BB-M170 Extra Soft Microcrystalline Wax

BB-M170 Extra Soft Microcrystalline Wax is used as a blending additive when a candle or wax formula needs more flexibility, tack, adhesion, toughness, or resistance to cracking.

Compared with standard paraffin wax, BB-M170 is softer and more flexible. It can be especially useful in custom paraffin blends, molded wax projects, sculptural wax work, decorative pieces, and formulas that feel too brittle or fragile.

BB-M170 is not intended to replace a finished container, pillar, or taper candle wax. It performs best as a small percentage of a tested wax formula.

• Extra soft microcrystalline wax for candle and wax blending
• Can help improve flexibility and toughness
• Useful for reducing brittleness in compatible paraffin blends
• Can increase tack and adhesion in custom wax formulas
• Useful for molded, sculptural, and decorative wax testing
• Can help reduce cracking in some compatible wax formulas
• Best used in small test batches before full production

1. Cut or break the BB-M170 into smaller pieces if needed.
2. Calculate the amount based on the total weight of your wax formula.
3. Start with a low percentage, especially when testing a new blend.
4. Melt the BB-M170 together with your chosen wax until completely liquid.
5. Stir slowly until the microcrystalline wax is fully incorporated.
6. Add dye and fragrance according to the requirements of your base wax formula.
7. Pour into your prepared mold, container, or test setup.
8. Allow the wax to cool completely before evaluating flexibility, adhesion, texture, mold release, and burn performance.

BB-M170 can noticeably change the texture and behavior of a wax blend. It may make the wax more flexible, tacky, cohesive, and resistant to cracking, but using too much can make the finished formula overly soft, sticky, cloudy, or difficult to wick correctly.

Start with a low percentage and test carefully. A percentage that works well in paraffin may behave differently in soy wax, beeswax, specialty wax blends, or finished commercial candle waxes.

Test the complete formula using the same fragrance oil, dye, wick, mold or container, and cooling conditions that will be used in production.

• Paraffin blends: Useful when a formula needs more flexibility, toughness, or reduced brittleness.
• Molded candles: Can be tested when cracking or fragility is a concern.
• Sculptural wax projects: Useful for formulas that need more flexibility and less brittleness during shaping or handling.
• Decorative wax pieces: Can help improve flexibility and toughness in detailed wax work.
• Pillar formulas: Can be tested in compatible blends when more flexibility or crack resistance is needed.
• Custom wax blends: Useful when adjusting tack, adhesion, flexibility, texture, and toughness.

BB-M170 is especially useful when a wax formula feels too brittle or cracks too easily during cooling, molding, shaping, handling, or transport.

Adding a small percentage of soft microcrystalline wax can help increase flexibility and toughness in compatible blends. However, the correct percentage depends on the base wax and the finished product.

Too much BB-M170 can make a formula softer or tackier than intended, so increase the percentage gradually rather than making large formula changes at once.

BB-M170 is a soft and tacky microcrystalline wax, so higher percentages do not automatically produce better results. Small adjustments are usually easier to evaluate.

• Wax feels too sticky: Reduce the BB-M170 percentage.
• Formula becomes too soft: Lower the usage rate or test with a harder compatible wax.
• Poor mold release: Reduce the BB-M170 percentage or test a firmer wax blend.
• Cloudy finish: Reduce the additive level and compare with the original base formula.
• Weak scent throw: Re-test fragrance load, cure time, and wick size after changing the wax formula.
• Burn behavior changes: Re-test wick size whenever the wax formula changes.
• Wax is still brittle: Increase the additive gradually rather than making a large percentage change at once.

Store BB-M170 in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, dust, and strong odors.

Because BB-M170 is an extra soft microcrystalline wax, pieces may feel tacky, become slightly deformed, stick together, or develop surface marks during warm-weather shipping. This normally does not affect usability.

Allow the wax to return to room temperature before cutting, weighing, or adding it to a test formula.

What is BB-M170 Extra Soft Microcrystalline Wax used for?
BB-M170 is mainly used as a blending additive to increase flexibility, tack, adhesion, toughness, and crack resistance in compatible candle and wax formulas.

Is BB-M170 a ready-to-use candle wax?
No. It is better treated as a specialty blending wax or additive rather than a finished candle wax used by itself.

How much BB-M170 should I use?
Start with approximately 1–5% of the total wax weight. Begin at the low end and increase only after evaluating the finished test batch.

Can BB-M170 make wax less brittle?
Yes, this is one of its main uses in compatible wax blends. It can be tested when more flexibility, toughness, or crack resistance is needed.

Can BB-M170 help prevent cracking?
It can help reduce cracking in some compatible wax formulas by increasing flexibility and toughness. Results depend on the base wax and overall formula.

Can I use BB-M170 with paraffin wax?
Yes. Paraffin blending is one of the most common uses for soft microcrystalline wax. It can help make some paraffin formulas less brittle and more flexible.

Can I use BB-M170 with soy wax?
It can be tested, but start with a very low percentage. Soy wax can be sensitive to changes in crystallization, frosting, surface texture, and cooling behavior.

Can I use BB-M170 with beeswax?
It can be tested in custom beeswax blends when more flexibility or softness is desired. Always make small test batches because the finished texture depends heavily on the beeswax and additive percentage.

Can BB-M170 be used for sculptural or hand-shaped wax projects?
It can be useful in tested wax blends where additional flexibility and reduced brittleness are needed for shaping, molding, or detailed decorative work.

Can I use BB-M170 for pillar candles?
Yes, as part of a tested blend. Too much may soften the candle or reduce mold release, so begin with a low percentage.

Can I use BB-M170 for container candles?
It can be tested in custom container blends when additional flexibility or adhesion is needed, but it is not a finished container wax by itself.

Is BB-M170 a wax hardener?
No. BB-M170 is a soft microcrystalline wax used primarily when flexibility, tack, toughness, or reduced brittleness is needed.

How is BB-M170 different from BB-M175?
BB-M170 is the softer option and is better suited to applications where flexibility, tack, and crack resistance are the main goals. BB-M175 provides a more balanced combination of flexibility, adhesion, and added structure.

How is BB-M170 different from BB-M180?
BB-M180 is the firmer option when more structure is needed. BB-M170 is better suited to formulas where softness and flexibility are more important.

How is BB-M170 different from BB-M195?
BB-M195 is the harder option for formulas requiring greater hardness or heat resistance. BB-M170 is intended for flexibility, tack, toughness, and crack resistance.

Why does BB-M170 feel sticky?
A tacky texture is normal for a soft microcrystalline wax. That tack is part of what makes it useful for modifying adhesion, flexibility, and cohesion in wax blends.

Do I need to re-test my wick after adding BB-M170?
Yes. Changes to the wax formula can affect melt pool behavior and fuel delivery. Re-test the wick whenever the additive level or overall formula changes.

Is BB-M170 beginner-friendly?
It is better suited to makers who are comfortable testing wax formulas. Beginners can use it, but should start with small batches, weigh accurately, and change only one variable at a time.