Micro 180 Wax Additive for Paraffin Pillar & Molded Candles

Micro 180 is a high-melt microcrystalline wax additive used to modify paraffin candle formulas rather than serve as the primary candle wax.

It is especially useful in pillar, votive, and molded paraffin candles where the base wax needs improved surface quality, higher opacity, greater flexibility, or better control of oil migration.

Unlike a simple wax hardener, Micro 180 can help paraffin remain less brittle while still improving the overall structure and finished appearance of the candle.

It is best treated as a formulation ingredient. Final results depend on the base paraffin wax, additive percentage, fragrance oil, dye, wick, mold, and cooling conditions.

• 180°F high-melt microcrystalline wax additive
• Designed primarily for paraffin wax formulas
• Helps increase opacity and whiteness
• Can improve surface smoothness and finished appearance
• Helps reduce oil or fragrance migration
• Can reduce brittleness in pillar and votive formulas
• Useful for molded candle surface improvement
• Supplied in convenient bead form

1. Weigh your base paraffin wax.
2. Calculate Micro 180 as a percentage of the total wax weight.
3. Melt the base wax until fully liquid.
4. Add Micro 180 while the wax is hot enough for the beads to melt completely.
5. Stir slowly until the additive is evenly incorporated.
6. Add dye and fragrance according to your tested candle formula.
7. Pour into the prepared pillar, votive, or candle mold.
8. Allow the candle to cool completely before evaluating the surface and structure.
9. Repeat wick and burn testing after changing the formula.

• Rough or blemished surfaces: Can help improve the overall finished surface of paraffin candles.
• Low opacity: Can increase whiteness and opacity in paraffin formulas.
• Oil migration: Can help reduce fragrance oil or mineral oil migration through the wax.
• Brittle pillars or votives: Can increase flexibility and reduce brittleness.
• Molded candle appearance: Can help produce a smoother and cleaner molded surface.

• Pillar candles: Useful for improving opacity, surface quality, and flexibility.
• Votive candles: A common application, with approximately 5% used as a starting test level.
• Molded candles: Can help reduce surface defects and brittleness.
• Paraffin blends: Useful as a modifier when developing custom candle wax formulas.
• Oil-control formulas: Useful when fragrance or other oils migrate toward the candle surface.

Micro 180 and Stearic Acid can both modify paraffin candles, but their primary behavior is different.

• Micro 180: Helps improve opacity, surface appearance, oil control, flexibility, and resistance to brittleness.
• Stearic Acid: Used more directly to increase hardness, opacity, structure, and mold-release characteristics.

Micro 180 and Vybar are also different formulation tools.

• Micro 180: Focuses on paraffin surface quality, opacity, flexibility, oil migration control, and reducing brittleness.
• Vybar: Primarily used as an oil binder and wax-performance modifier, with different Vybar grades selected for different paraffin systems.

Select the additive based on the specific problem in the wax formula rather than adding multiple modifiers automatically.

Micro 180 is a specialty additive and should not be positioned as a general-purpose standalone candle wax.

• Not recommended as the primary wax for standard container candles
• Not intended to replace a dedicated soy container wax
• Not intended to replace coconut container wax
• Not intended to be used alone as a finished candle wax

Every change to a candle formula should be treated as a new test batch.

Evaluate:

• Opacity and whiteness
• Surface smoothness
• Flexibility
• Brittleness
• Oil migration
• Fragrance performance
• Mold release
• Wick performance
• Full burn behavior

• Candle is still brittle: Review the base paraffin and gradually adjust the Micro 180 level.
• Oil is still migrating: Review fragrance or oil load and test the additive percentage.
• Surface remains rough: Review Micro 180 level, pour temperature, mold conditions, and cooling rate.
• Wax becomes too modified: Reduce the additive percentage and return closer to the base formula.
• Fragrance performance changes: Re-test fragrance level, cure time, and wick size.
• Poor burn: Re-test wick size after any meaningful formula change.

Store Micro 180 in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, dust, and strong odors.

The product is supplied in bead form for easier weighing and blending.

Allow the wax to return to normal room temperature before weighing if it has been exposed to unusually hot shipping conditions.

What is Micro 180?
Micro 180 is a high-melt microcrystalline wax additive designed primarily for modifying paraffin candle formulas.

What is the melt point?
Approximately 180°F, or about 82°C.

What is Micro 180 best used for?
It is best used in paraffin pillar, votive, molded, and custom wax formulas.

How much Micro 180 should I use?
Approximately 5% is a useful starting point for votive and pillar paraffin testing. Adjust only after evaluating the finished formula.

Will Micro 180 make paraffin whiter?
It can help increase opacity and whiteness in compatible paraffin formulas.

Can Micro 180 reduce oil migration?
Yes. Reducing oil migration is one of its useful functions in paraffin blends.

Will Micro 180 make a candle less brittle?
It can help increase flexibility and reduce brittleness in suitable paraffin pillar and votive formulas.

Can I use Micro 180 as the main candle wax?
No. It is better positioned as a wax additive or paraffin body modifier, not as a general-purpose standalone candle wax.

Can I use Micro 180 for container candles?
It is not primarily intended as a container candle wax. Its strongest applications are pillar, votive, molded, and paraffin blending.

Can I use it with soy wax?
Micro 180 is primarily intended for paraffin systems. It is not the first additive choice for standard soy candle formulas.

Do I need to re-test my wick?
Yes. Any formula change that affects wax structure can change burn behavior, so wick and full burn testing should be repeated.