American Made Soy Candles
There has been a huge movement in the last few years for Americans to buy American made items. It is partially because when you purchase goods made in a specific country - it’s that country’s economy that benefits from the purchase. In these days of economic hardships in the United States, it only makes sense for Americans to buy American to help bolster our own economy. Soy candles are a terrific way to buy American.
Soy candles start with a plant - the soybean plant. Soybeans are grown by American farmers. After planting the seeds in the spring and carefully nurturing the crop during the summer, the soybean is ready for harvesting by the farmer each fall. The beans are then transported to facilities which crush the bean, separating the meal from the oil. The soy meal (or meat) is used by many manufacturers in the production of both human and animal food. The soy oil is sent through a partial hydrogenation process that turns the soy oil into soy wax. The was is extremely soft.
The soybean wax is very soft so it works very well with containers. However, freestanding candles such as pillar candles and taper candles can not be made purely of soy wax because it is so soft. Any freestanding candle that is marketed as soy must have some other ingredient in it (paraffin wax is very common) so the candle will not become a complete blob of molten wax the first time it is burned. Another possible wax used to “firm” the soy wax is palm wax - a natural renewable resource. Other vegetable waxes, such as bayberry, candelilla, carnauba, castor, jojoba oil, ouricury wax (from the Brazillian Feather Palm) or rice bran may also be used to firm the soy wax to form the freestanding candles.
Soy candles are incredibly popular because of the many health benefits. Since soy candles are all natural, they are non-toxic and burn at cooler temperatures, so are safe for both humans and pets. Due to the cooler burning temperatures, soy candles will typically burn from 20 to 30% longer than paraffin wax candles. Additionally, soy candles while not soot-free, will produce approximately 90 to 95% less soot than the paraffin wax candle. The soot, when produced is mostly white in color - and almost imperceptible by the naked eye. Occasionally, black soot is produced by soy candles, however, it is in very small amounts and is usually due to the presence of an additive such as another wax like paraffin wax. Substances such as fragrance and dyes could also potentially cause the black soot to be produced from soy candles.
Scented soy candles hold a larger amount of fragrance than paraffin wax candles and can release the scent very easily. In fact, most of the time, a scented soy candle can fill the entire room with fragrance without being lit! Scented soy candles will carry the scent all the way through the candle and release it from the beginning to the end of the candle.
Soy candles are not just a healthy alternative to paraffin wax candles, but are also a natural alternative to them as well. Soy candles start as soybean plants grown by the American farmer, processed into wax by American manufacturers and sold to candle makers - many of whom are American. Buying a soy candle from an American company ensures that the profits stay in the United States, helping our economy and providing American jobs.