About Soy
Soy wax is vegetable wax derived from the oil of soybeans and is primarily used in candles. After they are harvested, the beans are cleaned, cracked, dehulled, and rolled into flakes. It is from these flakes that the oil is extracted to then be hydrogenated. Hydrogenating oil is the process of converting some of its fatty acids from unsaturated to saturated, which raises the melting point of the oil to where it is a solid at room temperature. Hydrogenation of soybean oil alone will produce a wax with low melting point and not so solid texture. This type 100% soy wax may be suitable for container candles but not for pillar candles. Soy products are growing in popularity as more and more people are becoming more environmentally and health conscious.
Benefits of Soy Candles
There are some significant differences between soy and paraffin candles.
Soy candles are made from soybeans. Soybeans are a natural renewable resource. Paraffin candles are a crude oil or petroleum based product. Yes, paraffin candles are made from the same oil as gasoline!
Soy candles are made from soybeans. Soybeans are a natural renewable resource. Paraffin candles are a crude oil or petroleum based product. Yes, paraffin candles are made from the same oil as gasoline!
- Soy wax is a much softer wax than paraffin which means it melts at a cooler temperature. The cooler burning temperature means that soy candles last 50% - 75% longer. Soy wax in its melted form is nothing more than vegetable oil, so spills and completely burned candle jars clean up easily with hot soapy water. However, do not pour soy wax down your drain...it will clog!
- Anything that burns will smoke, but consider burning soy oil vs. burning petroleum...Which smoke do you think contains more pollutants? A soy candle can produce up to 90% less soot than a paraffin candle.
- *Soy wax can hold more fragrance oil than paraffin wax and can "throw" the scent better making for a more HIGHLY SCENTED CANDLE from top to bottom.
- *The use of American grown soy helps to promote our great nation's economy and helps to support our hard working farm families.