cools, and air can become trapped during pouring—all of which can lead to sinkholes. Even the wick and container shape can influence how the wax sets.

4th Place: Sage Against The Machine

Sage Against The Machine ranks just above Cabin Fever. While it didn’t tunnel immediately, consistent tunneling began after the second burn. That said, I found myself reaching for it a few more times simply because I genuinely enjoyed the fragrance, even if the scent throw was limited to just the kitchen.

3rd Place: Birch & Barrel

Birch & Barrel was a welcome surprise. Given how off-putting the fragrance was to me, I was hoping there would be at least one redeeming quality—and there was. While the wax had a few small surface cracks, there was no tunneling, and the burn was surprisingly clean. Although it was one of the lowest performers overall, this was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing experience.

2nd Place: Cactus Blossom

It’s no surprise that Cactus Blossom stood out in terms of wax quality—unlike the other candles in this test, it uses a soy and coconut wax blend. That small detail made a big difference. The candle showed no tunneling, developed a nice, somewhat even melt pool after about 90 minutes, and overall performed well.

1st Place: Walk In The Sand

Without bias, Walk In The Sand was the clear winner of this test. It formed an even melt pool within about 45 minutes, maintained it consistently throughout each burn, and showed no signs of tunneling. Overall, it delivered the strongest performance.

Seeing all five candles burning side by side made it even more clear why Walk In The Sand stands out. In the video below, each candle had been burning for about 40 minutes. The coconut wax in Walk In The Sand had already developed a smooth, even melt pool, showing excellent heat control and a noticeably stronger hot throw. It’s simply a well-crafted candle—performing exactly the way you’d hope a candle should.

Test #3: Flame Control

The flame test is one of the most important aspects of candle performance. Every step in the candle-making process matters, including temperature control, material quality, additives like mica, cure time, and especially wick selection. Each of these factors plays a vital role in how a candle ultimately burns.

Wick size must be carefully matched to both the type of wax and the diameter of the vessel. Since starting Ritual Candle Co., I’ve tested countless wood wick combinations across various sizes. It’s something I continue to test regularly to ensure my candles are performing at their best.

If a wick is too large, it produces excess heat. This can lead to a flame that’s too big, wax that melts too quickly, overheating, and potential safety concerns. On the other hand, a wick that’s too small won’t generate enough heat to form an even melt pool. This results in tunneling and an underwhelming burn. The goal is to find the perfect balance—a flame that’s strong enough to perform well, but controlled enough to maintain safety and protect the integrity of the wax.

Wood wicks, in particular, require this careful balance. They are not widely used by candle makers because of how labor-intensive and time-consuming the testing process is. But to me, they’re absolutely worth it. The ambiance they create, the soft crackling sound, the cozy glow, and the added sensory experience, all make burning them more enjoyable. I truly believe they bring something special to every Ritual candle.

A quick reminder for all the candle lovers out there:

For your candles to perform their best, it’s important to let them burn long enough for the entire top layer of wax to melt evenly—ideally about 1/8" to 1/4" deep. And don’t forget to trim the wick, especially any blackened or mushroomed tips, before each burn. These simple steps help your candles burn cleaner, longer, and more safely.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the competitors stacked up!

Competitor: Walk In The Sand

Flame Size: Moderate

Safety Risk: None

Heat: Optimal

Summary:

Walk In The Sand maintained a well-controlled flame throughout each burn. While the flame could become slightly larger if the wick wasn’t trimmed beforehand, it never posed a safety risk. When properly trimmed, the flame was steady and effective, providing the right amount of heat to melt the wax evenly and support strong performance.

Competitor: Cabin Fever

Flame Size: Low to Moderate (very low on first burn; increased slightly on second burn)

Safety Risk: None

Heat: Insufficient; tunneling and uneven burn observed

Summary:

Cabin Fever struggled from the start. Despite having the largest wick of all the candles tested—a detail that typically results in a larger flame—the initial burn produced a surprisingly small flame. Even after two continuous hours, it wasn’t generating enough heat to melt the wax across the full diameter of the vessel. The flame did improve slightly on the second burn, but by then, tunneling had already begun. With a more consistent and hotter flame from the beginning, the performance might have been better.

