With the rising popularity of soy wax candles, it's no wonder that people are wondering, Are soy candles safe? And to take it a step further, are all soy candles safe?
Unfortunately, it's not as easy as saying 'yes' or 'no to the question of what candles are safest because there are so many factors that go into candles and burning them (plus, people do have different, individual responses to even the cleanest of candles). Still, let's take a quick look at how safe natural soy wax candles are, especially in terms of, Are soy candles safer than paraffin?
First off is what it says on all the warning labels we put on each our our hand-poured soy candles. When burning your candle, never leave unattended. Keep away from pets and children, and do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time. Keep away from drafts and keep the candle itself free from foreign debris. These are basic safety elements to always be mindful of when burning your candle.
Beyond that, let's talk about our favorite kind of non paraffin candles and why soy wax is a clean-burning alternative to paraffin. Note: Our focus here is specifically on the wax itself. For more info on safe scents candles + fragrance oils and essential oils, we've dedicated a whole blog post just to that!
Things you should know about soy wax and paraffin wax:
1) Paraffin wax is petroleum-based, meaning it ultimately comes from crude oil, which is not a renewable or eco-friendly resource.
2) As a petroleum byproduct, paraffin emits carcinogens when burning: many sources compare the chemicals found in burning paraffin to those found in diesel exhaust. Yuck!
1) Soy wax is a plant-based wax, meaning that it is a renewable resource that is better for the planet (so, I guess you could say it's safer for us because it's more eco-friendly!)
2) Soy wax is cleaner burning and soy candles do not emit the 'diesel-fume' toxins that paraffin candles do. Because these carcinogens are linked to health problems like asthma and even lung cancer, I would definitely choose soy wax over paraffin wax!
3) Soy wax burns at a lower temperature than paraffin wax, so if there do happen to be any mishaps with your candle (again, please read the warning label and follow safe candle burning practices), then the chances of injury from hot wax is less as well.
Because soy wax burns at a lower temperature, your soy wax candle will last up to 50% longer than a paraffin candle, giving you more bang for your candle buck!
Soy candles produce very little soot when they burn (while paraffin candles produce copious amounts of petrocarbon soot, which causes indoor air pollution and can even stain walls and ceilings over time).
Expert Tip: Trimming your wick all also help reduce soot!
Finally, soy wax is a vegan candle wax, so soy candles are a great gift for your vegan friends!
Not convinced that soy candles are better?
See what the best candles are made of.
