candle

The most common and important plant wax is carnauba wax, a relatively hard substance obtained from the Brazilian palm Copernicia prunifera. This is used extensively in confectionary, as a coating for foods and pharmaceuticals, and as a polish or waterproofing agent. It is the principal ingredient in surfboard wax.

Soy wax is cheap to produce and is commonly used in candle making, however this may lead to a potential problem. Often soy wax is produced from genetically-modified, monoculture crops, which are subjected to a variety of chemical sprays. Fungicides and pesticides may ultimately end up in the finished product, so in theory you could be burning these toxins in your home!