Votive candles come in a variety of colors and scents and even different waxes. Most of them are still made from paraffin wax , which is a petroleum product. Recently soy wax has become a favorite of candle makers and is growing in popularity. Soy wax votives appeal to many people because of the non-petroleum base to their make-up. Typically soy wax votive candles produces significantly less soot and smoke than the other wax does.
Soy votive candles are made from soy wax which was developed in 1992 by a man looking to a cheaper alternative to beeswax. Soy wax is hydrogenated soybean oil and is a natural product. Soy wax candles are cheap to produce and a great natural alternative to beeswax and paraffin based candles. Not only that soy wax is a renewable natural source and good for the environment.
Being all-natural soy wax appeals to environmentally interested people because it reduces the amount of petroleum used in the manufacture of products. Soy candles also don’t add CO2 into the atmosphere when they burn. They can burn up to 50% longer than the same size paraffin candle.
Since they are not petroleum-based a soy wax votive candle burns cleaner and produces much less soot than a paraffin candle. Not only will soot coat walls and ceilings with smudgy marks it is also unhealthy breathe and can be an irritant to many people.
Another nice quality of soy wax is that it is much easier to clean up if it gets spilled on furniture or clothes. It can usually be cleaned up with hot soapy water and doesn’t require scraping with a knife to get it to come loose. While care needs to be taken with a burning candles accidents do occur and eventually wax will get spilled on something and need to be cleaned up.
Soy candles burn cooler than the same candle of paraffin or gel. The wax is softer and burns with a nice steady flame. The soybean oil lowers the melting point of the wax and is a natural way to get a superior product. Votive candles made from soy wax offer some advantages over paraffin based candles, it’s up to you to choose what works best for you.