The Holiday season is upon us and many people use candles at this time of year. However, have you stopped to consider what goes into the candle which you are burning? Many store bought candles are paraffin based and are harmful to both your environment and your health.

I only use and make soy based candles at Sedona Aromatherapie (although beeswax candles are good too!) and customers who have switched to soy candles notice the difference immediately. Today, I thought I would give you so more information on the benefits of using soy wax aromatherapy candles this Holiday season!

Soy Sustainability

Soy candles use a resource that is readily renewable, unlike regular paraffin candles which depend on the availability of oil supplies. Soybean crops are primarily produced in the states of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana and each year new crops produce soybeans for the manufacture of soy candles. The production of soy candles support American farmers and help support the national economy.

Price of Soy Wax Candles

A lot of people are put off by the price of soy candles because they are more expensive than a store bought paraffin candle. However, soy wax candles tend to burn more slowly than regular paraffin candles. Therefore, a soy candle (of the same size) might last up to twice as long as a paraffin candle.

Ingredients of Soy Wax Candles

Soy candles are made from soybean oil. Soy bean oil is extracted from soybeans (Glycene max). The soybean is a species of legume that is a member of the Fabiaceae botanical family; although the plant is native to East Asia, the majority of soy beans grown for candle making are now grown in the United States.

Soybeans go through a number of processes (including cleaning and de-hulling) before they end up as soy flakes. Soybean oil is extracted from the flakes and is then hydrogenated; the hydrogenation process produces a “wax” that is solid at room temperature.

Soy wax is available in a variety of blends for candles and, if you plan to make your own candles, you need to check each supplier’s description carefully to figure out if anything else has been added to the soy wax (such as botanical oils) to make it into a soy wax blend. Different types of soy wax/soy wax blends are more suitable for making one type of candle over another: for example, glass containers vs. votive candles.

Types of Wicks for Soy Candles

You can choose cotton or hemp wick for your soy candle to minimize the amount of soot produced by the candle. All candles produce a little soot from the smoke that they emit but candles with metal wicks will produce more. Paraffin based candles with metal wicks add toxicity to the environment whereas soy candles burn clean.

Essential Oil Soy Candles

Cheap paraffin candles usually have a synthetic aroma added to them. Add essential oils to your soy wax candle and you will have true therapeutic benefits. Put together your own essential oil blend, buy a pre-made essential oil blend or add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to an unscented soy candle on burning.

Make Your Own Aromatherapy Soy Candles

In summary, soy wax candles are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and help support the national economy. If you would like your own custom made soy wax candle with essential oils, visit the Sedona Aromatherapie candles page in the webstore or contact me for a custom quote and blend. In addition, you can make your own soy candles with the Sedona Aromatherapie Votive Candle Making Kit.

Don’t forget to watch the Sedona Aromatherapie tutorial on YouTube on how to make your own candles with essential oils!

Enjoy!

References:

• CandleScience website, What Exactly is Soy Wax?, accessed December 10, 2012
• Soya.be website, Soy Wax Production, accessed December 10, 2012