Facts About Soy Candles

A candle is a solid block of fuel with a wick that is a source of light and heat when lit. The block of fuel is usually made from paraffin wax or beeswax, but more recently, soybean. Soy wax is made from a partially hydrogenated form of soybean oil.

History

• In 1992, Michael Richards was looking for a cheaper alternative to beeswax while listening to the consumers' desire for natural wax candles. He discovered that soy candles had many benefits aside from being cost effective. Eco-conscious naturalist were very interested in this alternative candle.

Eco and Health Conscious

• Many people prefer soy candles over paraffin because they are 100% natural. Paraffin candles contain more than 11 carcinogenic compounds, which are not only harmful to the environment but also harmful to the body. This is visually evident in the black soot around the candle jar. Soy candles are nontoxic and do not emit any petrol-carbon soot, which can blacken walls and add toxic carcinogens to the body. For the eco-conscious, soy candles are also naturally biodegradable and is easy to remove from any surface. Most soy candle wicks are often made from natural hemp as well.

Renewable Source

• Paraffin contains petroleum. With the unexpected increases in the price petroleum every day, people are interested in using less petroleum and looking for alternatives. Soy is abundant and always a renewable source. Because soybeans are renewable, they are considerably cheaper because they are readily available. Use of soy candles also supports the American farm industry

Cost Effective

• The soybean oil lowers the melting point of the candle, which means it burns longer and cooler than paraffin candles. Most times, soy candles burn twice as long. Considering they are cheaper than paraffin candles and burn longer, moneywise, they're a better deal.

Scent

• The lower melting point also affects the candle scent and is often called a "throw scent," which means it fills the air and room with a scent. As the soy melts, it leaves a larger melted wax pool around the wick, which is where the essential oils evaporate in the air. Many people often get headaches from the strong, chemical throw scent of paraffin candles. However, soy candles have a lasting yet very clean smell because they are natural.

Conclusion

• There are no side effects from using soy candles. The only concern is the labeling of "soy." Unfortunately, there are no strict guidelines to using the word "soy" nor are there requirements for listed ingredients. At times, many candles claim they are soy when in fact they are not. However, soy candles are now widely available and can be found online or in natural food stores.