12 Reasons Soy Candles Are Better: Benefits of Soy Wax

This is a guide covering the benefits of soy wax candles.

The market for candles has grown immensely over the past few years.

There are so many choices to pick from. Which wax should you choose? There’s paraffin wax, granulated wax, beeswax, soy wax, palm wax and so many more. It doesn’t stop there!

There are a multitude of scents to choose from as well, ranging from artificial scents to essential oils. Chances are, you may not even have heard the names of some scents before!

So, how do you choose?

This article provides a run down of facts about soy candles and differentiates them from other types of waxes used in candles.

Consequently, the next time you go candle shopping, you won’t be completely lost!

What is a Soy Candle?

Soy candles are made out of soy wax. This wax is derived from soybeans, making soy candles completely renewable and biodegradable!

Transforming soybeans into soy wax is a long process! It starts once the soybeans are harvested and cleaned. Then, these beans are cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. After which, oil is extracted from flakes and is hydrogenated.

Hydrogenation involves converting the unsaturated fatty acids in the oil into saturated fatty acids. As a result, the oil becomes solid at room temperature. And, behold! This is how soy wax comes into being!

12 Reasons Soy Candles Are Better

Here’s the promised analysis to make your candle shopping easier!

It is very important to pick the right wax when choosing a candle because your product choice can have far reaching consequences on the environment, as well as an extensive impact on your health!

Even more so, if you have pets, the candle of your choice is likely to impact them as well.

1. No Compromises On Your Physical Health

Soy Candles have a reputation for being ‘clean burning’ candles. What exactly does that mean?

It basically means that soy candles do not emit any harmful or toxic gases when they burn.

Alireza Yousefi from Zanjan University also guarantees this in her review “Therapy Candle for Illness”. She states, “Soy wax candles burn cleaner and slower, are non toxic and do not emit petrol-carbon soot.”

Unlike paraffin wax, soy wax candles do not emit any carcinogens either. When paraffin wax, which is made from petroleum burns, it emits harmful chemicals such as toluene and benzene.

Both these chemicals have been linked to the development of asthma and lung cancer.

Additionally, several compounds that paraffin wax releases have been termed as “toxic air agents” by many environmental agencies and the state of California.

Since soy wax is made of plants, it emits no such chemicals.

Hence, when you are enjoying the scent of your soy candle, you can rest easy! For your physical health, especially respiratory health, is not being compromised.

2. No Soot Deposits On Household Items

In this part, cleaner burning will solely refer to the fact that soy candles do not produce petro-carbon soot at all.

When paraffin candles emit petro-carbon soot it deposits on walls and curtains, which increases the need for home maintenance. With soy candles, this is not an issue.

3. Improved Mental Health

Scented candles help you reach a relaxed state of mind. Who doesn’t want that? Chryssa Chalkia, an accredited clinical integrative psychotherapist and cognitive behavioral therapist, says, “It is scientifically proven that scented candles can play an essential role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, working capacity, and overall mental health.”

As soon as you smell a good scent, it induces the production of hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine.

These hormones are famously known as “happy hormones”, which summarises their role.

This explains why simple tasks become more enjoyable and relaxing when you’ve lit scented candles nearby!

4. Improved Sleep

The stresses of everyday life can make it especially daunting to fall asleep.

Ironically, sleep is crucial to be able to perform well in daily activities. Scented soy candles help fill this gap by inducing and improving the quality of sleep!

There are a variety of scents which induce sleep. Here are some of them:

• Lavender
• Neroli
• Sandalwood
• Vanilla

Among these, Lavender has a soothing smell which relaxes your brain and prompts it to slow down the heart rate.

Muscles are also induced to relax and this pushes the person’s body into a form of sleep, known as short-wave sleep or delta sleep.

Now, why should you use a scented soy candle and not a scented paraffin candle? Because scented soy candles emit the scent better and last longer!

5. Better Scent

The idea of soy candles emitting scent better is connected to the fact that soy candles burn more slowly.

In other words, the lower melting point of soy wax creates a larger pool of liquid wax around the flame.

