When we decided to get into this journey of making candles, the first thing we researched was what type of wax to use and quite frankly what the difference was between all of the waxes out there (there are A LOT of different kinds of wax and blends and manufacturers out there with the most common forms being: beeswax, paraffin, soy, and coconut). We want all of our customers to be informed and hope that everyone makes the best decisions based on what is right for them and their families. I (Steph) can honestly say that having burned only soy and/or soy and beeswax blends now for the last 9 months, I'm a BBW candle addict turned fully to the all soy and/or soy and beeswax blends convert. There's definitely something different now when I burn the other types that I can smell, and I now very much appreciate the bumpy tops of candles that sometimes happen prior to getting to the halfway mark of the soy candles where it can burn a little warmer and cool a little more evenly and smoothly. There's also more to what's being emitted, for example the type of wicks being used as well as the fragrance oils being used that can contain chemicals or known called phthalates--a plasticizer used in way too many products (FDA article on phthalates)--which we have made sure to not use any fragrance oil that contains these harmful substances. I also never noticed how much smoke is emitted from certain waxes and wicks until testing for the last few months, and the amount that I burn candles I just wanted to personally be a little more self conscious on what actually is being burned and emitted. Some wicks even being wood or cotton and paper will still smoke if they're a larger size, but I digress...back to some real information!
We've provided some quotes and links to articles below, but feel free to research yourself also as there are lots of opinions and articles out there.
"We live in a world where consumers are paying much closer attention to what their bodies are exposed to both internally and externally. With the growing popularity of soy wax we receive a lot of phone calls and e-mails from customers who want to know the differences and benefits between soy and paraffin waxes. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information out on the internet regarding both paraffin and soy so we decided to set the record straight and provide our customers with the facts so that you can make a well-informed decision when choosing the wax that is right for you. (Source: https://www.lonestarcandlesupply.com/blog/soy-vs-paraffin-wax/)
Let's start with the most often asked question of what is the difference between paraffin and soy wax? Paraffin wax is a heavy hydrocarbon that comes from crude oil. Soy wax is a plant/vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. Soy wax is also considered to be a renewable source, and burns longer, and more cleanly than Paraffin. Don’t fret though if you have blends or paraffin candles in your home (check your Yankee and Bath and Body Works candles and you'll see both; BBW has a line that they call a soy blend, however if you research a bit further on their site there isn't enough soy in the candle to refer to it as an actual soy candle).
“A 2007 study funded by the European Candle Association examined every major type of wax for 300 toxic chemicals. The researchers found that the level of chemicals released by each type of candle was well below the amount that would cause human health problems. At this time, there’s no conclusive evidence that burning candle wax is damaging to your health. However, if you’re worried about the potential negative health effects of burning paraffin wax, you can try using candles made from beeswax, soy wax, or other plant-based waxes.” (Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/are-candles-bad-for-you)
Our most important concerns are that we are making a quality product that not only looks beautiful but emits a great hot throw, a long lasting burn, and isn’t harmful to you, your family and friends, or your homes. As new information or studies come out, we will adjust our products as needed, but for now we feel very comfortable that by choosing our all natural soy wax, not using any dyes, using cotton and paper wick types, and phthalate free fragrance oils fits our main intent to deliver the best and healthiest product to you.
Have more questions or other topics you'd like to learn more about? Please let us know in the comments below!