This is a guide covering soy candles and their safety.
Candles have a way of making you feel at home- cosy and warm.
Want to make your yoga routine more relaxing? Light up your favorite candle.
Want to make the experience of reading your favorite book more enjoyable? Or do you miss the smell of a particular place?
The answer to both of these questions is the same as the first; light up your favourite candle!
In recent years, scented candles have soared in popularity. Consequently, you can find them everywhere, easily! Given the immense demand for candles, there’s a lot of variety too.
You can not only find a range of fragrances and scents in candles, but you can also decide which type of wax you want.
These candles are made from various waxes. The commonly known ones are:
- Paraffin Wax
- Soy Wax
- Beeswax
- Palm Wax
And out of these options, paraffin wax is the most commonly available one! But it’s not necessarily the safest.
Table of Contents
What is a Soy Candle?
To put it in the simplest way, soy candles are made from soy wax. So, what is soy wax? How is it made?
Soy wax is derived from vegetable soybeans. These beans are grown in many places across the world, including the US. Infact, soybeans are one of the major agricultural products grown in the US.
Once soybeans are harvested and cleaned, they are cracked, de-hulled and rolled into flakes. Then, finally, soybean oil is extracted from these flakes.
After which, through a process known as hydrogenation, soybean oil is hardened to form soy wax!
Are Soy Candles Toxic?
This is quite a concerning question. Because nobody wants to be inhaling harmful, toxic smoke from candles you had lit up to relax yourself!
Soy Candles, however, are not toxic. Since they are made from natural soybeans, wicks of soy candles are safe to burn.
Alireza Yousefi from Zanjan University affirms this in the review “Therapy Candle for illness.” She states, “Soy wax candles burn cleaner and slower, are non toxic and do not emit petrol-carbon soot.”
Moreover, a study by Ruth and Daniel titled “Candles from Soybean Seed Oil Extract,” also supports the conclusions of the study previously mentioned.
They explained that soy wax is a healthier alternative compared to paraffin wax because it emits fewer toxic gases, making them more environmentally friendly.
Additionally, it is considered entirely unsafe to burn paraffin candles in an enclosed space.
Hence, soy candles, which produce far less toxic gases, are the preferred alternative.
Is Soy Wax Carcinogenic?
Soy wax contains absolutely no carcinogens, making it safe for humans, dogs and cats alike.
Additionally, soot is usually associated with carcinogenic substances. But soy wax produces extremely minimal amounts of soot when it is burned.
Even the soot that is produced contains no petroleum carbons, as is the case with paraffin wax candles.
So, what exactly is soot? As explained by Mariah Lee, soot is a particle matter. This form of matter can be in the form of soot, smoke or dust and is not always visible.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are often found in these particle matters and they have been found to be carcinogens.
Are Soy Candles Safe For Dogs?
Soy wax candles are a clean burning type of wax and produce minimal soot. As a result, burning soy candles will not pollute the room.
Every dog parent knows that these canines have extremely sensitive noses. This way, they can detect even the slightest change in smell!
So, while the soy candle itself will not pose any threat to your dog’s health, the aroma produced by the scented candle may irritate them.
Although, if the smell produced by the scented candle is not too strong, then it may not bother your dog at all!
However, if your dog is not a fan of the soy candle, there are two alternative ways for you to still enjoy your scented candles!
- Make sure that the scented candle is only lit in a well ventilated room. This way will prevent the smell of the scent from concentrating too much. Consequently, your dog will be more comfortable.
- Only light the candle when your dog is not in the room. Or if you do light it in its presence, make sure it can leave the room if the smell becomes too strong!
Are Soy Candles Safe For Cats?
All cat moms and dads will be able to relate to this- cats will jump up and around the house and your splendid decorative pieces are always at risk of breaking.
Unfortunately, there will be a similar risk associated with candles!
Soy candles, or any candles for that matter, can be a serious fire hazard with cats in the room.
So, you must always make sure that the candles are out of your cat’s reach. Or, don’t light the candle when your cat’s in the room.
Apart from your cat knocking over the candle, soy candles pose absolutely no threat to your cat’s health.
Since soy candles are clean-burning candles, the only precaution you need to take is to make sure the candle is lit in a well ventilated room. Other than that, you and your cat are good to go!
Are Soy Candles Vegan?
In short, yes!! For those of you looking for vegan friendly candles, soy candles are your answer!
So, how are soy candles vegan? As the name suggests, soy candles are made from soybeans, making them vegan!
Moreover, the production of soy wax does not exploit animals in the process. This adds to their vegan-ness!
For those of you who are strictly vegan conscious, you must be on the lookout for soy candles that have non-vegan ingredients added to them.
However, fret not! Most soy candles are vegan.
Are Soy Candles Bad for the Environment?
Soy candles are not just the go-to for those interested in a vegan friendly option, but even those looking for an environmentally friendly option prefer buying soy candles!
So, how are these vegan candles good for the environment? They are both biodegradable and renewable!
Soy candles enjoy both these benefits because they are derived from plants. What makes soy candles even better for the environment is that soy wax does not contain any harmful pesticides or herbicides.
Rest assured, the soy candle you buy will not be harming the environment long after you have enjoyed its aroma!
Health Benefits of Soy Candles
One of the reasons soy candles are the best is for the health benefits.
Buying soy candles will be one of the best investments you will ever make! You may be tempted to buy other types of candles, such as paraffin wax candles, owing to the relatively lower cost.
But then, you will be missing out on a multitude of physical and mental health benefits that come with using soy candles!
1. Soy Candles Will Not Cause Any Respiratory Related Diseases
Unlike paraffin wax candles, soy candles are non-toxic. These candles do not release any toxins, such as benzene and toluene, in the air.
In other words, when soy candles are lit, you will be breathing clean air. This will ensure you do not develop any diseases such as asthma or lung cancer.
2. Soy Wax Is Less Likely To Burn Your Hand
There’s nothing worse than accidentally dropping some hot wax on your hand after a relaxing aromatherapy session.
However, if you drop hot paraffin wax on your hand, it will burn more than hot soy wax. This has to do with the fact that soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin.
Fun fact: Owing to soy wax’s low melt temperature, you can actually rub the melted soy wax on your cuticles. It’s completely safe and it feels splendid!
3. Aromatherapy Improves Mental Health
Scented soy candles will produce an amazing aroma, which reduces cortisol levels and puts your mind at ease. This helps alleviate anxiety and your sleep will also improve as a result.
In a study conducted by Chu, Min and Hur regarding the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety and sleep quality, they found that aromatherapy positively impacted both.
Patients in the ICU who were provided with aromatherapy, noticed a fall in their anxiety levels and enjoyed better sleep than those in the control group.
Are Soy Candles Safe? – Final Remarks
Now you know that soy candles are 100 percent safe! Not just for you but also your dogs and cats, as well as for the environment!
So, next time you go candle shopping, make sure to stay on the lookout for soy candles.
Soy candles also make the perfect gift for your loved ones. What’s a better gift than a beautiful soy candle?
It will help them relax and make simple tasks, like cooking and bathing, more exciting and refreshing!
My name is Candice and I have always loved candles since I was a kid. I continue to buy candles and try out new candle brands to this day! I started this blog to share my love of candles so I’m glad you’re here and hope that my content helps you out in some way!
