Soy vs Paraffin

ALL candles, regardless of the wax and wick combination, release chemical artifacts into the air. But here is a bit of helpful information on the difference between paraffin and natural waxes. Keeping in mind that all candles produce fumes and soot, your exposure to these elements should be kept in moderation

Soy candles produce less soot and toxic chemicals than candles made from paraffin. Even though the smoke is cleaner, it’s a good idea to minimize your intake of any type of smoke. 

Soy waxes are made from soybean oil and can contain other non-soy materials. The soybean oil is separated from the beans by use of a mechanical press or by using a solvent to extract the oil. The primary step in making soy wax is a process called hydrogenation. Basically, the soybean oil is treated with a hydrogen solution that causes the oil to solidify and create wax. Every manufacturer has a different process and most of them keep their "recipes" very secretive but the process starts out the same for all of them.

Soy wax is a natural product that has these general properties:

• Non-Toxic - meaning that soy wax is not poisonous.
• Made of either 100% soybean oil or a combination of other non-soy materials (animal products and/or other vegetable products).
• Clean-burning fuel source - meaning soy wax meets several requirements under federal regulations that classify it as clean-burning.
• Colorless  - meaning the wax itself does not contain any color and typically appears opaque.

Scent Throw: Scent throw is a term used in the candle industry that refers to the intensity of how a candle smells. 

There are several variables that can affect a candle’s scent throw, one of which is the type of wax used. When you compare the scent throw of a paraffin candle to that of a soy candle, usually the scent throw is stronger in paraffin. This is because soy is a more dense material than paraffin on a molecular level. Because soy is more dense, it requires more heat to burn it up which can take longer for soy to release the fragrance. Being that paraffin burns easier, it will generally release the fragrance easier making the scent throw stronger or more prevalent

Wick Trimming: We suggest keeping your wick trimmed to about 1/4 inch at all times. It is a good practice  to trim the wick every 4 hours of burn time. When wick trimming, you should always extinguish the flame, let the candle come to room temperature, and trim the wick before relighting. Properly trimmed wicks help maintain the overall quality of your candle along with the optimal scent throw with a proper burn.

Melt Pool:  Melt pool  is a term used in the candle industry that refers to the amount and area of melted wax that occurs during burning.

A full melt pool means the wax has been heated long enough to reach the edge of the container. In a properly wicked candle, you should see the melt pool grow about one inch per hour. A full melt pool should be 1/4" to 1/2" deep which will allow the fragrance to disperse more completely into the room.  Credit goes to Umisay

 

What is Frosting: If you've ever seen a white-ish color coating on chocolate, then you have a good idea of what frosting looks like in soy wax. It is a natural byproduct of natural wax and in no way affects the burn ability or fragrance of a candle. It is caused by tiny crystal growth that forms on the top and sides of the wax. It just means your soy wax products are made using the best quality soy wax. It’s nothing to worry about and does not make them less amazing. Credit goes to Candle Science

 

What is soy wax?