There are differences between soy and paraffin waxes. There are differences in their composition and differences in how the waxes are produced. Paraffin wax is the most common candle-creating wax, and if you have a candle at home, chances are it is a paraffin wax candle. A soy candle or a beeswax candle, for example will have a label that specifically calls your attention to the fact that they are not a paraffin wax candle.
Paraffin wax is produced from crude oil. Waxes are separated out of crude mineral oils to form a heavy hydrocarbon that becomes paraffin wax. Crude oil comes from the ground and is known as a fossil fuel.
Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. The soybeans are harvested, cleaned and converted into flakes. Soybean oil is then pulled from the flakes and hydrogenated. Soybean oil becomes a solid at room temperature, which creates the soy wax that is used for candles.
There are some advantages and disadvantages of both paraffin candles and soy candles. You may have heard that soy candles produce “no soot”. It is not true to say there is absolutely no soot produced by a soy candle. There is no such thing as a completely soot-free candle. Soy wax is all-natural and will not produce the thick black soot that you see on some paraffin containers, but soy candles do produce some soot. It’s important to remember that not all soot is black. Soot can be white or very light, and hard to see. A soy candle is much cleaner burning, and you will not see the dark soot around a soy candle that you see around a paraffin candle, but there will be some soot. Soy candles are longer burning than paraffin candles and come in all shapes, sizes and containers. Soy candles can be all natural and color and fragrance free, or they can have color added and can be highly fragrant.
