Candles create warmth and atmosphere in our homes and fill them with beautiful scents. They can liven up a party, add romance to dinner, or take you on a walk down memory lane. That's why we burn candles, to celebrate every occasion and enrich our daily lives.
However, not all candles are the same.
A question I'm often asked is "what's the difference between your soy candles and candles from The Warehouse or Kmart?". It's a great question. Some people think that using soy wax is a trick to up-sell the same thing you can find at those Big Box stores but for twice the price. It's not. Soy wax candles are a higher quality, safer, and more renewable product than ones made with paraffin wax.
“Soy wax candles are a higher quality, safer, and more renewable product than ones made with paraffin wax.”
SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
The major difference between soy and paraffin wax begins with their origins. Paraffin wax is a byproduct of crude oil refinement, Paraffin, a petroleum-based wax, is the biggest baddie in the world of candles! Burning paraffin emits toxic chemicals into the air that we breathe in closed areas such as baths, dining rooms, etc. Even if you’re in a well-ventilated area, who wants to put harmful toxins into the air?
“Paraffin wax candles are like starting up a diesel engine in your home!”
Unfortunately, most candles on the market are made of paraffin or a paraffin blend. Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum, and when it's burned it releases carcinogenic toxins such as benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. These are the same toxins released when burning diesel fuel. Paraffin wax candles are like starting up a diesel engine in your home!
NON-TOXIC
Soy wax is a vegetable wax that does not release toxins into the air. If you are concerned about the indoor air quality of your home, soy wax candles are the best option. Soy wax is made by extracting and hydrogenating the oils of green, renewable soybean crops. By producing our candles using the highest quality soy wax, we are choosing to support our environment and soy farmers. Soy waxes are not all the same however.
Not all soy waxes are 100% natural. Many contain unnatural/unhealthy additives like paraffin wax, unethically sourced palm wax - causing deforestation issues around the world, and even tallow wax (rendered fat of animals). Another alternative to paraffin is beeswax, but beeswax harms bees and their future. Many bees die when their honeycombs are melted for beeswax. They often state that their additives are natural, but don’t list what they are. This raises many red flags. Our 100% natural soy waxes are hydrogenated and formulated to exact specifications so they may perform differently from other soy waxes containing additives.
SOY WAX IS WASHABLE
Our 100% soy wax variety is water soluble and can be easily removed with basic soap and water, so you never have to worry about ruining clothing, furniture, flooring, or other items.
COOLER BURN TEMP
By melting at a lower temperature, our wax provides a safer alternative to some other soy wax and paraffin varieties with higher melting points. Soy candles can give you the same quality of scent throw, at a lower melting point.
COST-EFFECTIVE WITH A SLOW BURN
While soy candles are sometimes more expensive than paraffin candles, they last up to 50 percent longer, making them more cost-effective. Another benefit of soy candles is that they burn more evenly as the wax has a 'memory'. This 'memory' helps to avoid tunneling down the centre of your candle which may affect the scent throw.
On your first burn, allow your candle to melt until the wax pools to the very edge of the jar (about 3-4 hours). This will create a memory to allow for a clean burn the next time you light your candle, increasing the scent throw, and there will be less wax left on the side of the jar. Always read the instructions on the bottom of the jar.
STRONGER SCENT
Because soy wax burns cleaner then paraffin wax, the scent from its oils is more pleasant and smells stronger. It’s common to hear people complain of headaches when paraffin candles burn. It’s due to the toxins paraffin releases into the air. Because soy wax burns at a lower heat and creates a larger melt pool, the fragrance oils evaporate better from a larger surface area, releasing more scent into the air!
THE BENEFITS OF SOY WAX
In summary, soy wax has many benefits over other wax's. It's better for your health, the air, the environment, and even the animals and crops in the world.
This is why Crafty Chook Candles is proud to use soy wax. Our product is safer to produce, cost-effective, highly scented, and of the best quality.
Enjoy!