By Lanna Britt, Candlehouse Contributor
If you love candles and you’ve never tried soy candles, you’re missing out on all of the benefits. Soy wax candles have so many amazing benefits for you, your home, and the world around us. There are many reasons to switch over to soy wax candles. Let’s explore a few more in-depth.
They’re Environmentally Friendly
Before I wax poetic (see what I did there?) about the benefits of soy wax candles, you may be wondering what soy wax is, exactly. Most of the candles on the market today are made of paraffin wax, which is made from petroleum. It’s waste leftover from when petroleum is refined into gasoline. Soy candles are made from soybeans. The United States is the world’s leading soybean producer and the second-leading exporter. Over 121,000 people work in soybean farming so each soy wax candle sold theoretically helps those farmers. Soy wax is a renewable resource that is also biodegradable. Another bonus is that if soy wax is spilled, it cleans up with soap and water.
They Burn Longer
If you are like me, when you find a candle that you just love, each time you light it, you worry that each moment it burns is one moment closer to it running out! I’m a five on the enneagram and we naturally worry that our mental “resources” will run out. The same goes for candles. The good news is that soy based candles actually burn longer than their paraffin counterparts. That is because soy wax has a lower melting point than traditional candle wax. A slower burn means a longer-lasting candle. If you compare this 15 ounce “soy blend” candle that promises 50 hours of burn time to one of our 10 ounce Candlehouse 100% soy wax candles, you’ll get 20 more hours of burn time! Generally, soy wax candles (like everything “healthier” it seems) cost more but since they last longer you can still get a good value. And don’t forget, all of our soy wax candles are hand-poured by our team in Cincinnati, Ohio.
They Burn Cleaner
Because the fragrance industry is largely unregulated, a candle can have as little as 1% soy and be labeled as a soy based candle even though it’s a paraffin-blend. I just grabbed a candle on my desk from a well-known Target brand and the front says “Scented Soy Candle.” It didn’t have an ingredient list on the bottom so I looked online. In the description, it’s called a “soy wax blend” that includes soy and paraffin wax. Candlehouse uses 100% natural soy wax in all our hand-poured candles with no additives or dyes. All of our clean burning candles are non-toxic and less likely to trigger allergies. I can vividly remember a few weeks ago I was burning a paraffin wax candle that I thought smelled great, but the minute a guest with a sensitive nose stepped inside the house, she complained the candle was giving her a headache. No one wants to make their visitors sick because of a candle! Soy candles don’t use as many artificial elements either. I also didn’t realize that candles release small amounts of soot into the air. Soy candles apparently produce 90% less soot than traditional ones.
A very sooty paraffin wax candle in my home that needs to be tossed!
They’re Good Fragrance Carriers
Most of us are choosing candles based on the fragrance they provide. Every nose is different and even though sweet smelling candles aren’t my favorite, they might be yours! Our 100% soy wax candles smell heavenly and provide a pleasant aroma. The scent isn’t overpowering like some candles can be. Another bonus is that the soy candle wax doesn’t build up on the walls like other types of candle wax.
Don’t just take our word for it though. Order one of our custom soy wax candles today and you’ll experience all the benefits we’ve described. Our candles ship in just 1-3 business days. Your house can smell like an expensive hotel lobby in no time!
