Soy Wax VS. Paraffin Wax

Our candles are made with a soy/paraffin wax blend.

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.

First, let's talk about these two waxes and how they are made before we get into the REAL debate.

SOY WAX

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.

PARAFFIN WAX

Paraffin waxes are actually petroleum based and are created using crude oil (also known as fossil fuel) which is extracted from the earth. On a molecular level, crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that were created from the decomposition of plants and animals that lived under water many years ago. Once extracted, crude oil is sent to refineries where it is then turned into finished products like lubricating oil. It is from the lube oil refining process that paraffin waxes are created.

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

• Non-Toxic - meaning that paraffin wax is not poisonous.
• Non-Reactive - meaning that during certain lab tests, the wax did not respond or react to certain stimuli.
• Excellent water barrier - paraffin wax is very good at repelling water and other liquids.
• Clean-burning fuel source - meaning paraffin 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 semi-translucent.