You can find more information on the details of wax from any of the resources listed, and you may want simply to experiment on your own to find what works best for you, but here are the brief basics.
Paraffin, a common candle wax, is a petroleum byproduct (read, “bad for the environment”) available with different melting points. It often requires additives to keep it from shrinking. Beeswax, a stellar, all-natural alternative with a naturally pleasant honey scent, is more expensive but comes in a variety of forms, is easy to work with, burns longer and doesn’t shrink when it cools. Keep in mind that it’s important to purchase domestically collected beeswax to avoid possible pesticides. A relatively new product in the world of candles is soy wax. It’s all-natural, burns cleaner than paraffin, is often microwaveable (check the brand’s instructions on the package), and doesn’t shrink as it cools. You’ll also find it’s less expensive than beeswax.