Going Organic With
Soy Candles.

I have to admit that initially I didn't see much reason to buy organic soy candles. I am all for organic products but candles? But as I found out there is a very good reason.

Most of the organic candles being made are made from organic soy oil, palm oil or other vegetable oils, soy being the most popular.

Soy wax candles have not been around for very long, only dating back to 1995. Prior to this most candles were made from paraffin, a plentiful by-product of petroleum production.

One of the problems with paraffin candles is that black smoke or soot they emit when the air flow around the flame is unsteady. The EPA has found that super scented candles or those that are soft to the touch are responsible for the most carbon soot. For frequent candle burners this can mean blackening of walls, ceiling or furniture.

Fortunately, that problem has been mostly eliminated and today's candles are made with wicks of mainly zinc or tin. Although be careful with cheap imported candles as some lead wicks are still being found.

Using soy solves these problems.

Soy wax candles have been found to emit up to 98% less soot and can burn up to 50% longer. Plus no harmful toxins are emitted into the air we breathe. They're biodegradable and if you happen to spill some candle wax, soap and water clean up is all that is necessary and soy is a renewable resource unlike the petroleum products used in typical candles.

So many of us want to take advantage of the healthy benefits of essential oils and diffusing them in candles has become very popular. Soy wax candles burn at lower temperatures than paraffin which helps to preserve the health and fragrance benefits of delicate essential oils which can be destroyed by high heat.

Why buy organic candles?

When you buy organic soy wax candles you help support organic soy farmers. Much of the soy being grown and used for candle wax has been genetically modified and treated with chemicals. For those of us concerned about GM crops or the use of pesticides and herbicides and their affect on the health of people and the planet, organic is the way to go.

Small farmers face a struggle to survive and switching to organic farming has provided many small farms with good incomes. Making the switch to organic can be costly and time consuming but the effort can payoff when we create demand for more organic crops and encourage organic farmers to continue their good work, saving the planet and providing us with safe products to eat, wear and use.

Making sure your soy candle is 100% organic wax.

Candles labeled organic can be made with 100% organic wax, with paraffin and organic essential oils or they can be made with some organic wax and the rest paraffin or other wax. This helps to keep costs lower as organic wax can be expensive.

If you are looking for 100% organic wax the label may not help. Buying from a reputable company is the best way to have some assurance. One that lists the ingredients of their candles down to what they choose to use as fragrance.

While it is not difficult to find pure soy candles, organic soy candles are a very recent development and are just beginning to find their way to the market.

A few to try.