Soy vs. Paraffin
Candles can add a warm and calming feeling to a room or add a relaxing atmosphere after a long hard day. Even though candles have been the number one choice for lighting and decorating in our society for many years, there are side effects of burning candles made with paraffin wax instead of burning candles made with soy candles.
With the turn of the new century there have been a large number of environmentally couscous people trying to live right and preserve the planet at the same time. Since then there has been several candle manufactures that have switched to using all natural ingredients instead of paraffin wax when creating candles. While doing this there has been a lot of research done on paraffin candles and the effects it has on our individual health. One risk of using paraffin candles is the soot that is released into the atmosphere when the candle is lit. This soot contains harmful chemicals such as naphthalene, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene and benzene. This soot can settle on walls, electronic devices and other surfaces in homes.
The pollution generated in the home poses a health risk because they can penetrate deep into the lungs to cause illness. In a study published in Volume 79 Number 8 of the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, soot was produced from burning paraffin candles. However, soy wax candles burned at a slower rate produced little to no soot. The fumes of the burning paraffin contained trace amounts of formaldehyde, as well. Carcinogens are released into the air when a traditional paraffin candle is burning. Carcinogens can cause cancer, and other health related problems. New research is showing links between candles, charcoal, and other burning devices we use in our home lives as cancer causing. Research is just beginning on this issue; however it is a fact that soy candles do not produce carcinogens.
One alternative to burning paraffin candles is to burn candles that are made from all natural waxes. One of the earliest natural waxes is beeswax. Beeswax is produced from glands of the honey bees. Bees wax is better for the air because of its ability to produce negative ions that actually clean rather than pollute the air. Another natural wax that has become extremely popular over the years is soy wax. Soy wax is produced from all natural soy beans. Soy wax has become a preferred material by some environmentally couscous candle makers because it is an all natural alternative to using paraffin which is made from petroleum. Soy candles are the number one choice for consumers because it helps supports American Farmers because it’s produced from all natural soy beans.
Soy wax is made in the United States by US soy bean farmers. By buying Soy Candles and handmade Soy Candles you are doing your part in supporting the US economy. Soy wax contains no animal fat and burn 50% longer than paraffin candles and maintains an even burn pool and doesn’t release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere as with paraffin candles. Soy candles are all natural and do not contain any toxins, which means very little to no soot.
Here is a little known fact; did you know that soy candles have a memory? A soy candle should burn 1 hour for each inch of its diameter, until you receive a full melt pool. For example: a soy candle 2″ in diameter should be burned for two hours to establish its memory. If a soy candle isn’t given a proper memory burn, especially on the first burn, it will cause the soy candle to burn in a tunnel down the center and you will not get a good scent throw from the candle. Soy candles also burn down completely, I mean the candle completely burns down to the bottom with no left over wax on the sides of the jars which makes reusing and cleaning the jars after use very simple and easy, and helps promote recycling.
Beautifully Natural Candle Company 