Soy Candles: What's All the Hype?

If you have any obsession close to mine with candles, you've probably already heard about everyone ranting and raving about soy candles, but do you know what they're really talking about? I had a general idea, but wanted to dive a little deeper to know some more facts about the candles I've been regularly using. 

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What is Soy Wax?

According to CandleScience.com, soy wax is a vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. Motherearthliving.com goes on to say that soy wax candles made with pesticide-free, non-GMO soy are a clean, renewable choice, but that non-organic soy is a pesticide- and water-intensive, genetically modified crop. They also talk about most candles being made of paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, and often scented with synthetic fragrances, which often contain harmon-disrupting phthalates ("a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break" cdc.gov).

Fast Facts About Soy Candles:

• Soy wax burns longer
• Soy is sustainable
• Burns cleaner (90% less soot than paraffin)

Things to Look For:

Not all candle labels are created equally! In doing research for this article, I found that some of my beloved "soy candles" aren't, in fact, strictly soy. Before bringing a soy labeled candle up to the register, dig a little deeper for the following:

• Mostly soy/Soy based, etc. - Candles can have a soy candle label while also having paraffin and other non-soy ingredients
• All-natural wick - many candle wicks contain lead. We know this is a HUGE red flag.
• Fragrance - Find out how the candles get their fragrances, where they are derived from and if they are safe ingredients

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Companies I STILL Love:

Voluspa

FAVORITE SCENT! Image via Voluspa

• Coconut wax blend
• Sustainable, ecologically-sound, pesticide-free manufactruing
• Hand-poured in the U.S.
• No animal testing
• Phthalates, parabens, and sulfate free

• 100% cotton wicks

Where to Buy:

• Via the Voluspa website
• For Philadelphia readers, head to Hope Chest at their new location!

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P.F. Candle Co

• Recyclable and reusable candle jars
• Vegan
• Cruelty-free
• Phthalate-free
• Classic line products made with a fine fragrance oil blend consisting o natural and man-made materials
• Terra line made using all-natural fragrance oils
• Made in the US

Where to Buy:

Via their website

Image via P.F. Candle Co.

I was introduced to P.F. Candle Co. via Causebox.

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Where do you get your favorite candles from? Do you prefer room sprays to candles? Let me know on our Facebook page!

- jamie