Competitor: Birch & Barrel

Flame Size: Moderate - High

Safety Risk: None

Heat: Produced too much heat; large melt pool and slightly elevated flame

Summary:

During the first burn, Birch & Barrel generated enough heat to melt one side of the wax but struggled to reach the other, likely due to a slightly off-center wick. By the second burn, the flame grew noticeably larger, and the heat intensified. Within about 30 minutes, the melt pool reached approximately ½ inch in depth. The wick also produced black smoke when lit or extinguished, though it dissipated shortly after.

Note:

The black specks visible in the photos are from lighting the wick when it had mushroomed, meaning the wick developed a carbon buildup at the tip from a previous burn. This happens when a wick isn’t trimmed before relighting and can cause excess soot, debris in the wax, and an uneven flame. Always trim your wicks to about 1/8" before each burn for best results!

Competitor: Sage Against The Machine

Flame Size: Low to High

Safety Risk: Low

Heat: Adequate on first burn; insufficient during second burn, leading to tunneling

Summary:

Sage Against The Machine had a strong start with an even melt pool and a steady flame. But by the second burn, it began to tunnel as the flame couldn’t generate enough heat. Surprisingly, about a third of the way through, the flame grew larger and started correcting the tunneling—a rare and unexpected shift that may have been due to wick behavior or user error.

Competitor: Cactus Blossom

Flame Size: Moderate

Safety Risk: None

Heat: Optimal; full melt pool achieved

Summary:

Cactus Blossom maintained a moderate flame and consistent heat throughout each burn. Thanks to its coconut-soy wax blend, which melts more easily than pure soy, it achieved an even melt pool without the flame getting too large.

Important Note:

The tunneling visible in the photos was due to an early extinguish on one burn and not a performance issue. In all other burns, the candle performed as expected.

Test #4: Overall Enjoyment

I thoroughly enjoyed Sage Against The Machine. The fragrance was beautiful and I loved the crackling wood wick . The vessel and label were beautiful that look that would complement any space. For the most part, it burned evenly and performed well, which made it even more enjoyable to use. My only real wish is that the scent had a stronger throw—I could really only smell it within the kitchen, and I would’ve loved for it to fill more of my home.

Cactus Blossom was a huge surprise. Once I discovered it was made with a coconut blend, everything started to make sense. It outperformed all the other soy candles in this test, had a pleasant—though overpowering—fragrance, and didn’t present any safety concerns. The vessel is simple and clean, which I personally appreciate, as it aligns with the aesthetic I aim for with my Ritual candles.

Overall, Birch & Barrel was my least favorite of the group. While the initial scent mellowed a bit during the burn, the fragrance profile—notes of fruit, eucalyptus, and possibly pine—just wasn’t my personal preference. The vessel and packaging felt fairly standard, and the flame produced more heat than necessary. I also noticed some black smoke when lighting and extinguishing the wick, which impacted the overall experience.

I was really rooting for Cabin Fever. It had fantastic packaging, a unique container, and featured a crackling wood wick—all elements I love. That’s why I was so surprised by its performance. While I genuinely enjoyed the fragrance, the scent didn’t travel beyond the kitchen, and the wax quality was the most inconsistent and disappointing of all the candles I tested. It was a bit of a letdown after such a promising first impression.

I’ve done my best to remain objective throughout this entire test, and with that in mind, Walk In The Sand delivered the strongest performance across every category. Its coconut wax base is not only more environmentally friendly, but also performs better, lasts longer, and melts beautifully—smooth and even, like butter. The design is simple and clean, allowing the candle itself to shine. As it burns, the shimmering wax creates a calming visual that enhances the overall experience.

In Conclusion

I’m so glad I did this candle test—for a lot of reasons. Most importantly, it validated what I’ve believed all along: coconut wax truly is the better choice when it comes to performance, longevity, and the overall candle experience. It reinforced why I chose it for Ritual Candle Co., and how it’s meant to function when done right.

I also gained a deeper understanding of soy wax, including how common issues like air pockets, surface denting, and wick mushrooming are. And I’m still surprised by Cactus Blossom from Bath & Body Works. Based on what I’ve heard from others, I didn’t expect it to perform well—but discovering it uses a soy-coconut blend helped explain the difference. Of course, I only tested one candle from their entire line, so results could vary with others.

This test also made it clear just how much packaging and aesthetics influence buying decisions. In many cases, when you’re paying as much—or more—for a soy candle compared to a coconut-based one like Ritual’s, what you’re really paying for is the container and branding.

Coconut wax candles, especially those from Ritual Candle Co., last longer, burn more cleanly, and are better for the environment from both a production and performance standpoint. If you want the most value for your money, coconut wax is absolutely the way to go.

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