Since we know that paraffin candles are cheap, what are some alternatives? We wanted to point out that paraffin candles aren’t the only candle option for your house. So we compared the benefits and features of soy wax, beeswax, and other eco-friendly candles. Soy wax and bees wax dominate the market for environmentally friendly candles.
Most conventional candle manufacturers construct their products using a combination of soy and paraffin candles. Soybeans are the primary ingredient for making soya wax, which is used to coat paper products. The leftover solubles from the production of soya oil are fed to cows. Therefore, soy in and of itself is a natural and environmentally friendly commodity.
Even if the soy friendly candle industry is sustainable because of the soybean industry, the soy candle industry can still be slightly harmful to the environment. Growing soybeans requires using a variety of herbicides and fertilizers, and destroying forests to boost the industry is not helpful in this regard.
To maintain the fragrance for longer, soy candles jar frequently contain paraffin. Many soya products have been genetically engineered, and their natural makeup has been altered by adding various chemicals and additives.
Soy candles do not provide a full clean burn; however, they burn cleaner than bad candle fumes made of normal paraffin wax, which produces soot as they burn and pollute the air around them. Even though its melting point is lower than paraffin’s, soy does not burn quite as quickly as the latter.
Check out here the Benefits Of using Soy Candles.
Beeswax candles are similarly natural and burn cleanly. However, their popularity pales compared to scented candle jars varieties. Candlemakers have long used it as a material for making candles, and some people believe it can also purify the air.
Beeswax emits negative ions, which bind to positive ions (the kind of ion found in most contaminants) in the air. This neutralizes the positive ions, which clean the air you breathe.
In contrast to soy candle snuffer, Beeswax candles are known to help purify the air around them, which may reduce the likelihood of adverse health effects such as headaches and allergies. Beeswax candles do more than mask unpleasant odors with pleasant fragrances; they help remove odors from the air as they burn. Honey bees produce honey by collecting nectar from plants, eating pollen, and building hives. They consume several pounds of honey each day.
Wax can be extracted by placing a honeycomb in warm water; once the honeycomb is submerged, the wax will float to the top of the water and be collected by the beekeeper. The production of these candles can be hazardous to the health of certain bee colonies, depending on the method through which the beeswax is extracted.
Beeswax candles have a fresh, delectable honey flavor but do not come in various fragrances like other candle types. In addition, the majority of candles of this type do not emit smoke or soot when burned.
Soy and beeswax candles still emit some volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, the levels are so small that they don’t pose any significant risk to people’s well-being. The volatile organic compounds you breathe in daily, such as air pollution or car fumes, are more likely to harm you than the candle VOCs.
Most of the risks associated with lighting candles are due to improper handling. However, there shouldn’t be any reason for concern if the candles are stored properly and used for a short period of time. You could use a candlestick instead of a taper lighter because blowing out the flame would extinguish the wick.
Moreover, you can also give get more information about it on the National Candles Association and the European Candle Associations websites, respectively.
In the dispute between soy and beeswax, soy candles come out on top since they are better for both the environment and your health. There is no hard evidence to support the widespread belief that soy candles contain dangerous levels of toxins.
Although beeswax may appear to be the more realistic option, it may involve the disruption of bee colonies, making it less friendly to the environment. This is especially true because bee populations have been steadily declining over the course of the previous decade.
Most unscented candles are crafted from paraffin, soy, or beeswax. Paraffin is the same wax that is used to produce crayons. Several recent news pieces discuss the risks associated with paraffin wax. Consequently, many researchers have conducted studies to determine whether or not the combustion of paraffin wax candles is particularly hazardous.
However, the results of the majority of research have either been inconclusive or have not demonstrated that the vapors from traditional paraffin candles are hazardous to human health. In addition, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) validates the legitimacy of all components that go into the production of candles in the United States.
Volatile organic compounds are chemicals that evaporate easily from liquid solutions. They include solvents such as gasoline, paint thinner, nail polish remover, and cleaning products. When these substances come into contact with oxygen, they release fumes that may cause health problems. In addition, candle wax contains paraffin, which is a petroleum product. Paraffin is not considered a VOC because it does not evaporate readily. However, the paraffin could melt and drip onto your skin if the candle burns too hot.
Before the 1970s, the wicking material for most household lighting products was usually made from lead, which helped them stay lit longer than they would otherwise. However, after the EPA banned lead-based wicking materials in 2003, there hasn’t been any hazardous wick material. Since the Environmental Protection Agency issued a ban on lead-based candle wicks in 2003, there has not been a single harmful wick used in the production of candles since then.
We don’t think any candle can seriously hurt people or the environment, but some candles produce more heavy soots and VOCs than others.
Moreover, if you can't still decide which one to make you can check out this article we made for you on whether to use Coconut Wax or Soy Wax For Candle Making.
