What Happens to Paraffin When a Candle Burns? 01 August 2025

Have you ever wondered how a candle works and what happens to the paraffin as it burns? Paraffin is a petroleum-derived substance composed mainly of saturated hydrocarbons. Although it’s solid at room temperature, it undergoes a series of fascinating physical and chemical transformations during burning — processes that make the candle produce both light and heat.

Let’s take a closer look at this process!

The Process of Paraffin Combustion

1. Melting
Heat from the flame warms the paraffin near the wick. At this stage, the solid paraffin begins to melt, changing its state from solid to liquid.

2. Capillary Action
The liquid paraffin is drawn up into the wick through capillary action — a natural process where liquids move through narrow spaces, such as the fibers of the wick. This mechanism ensures a steady fuel supply to the flame.

3. Evaporation and Thermal Decomposition
Near the flame, the liquid paraffin evaporates and undergoes pyrolysis — thermal decomposition into smaller molecules like hydrogen and short-chain hydrocarbons, which are then ready to combust.

4. Combustion
The vaporized paraffin, heated to ignition temperature, mixes with oxygen from the air, resulting in combustion. This reaction produces carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), heat, and light. These chemical processes are responsible for the candle’s bright and steady flame.

5. Gradual Consumption
This process continues until all the paraffin in the candle is consumed. Polwax candles are known for their even burn, which ensures optimal use of the material throughout the candle’s life.

Paraffin in Our Products

Polwax supplies high-quality paraffins and wax blends used in decorative candles. Thanks to careful raw material selection and advanced refining technologies, our products ensure clean and stable burning with minimal soot formation.

The candle-burning process is a great example of how technology and natural phenomena work together to create functional and aesthetically pleasing products.
If you’re looking for raw materials to produce candles with outstanding performance, we invite you to explore Polwax’s offerings!