The fragrances are slowly released from this liquid wax, allowing the soy candle to emit the scent better!

Due to soy candles’ excellent ability to emit scents better than their paraffin and beeswax candles, no artificial chemical amplifiers are added to the mix!

This, again, means that soy candles do not compromise on the air quality you will inhale.

6. They Last Longer

Soy wax candles are known to last longer than paraffin candles of the same size.

Meaning, you are making better use out of your money and enjoying your favourite scent for longer! It can’t get better than this, right?

Now, how much longer can you enjoy soy candles, as compared to paraffin candles? It’s around 30-50% longer! This is mainly a result of the fact that soy wax burns cooler.

7. Safe To Use With Infants And Toddlers

When you are baby proofing your living spaces, your choice of candle must be a part of this process!

Some parents give up candle use entirely with little kids around because of a fire hazard. However, you don’t have to give up the luxury of enjoying pleasant scents!

Soy wax has a much lower melting point than paraffin wax, which causes it to burn at a cooler temperature.

So, if your little, curious toddler drops some hot wax on themselves it will scald a lot less than if it were paraffin wax.

8. Safe To Use With Pets

Many dog and cat parents would argue that having pets is no different than having infants and toddlers at home. Both tend to knock things over- anything that comes their way!

In such a situation, candles can be a serious hazard. However, you can continue to use soy candles as long as they are out of reach of your pets.

Rest assured, soy candles are safe do not pose any threats to your pets’ health.

If you have a pet dog, they may get irritated if the candle has a strong scent, given their sensitive sensory system.

In such a case, you can choose a candle which has a more subtle scent. Then, you are good to go.

9. Vegan And Cruelty Free

Soy candles, as well as paraffin candles are vegan! This is simply the case because both soy and paraffin wax are not derived from animals.

So which one of the vegan candles should you choose?

If you also want to make sure that your candles are cruelty free- soy candles are your answer!

While paraffin candles are not derived from animals or tested on them, they are not cruelty free for the planet.

10. Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable

Unlike paraffin candles, which are derived from non renewable resources- crude oil-, soy candles are derived from renewable resources- plants!

So, enjoying your favorite scents will not mean depleting limited resources.

Additionally, since paraffin is a heavy hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, it releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide.

About 10 grams per hour! Soy wax releases significantly lower amounts of carbon dioxide, making it more environmentally friendly.

For carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and hence contributes to the warming of the planet.

Soy candles are also biodegradable- another reason why they are an environmentally friendly and sustainable choice!

This leads to an added benefit- easier cleaning. If you happen to spill some soy wax, you can clean it with soap and water.

11. Production of Soybeans Supports The Local US Economy

Imagine doing good for your country, while simply relaxing. Sounds too good to be true? Turns out it’s not!

Buying soy candles supports the US economy. Because the main component of producing soy candles are soybeans, and soybeans are grown in the US!

Fun Fact: Around 12,000 Michigan soybean farmers add $1.67 billion to the economy annually. In the process of doing so, they also generate approximately 14,000 jobs for the state annually!

Mariah Lee, in her research draws data from the US Department of Agriculture and demonstrates that if paraffin candles are replaced by soy candles entirely, it would require 60 million pounds of soybeans annually.

The increased production would directly benefit local farmers!

12. The Aesthetic

Yes, that is an important reason for you to get a soy candle! Or better, many soy candles.

Whether you will be placing your candle on your study table or at the table while you are on a date, candles make the place more aesthetic.

As a result, studying will feel better and your date will find your place more interesting!

Oh and don’t forget the aesthetic pictures you will get for your Instagram feed!

Final Remarks

We hope this article convinced you why soy candles are better!

They really are a one in all package. You will be able to enjoy your favorite scent for a considerable time and the scent will also be more defined!

While you are living through this pleasant experience, you will also be benefiting the economy and not causing the environment or animals any harm.

If you don’t own a soy candle, this is your cue to get one! Once you get it, your dinners will have a special ambience to them and working from home will become less stressful.

Add better sleep and improved mental health into the mix, and you’ll be a new person! For the better, of course.