Five years into candle making, and Makesy remains one of my favorite places to shop for supplies. Yes, it’s a little pricier than others, but I’ve been consistently impressed with its quality, customer service and packaging.

Over the years, I’ve tried all kinds of waxes, fragrance oils and kits, but these stand out as the ones I reorder again and again.

Buckle up, because I’m about to get real niche—and nerdy. But if you’re into making candles, or want to get started, I’ve got you.

My All-Time Favorite Makesy Products

1. Virgin Coconut Soy Candle Wax

I love the clean burn and silky feel of coconut soy wax, particularly Makesy’s blend. It’s paraben- and pthalate-free, using only FDA-approved waxes, though that does include a tiny bit of food-grade paraffin. At first I was concerned about this, given that paraffin is petroleum-based and there have been some concerns about its emissions. However, research on the topic has shown that higher-quality paraffin, used in small doses, burns as cleanly as other waxes, making me feel comfortable with using it.

Overall, coconut soy wax tends to be very easy to work with, allowing a great cold and hot throw (at a 9 to 10 percent fragrance load), though with its 122-degree melt point, it’s worth noting that you should only use this for container candles, not tapers or molded, stand-alone ones.

2. Cocoglo Soy Candle Wax

More affordable and easier to melt (given that it’s sold in pastille, or pellet, form and not a giant slab), Cocoglo Soy wax is a great option for beginners or hobbyists. It arrives in a resealable bag, so I throw a scoop in and use it to make a candle or two at a time with my handheld ToAuto melter. (Makesy sells a similar style, but I haven’t tried it.)

This has a slightly lower melt point (110 degrees), and uses a mix of coconut, soy and food-grade paraffin, and like the Coconut Soy wax, it’s paraben- and pthalate-free. It melts quickly and easily, and it delivers a great hot and cold throw. Plus, it’s available in smaller quantities (5-pound bags), so you don’t have to commit to big buys at once.

Note: While I’ve tried the Supernatural Soy Flakes and Coco Apricot Creme waxes, I haven’t liked them as much. Supernatural soy tended to burn unevenly and the wax pitted a lot, creating an unattractive aesthetic. Coco Apricot had a great texture but, given the price point, the cold/hot throw and overall results weren’t as noteworthy as Coconut Soy in my book.

3. Tropical & Gourmand Fragrance Oils

Makesy has some of the most creative fragrance oil combinations. They’re inspiring, unexpected blends, and they’re great for exploring totally new scents. Out of the ones I’ve tried, I’ve found the Sleep/functional fragrances have been a bit overpowering in an almost medicinal way; the tropical and gourmand scents have been my go-to’s.

Some of my favorites include:

• Banana Nectar & Tahitian Gardenia
• Lime Sangria & Guava Blossoms
• Suntan Lotion & Sea Breeze (on sale, as it’s being discontinued)
• Vanilla Gelato & Waffle Cone

That said, many fragrances tend to be in stock for one season and discontinued the next (fairly common among candle suppliers, but I seem to run into it the most here), so keep that in mind if you order a new oil. You may not be able to make it a regular part of your candle line.

4. 9-oz. Metal Tin Vessel

Makesy is renowned for its Aura vessels, and as much as I like them, they feel ubiquitous at this point. I never thought I’d be into metal tins—they always seemed cheap to me—but Makesy changed my mind. The matte finish and seamless design makes them sleek and elevated, and they’re sturdy enough that I don’t have to worry about them breaking if shipped.

Plus, the color options are so gorgeous.

5. Bamboo Wicks

While Makesy is known for its crackling wooden wicks (it used to be called Wooden Wick Co., after all), I prefer the new Bamboo wicks. In testing, they’ve seemed to have less mushrooming and sooting than other types of wicks I’ve tried, and they’ve been easier to work with overall. (Wooden tends to burn too hot for most of my vessels, so finding the right size has been a bit tricky. These have been pretty true to the size recommendations.)

Psst: This wick sizing chart may help you find the right wick for the candles you’re making.

6. Starter Candle Making Kit

If you’re new to this world of candle making, I recommend testing the waters with a kit. I’ve tried a bunch, and Makesy’s Starter Kit is a great introduction, including one of my favorite fragrance oils from the brand (Vanilla Gelato & Waffle Cone) and the metal tin I was raving about above. And it comes with a pouring pitcher you’ll use again and again.