We love making eco-friendly products at Branru Farm. One of those is soy wax candles. We love using soy wax for candle-making because it is so eco-friendly. Let's look at why soy wax candles are great and what you should know about them before you purchase one.
What is Soy Wax?
Soy wax is a vegetable wax, which means it comes from a vegetable called a soybean, or more specifically from oil extracted from soybeans. The soil is extracted from the bean and then turned into a solid using a process called hydrogenating. Then it is able to stay solid when kept at room temperature, but its melting point changes, becoming perfect for use in candle-making.
Soy Wax is a Renewable Resource
Another common substance used when making candles is paraffin. The problem with paraffin is that it comes from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. For those reasons and others, we DO NOT use paraffin based wax.
Soybeans can be planted and harvested each year. In fact, soybeans are among the top crops in the United States. According to the United States Department of
Agriculture roughly 87.5 million acres of soybeans were planted in 2022 alone. Here are some other environmental benefits of soybeans:
They are biodegradable, meaning they easily break down without environmental damage.
Soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin candles. The soot and pollutants associated with paraffin candle burning can have a negative impact on air quality. That makes soy candles much better for indoor use.
Paraffin candles can sometimes release carcinogens into the air, as well as other chemicals. However, soy wax candles are non-toxic.
The Increased Burn Time of Soy Wax Candles and Wax Melts
In general, soy wax candles burn longer than paraffin wax candles that are the same size. Soy wax generally has a lower melting point. That means you can get more time out of a candle and buy candles less often. Thus, there can be both an environmental advantage and a monetary advantage to switching from paraffin to soy wax candles.
Although, candle burn times can vary and depend on other factors, too. Some of those include:
Wax Quality
External Temperature
Airflow
Burn Duration
Wick Trimming
Soy Wax Melts and Candle Pesticide Concerns
If you are going to purchase or make your own soy wax candles, you need to be aware of some concerns relating to GMOs and pesticides. Many soybeans grown in the U.S. are treated with pesticides, which makes them far less eco-friendly than those grown and processed without the use of such harsh chemicals. Pesticides are also used on soybean crops quite frequently in some other parts of the world, including China and Brazil. Labels like “non-GMO” and “sustainably sourced” help those who make soy candles purchase the best soy wax
possible.
Other Ways to Use Soy Wax
Here on our New Mexico farm we love using soy wax for making candles, but we're also well aware that it has other beneficial uses. For example, many experts agree it works well as a natural leather and wood polish. It is also skin-safe and frequently used to make various natural beauty products. So, the next time you drive past a field of soybeans, you can marvel at how versatile they are. In the meantime, why not treat yourself to a scented soy candle or two?