Candle Wax: Soy vs Paraffin

There has been much debate over the “best” wax for candles. 

Generally speaking, the more luxury candle brands tend to use soy wax, or blends of it in their candle making. This could be due to the perception that soy wax is somehow superior, (being “natural”) but also due to its appearance: soy wax has a creamy opaque texture, whereas paraffin is whiter and slightly translucent. Soy candles tend to burn slower than paraffin ones and require a higher percentage of fragrance to create a good scent – therefore are usually more expensive to produce.

However, to put arguments to rest The National Candle Association has provided the following statements:

• All waxes are primarily hydrocarbons, whether of animal, vegetable, or petroleum origin. The chemical composition of all candle making waxes is similar, and all candle waxes burn in the same manner.
• No specific type of wax or wax blend is considered 'best' for candle making. All waxes - when provided in high-quality format - have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner.
• No candle wax has ever been shown to be toxic or harmful to human health.
• There is no such thing as a soot-free wax.

It is often claimed that soy wax is better because it is 'more natural' and 'less harmful to the environment' than paraffin. However this is a misnomer!

Paraffin is a by-product of the petroleum industry, therefore something that already exists and is made use of - so no additional harm to the environment there.

Also the processes to harvest soy and convert into wax uses petroleum in various capacities (vehicles used to harvest, transport, etc.) so really the so-called 'eco-friendly' nature of soy is questionable. 

Some people claim allergies to paraffin-based candles and this may be true, however it is more likely the allergy is caused by a particular fragrance composition rather than the wax.

Really, it is down to personal preference.  That is not to say that all candles are of equal quality. You can get poor quality of either waxes, so you want to still ensure whether you are buying candles with soy or paraffin that they are still of a good value.

Have you had good or bad experiences with either paraffin or soy candles? Please leave a comment - I would love to hear your thoughts :-)

The Low Down. Tips and Tricks for getting the most out of your Scented Candles.

So… have you been burning your scented candles? Hopefully you have, and are starting to come around to my way of thinking. Scented candles are A-MA-ZING. However, once you’ve decided that you love them and want to start burning them every day for the rest of your life – how do you decide which ones to buy? And once you’ve bought one, how do you know if it is good quality?

In basic terms – from the way it looks, smells and burns.

OVERALL:
A good quality candle will be smooth on top with an even colour (whether dyed or natural). There won’t be any “sweating” of fragrance on top, or pigmentation/discolouration. It will burn cleanly and evenly, with a good scent throw. You can usually tell the difference between luxury brands and cheaper ones due to their scents – the more sophisticated a scent is, the more expensive it usually is. Cheap fragrances can sometimes smell very synthetic and one dimensional.

That being said, here are some vital tips when burning candles that are imperative to follow, in order to make sure you really are getting the best out of them, no matter the price.

TIP 1 - TRIM THE WICK
A well-made candle will create virtually no smoke when burning properly. However, if the wick becomes too long the flame will enlarge, creating smoke/soot and the wax will start to burn quicker and unevenly. Therefore before lighting, ensure the wick is always trimmed down to about 5mm. Your candles will burn for up to 25% longer if you make sure you trim the wick each time it is lit.

TIP 2 - LET IT MELT
When burning candles, I cannot stress how important it is (especially the first time it is lit), to leave it burning for at least two hours. The length of time will vary a bit according to the size of the candle, but what you want is for the pool of wax to melt right the way across the top before you even think about blowing it out.

Why?  Wax has a “memory” – so if you blow the candle out before it has melted across to the edges, it won’t melt properly the next time you light it. This results in ‘tunnel’ burning, where the wax pool extends only as far as it did before, so residual wax gets left behind around the edges. What a waste!

I came across this link in frustration once and found it quite a handy little trick if you are really sad like me and cannot bare having unmelted wax left behind! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVFRziacuDM

TIP 3 - BIGGER IS BETTER
When wax melts, the liquid releases scent into the air – therefore the larger the surface area of the melted wax, the more fragrance is released. So generally candles with a wider diameter will smell stronger when burning. It is worth considering this when burning candles in larger rooms – you can either use larger candles (multiwicks) or burn several smaller ones together at one time.

TIP 4 - DRAFTS
Drafts can cause a candle to burn excessively fast or unevenly. If you see the flame of your candle flickering a lot, move your candle to a different location to maximise its burn. If drafts are unavoidable, try turning the candle each time it is lit to even out the burn.

TIP 5 - GLASS VESSEL
If the glass of your scented candle is particularly pretty and it seems a shame to throw away – don’t! To ensure its preservation, stop burning when there is approximately 5mm of wax left at the bottom. Once the wax has cooled, putting the almost empty vessel in the freezer overnight will cause the wax to shrink a little, and it should pop out easily. Now you can use it for whatever you like! (Eg. Decorative storage, tealight holder, or even as a vessel for making your own candles).

THE BIG QUESTION

So, what everyone wants to know is… is it really worth paying for the ‘luxury brands’ as opposed to cheaper ones?
As is the same with everything, you get what you pay for. The top end candle brands will typically be using the best quality ingredients (wax, wick, fragrance, vessel).  To preserve their brand reputation, they are committed to ensuring their candles are of excellent quality, so that they burn evenly and that their scents are expensive.

I like to use cheaper candles for every day use and save the expensive ones for “best”, or if I am simply in the mood for something a little more luxurious.

 

Anyway I hope those tips were useful – probably a little in-depth for the general reader but if you are a candle junkie like me then  I think it really is vital to know exactly what you are paying for when you buy a candle and how you know whether you are getting your money’s worth.  As usual please feel free to subscribe/comment, as I would love to hear from you. Let me know all about candles that you love, or ones that you don’t. Or just say hello! J