Soy candles are made from soy wax, this is a form of processed soybean oil. Soy wax was invented in 1992 by Michael Richards as an alternative to beeswax which , because of its scarcity is very expensive, Soy candles are gaining in popularity due to concerns by a number of people that paraffin wax candles give of harmful gasses (CO2) when burned. (this is disputed by a large contingent of people who prefer to use paraffin wax because it is easy to use and it is relatively cheap).
Standard labeling of soy candles is not enforced, therefore any claims of benefits of these candles are not regulated. Yet there are studies claiming its safety over other waxes when candles are used heavily
Soy candles are easy to make at home, can be mixed with additives for scenting etc. making them very popular with the home or hobby segment of the industry.
There are many advantages of soy candles over paraffin candles. Soy wax is made from a renewable source unlike paraffin wax. Soy wax is very cost effective and is produced in large quantities, and for the patriots in America, most of the soy crops in the world, are produced in America although the wax is not, it is produced elsewhere and shipped back to the USA (it is still American because the basic crop is grown in the US). Claims are being made that soy candles last longer than paraffin candles, although as far as I know this has not been tested scientifically. Next is how easy it is to clean any soy wax that might have messed, paraffin wax is notoriously difficult to clean off furniture but soy wax can be cleaned by simply using soap and hot water. Soy candles produce far less soot than paraffin candles (as much as 90% less according to some manufactures. Scented soy candles distribute more flavour - The addition of soybean oil lowers the melting point of the candles, which translates into cooler burning candles and faster scent dispersion. The lower melting point of soy wax results in a larger size of the liquid wax pool around the candle wick. It is from this liquid wax pool that the essential oils disperse into the atmosphere.
Candle making additives that are sometimes used in soy candle making include: stearic acid, Vybar (a trademarked polymer), mineral oil, petrolatum, luster crystals, dye/pigment, fragrance (natural or artificial), paraffin wax, ultraviolet absorbers, and bht crystals.
