Candles are a fantastic way to freshen up a room and elicit a sense of atmosphere. The right candle can elevate the entire room and take you somewhere special.
Yet, if you plan on candle shopping soon, you'll have a crucial decision on your hands.
Do you buy soy wax candles or paraffin wax candles?
It's a debate that's been hot for quite some time now, and for lots of good reasons. You breathe in fumes that candles generate, so you want to ensure they're safe. Not only that, but an ideal candle burns slow, doesn't leave much residue, and smells heavenly. Read on to discover which type of candle reigns supreme and is the safest for your family.
What Are Paraffin Wax Candles?
First, we'll start with paraffin wax, dating back to 1850. It's petroleum-based like oil and gas. It's created by extracting the waxy substance that forms on crude oil. It was the primary ingredient in wax candles until soy's discovery in 1991. Even now, paraffin wax is commonly found in most commercial candles.
Due to its petroleum base, it's not the cleanest nor the most sustainable form of wax.
In fact, paraffin wax is notorious for producing lots of soot and releasing harmful toxins in the air.
It's a non-natural substance that's not sustainable. Since there's no way to renew fossil fuels, paraffin wax is a finite resource. When burning paraffin wax candles, you release the following emissions into the air:
- Alkans
- Alkenes
- Toluene
Each of these substances has harmful effects on humans. Whenever you burn a paraffin wax candle, you're potentially inhaling harmful toxins. Paraffin will also leave behind petro-carbon soot. That's the thick, black residue that paraffin candles leave behind. This soot is often found spread on walls, furniture, and drapes - and is difficult to clean from your hands. The soot particles can also wreak havoc on individuals with asthma as they penetrate the deepest part of the lung. The elderly, young, and those with respiratory diseases should be mindful if they start to get symptoms while around paraffin candles.
What Are Soy Wax Candles?
As stated before, soy wax candles came about in 1991 as a cleaner alternative to paraffin. Soy wax comes from soybeans, an all-natural ingredient that's easy to replenish. There are many advantages that soy candles have over paraffin candles. For one, soy candles produce far less soot.
You'll notice this if you burn a soy candle next to a paraffin one.
Since soy candles are all-natural, they won't contaminate the air. Beyond that, soy candles burn for longer and are more fragrant than their paraffin counterparts.
There's a difference in the way the wax cleans up if you spill it, too. Should you spill some soy wax, you can clean it up easily with rubbing alcohol. If you spill paraffin wax, on the other hand, it's very difficult to remove - even with strong cleaning agents.
Soy wax is a cleaner, healthier, and more effective alternative to paraffin wax.
That's why it's best to buy soy candles to protect your family and get the most value for your money.
The Verdict: Soy Candles vs. Paraffin Candles
It's clear that soy candles are the winner here. They're natural, sustainable, burn longer, and smell better. With a house full of soy candles, you can rest easy knowing that you're doing no harm to yourself or your family.
At ZuZu Candle Co., we're renowned for our highly scented soy candles. We hand-pour the candles in small batches with a higher fragrance load to guarantee purity, quality, and strong scents. We're a fun, high-end candle brand with stand-out scents and quirky names. Our prices are reasonable, and all of our candles are eco-friendly and sustainably sourced by soy wax farmers in the USA. Click here to find the perfect soy candle.