Paraffin Wax
The versatile petroleum wax behind candles, packaging coatings, hot-melt adhesives and cosmetic formulations.
Chelora Chemicals supplies fully refined, semi-refined and food-grade paraffin wax to candle, packaging and cosmetics producers worldwide.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 8002-74-2
- Composition
- C₂₀-C₄₀ straight-chain (n-) alkane mixture
- Melting range
- 46-68 °C (grade dependent)
- Density
- 0.90-0.93 g/cm³
- Oil content
- Fully refined (<0.5%) / semi-refined (0.5-3%)
- Form supplied
- Slabs, pellets, granules, or molten bulk
- UN Number
- Not regulated
- HS Code
- 2712 20
Note: Food-grade paraffin wax for food-contact applications is refined to tighter oil-content and purity limits than standard candle or industrial grades.
What Paraffin Wax is used for
Paraffin Wax is a white, odourless, crystalline solid composed of a mixture of straight-chain (n-) alkanes in the C20-C40 range, recovered as a co-product of base-oil dewaxing during lubricant refining. It is supplied in fully refined grades (very low oil content, used in food-contact and cosmetic applications) and semi-refined grades (higher oil content, used in industrial and candle applications).
Paraffin wax's largest use is in candle manufacturing, where melting point and crystal structure determine burn quality and appearance. It is also widely used as a coating for packaging and corrugated board (moisture barrier), as a component in hot-melt adhesives, in cosmetics and personal care formulations, in rubber and crayon manufacture, and for food-contact coatings such as cheese wax and fruit coatings using fully refined, food-grade material.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Base Oil (Dewaxing) the source process — paraffin wax is removed from base-oil feedstock during dewaxing. See that page.
- Paraffin Wax (this product) the refined wax for the candle, packaging and cosmetic applications below.
- Hot-Melt Adhesives / Packaging Coatings downstream products formulated with paraffin wax as a component.
Handling character
Paraffin wax is not classified as hazardous under normal solid handling, though molten wax presents burn and combustibility risks. Full handling detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White, odourless solid (slab, pellet, or molten) |
| Melting point | 46-68 °C (grade dependent) |
| Oil content | <0.5% (fully refined) / 0.5-3% (semi-refined) |
| Grade | Fully refined / semi-refined / food-grade as agreed |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | White crystalline solid, often handled molten above melting point |
| Melting range | 46-68 °C |
| Density | 0.90-0.93 g/cm³ |
| Composition | C20-C40 straight-chain alkanes |
| Water solubility | Insoluble |
| Flash point | > 200 °C (combustible solid) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 8002-74-2 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Paraffin Wax to work
The refined wax behind candles, packaging coatings, adhesives and cosmetics.
Candle manufacturing
The dominant use of paraffin wax, selected by melting point and crystal structure for burn quality.
- Candle-grade specification
- Slab & pellet bulk supply
- Technical desk review on request
Packaging & corrugated board coating
Applied as a moisture-barrier coating on corrugated board, paper and packaging.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Hot-melt adhesives
Used as a component in hot-melt adhesive formulations for packaging and converting.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Cosmetics & personal care
Used in lip balms, creams and other personal care formulations using fully refined, cosmetic-grade wax.
- Cosmetic-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Food-contact coatings
Used in cheese wax, fruit coatings and other food-contact applications using food-grade material.
- Food-grade specification
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Candle, packaging and cosmetics plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Paraffin Wax
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Melting point, oil content and refining grade are critical to candle, packaging and food-contact performance — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import and food-contact compliance requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Melting point and oil content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to candle burn quality and packaging/cosmetic performance.
- Fully refined, semi-refined and food-grade all sourced. Matched precisely to your end-use specification.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing refinery. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Slab, pellet and molten bulk formats offered. Matched to your receiving and processing equipment.
Solid or molten, packed to your process
Slab/pellet cartons, bulk bags or molten tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and arrange it.
25 kg cartons
Cartons of slabs, pellets or granules for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~500-1,000 kg bulk bags
Flexible intermediate bulk containers for mid-volume converter orders.
Temperature-controlled bulk shipment
Heated ISO tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption candle and packaging plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for formulation trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Non-hazardous solid — handle sensibly when molten
Solid paraffin wax is not classified as hazardous under GHS for normal handling, but molten wax presents burn and combustibility hazards. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
Not classifiedSolid wax is not classified as hazardous under GHS.Molten-handling noteMolten wax presents burn hazard and should be kept away from open flame given its combustibility above flash point.
Treat molten wax with burn-hazard precautions. Solid wax is benign; molten wax (used in candle and coating processes) requires standard hot-liquid handling precautions. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Storage
Store solid wax (slabs, pellets) in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight and heat sources that could cause premature softening or melting.
Handling
Standard PPE is sufficient for solid handling. Use heat-resistant gloves and face protection for molten-wax transfer and processing; keep away from open flame given its combustibility above flash point.
Transport
Not classified as dangerous goods for transport in solid or molten form. We confirm any destination-specific food-contact compliance documentation your shipment requires.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Melting point, oil content and refining grade confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer/refinery batch testing
The producing refinery tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and food-contact compliance paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing refinery, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How Paraffin Wax is made
Paraffin wax is recovered as a co-product of the solvent dewaxing process used in base-oil refining, where wax crystals are precipitated from the lubricant distillate at low temperature and separated by filtration. The crude wax (slack wax) is then de-oiled and refined — by hydrotreating or clay/percolation filtration — to the fully refined or semi-refined grade required.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Refined petroleum wax (straight-chain alkane mixture) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | None (saturated paraffins) |
| Reactivity | Chemically inert; functions by melting point and crystal structure, not reactive chemistry |
| Related compounds | Base Oil (co-production process), Petroleum Coke (related refinery product) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Paraffin Wax, answered
What is Paraffin Wax used for?
How is Paraffin Wax made?
Is Paraffin Wax hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Paraffin Wax today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.