This invention pertains to candle wax and a method for making candle wax. The candle wax comprises a candle wax base mixture and a polymer wherein the polymer comprises units of the formula (I) wherein X is an alkyl, alkenyl, alkyl maleic anhydride or alkylene-imine; Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH, NCH.sub.2, NCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, COO of which either the carbon or the oxygen group is bound to X, C(O)NH, trialkoxysilane, preferably trimethoxysilane or triethoxysilane, benzyl, amide group; Z is H or a C.sub.1-C.sub.40 alkyl group or a C.sub.1-C.sub.40 alkenyl group; n is a positive integer, preferably is n>3; if Y is COO, then the polymer is a copolymer comprising at least two different units, and if Z is H or a methyl or ethyl, than the polymer is a copolymer comprising at least one unit comprising a C.sub.3-C.sub.40 alkyl group or C.sub.3-C.sub.40 alkenyl group.