Soy Wax
Soy wax candles made with pesticide-free, non-GMO soy are a clean, renewable choice (non-organic soy is a pesticide- and water-intensive, genetically modified crop). Because soy is less firm, most soy wax candles come in glass containers but can also be in tins. Soy wax can produce frosting which is tiny crystal growth that forms on the top and sides of soy candles.
Lets look at some of the pros:
Renewable resource
No known toxins in the raw wax
Biodegradable
Low melt temperature
Now lets look at the cons:
Aesthetically, soy wax is not pretty and candles often develop bumps and lesions while burning
On the light spectrum, soy candles have a cooler tone
Soy wax goes rancid without preservatives
Some soy wax candles contain additives and hardeners
Soy wax is difficult to ship during hot weather because it will melt
Beeswax
The more well known of all wax. Beeswax can be burnt at lower temperatures and produce less soot and can last longer.Beeswax is sadly more expensive choice. We do not live near a Beehive or farm to make these type of candles. We also enjoy putting color into our Candles, and Bees Wax is very tough to add color.
Pros:
Non-hazardousSolvent free
Can be shipped in all weather conditions because of its high melt point
Cons:
Considered pricier than other waxes
Beeswax can be combined with other waxes to reduce manufacturing costs, be sure to always look for 100% pure beeswax products
Paraffin
I didn’t know this was a wax until I started making candles. Paraffin Wax is a common wax used today in most commercial candles. This wax is a petroleum by-product of the oil refinement process. Paraffin is a flexible wax where it can be hard and soft, the soft wax is best suited for tealights and containers, where the harder wax works well when creating pillars and votive. Due to it’s high versatility, most candle colors and fragrances take well to paraffin. Despite it’s popularity and cheap cost, paraffin is not preferred by those who value all-natural products due to it being a by-product of petroleum and it being a non-renewable resource, as well as the claim that the fumes emitted by burning a paraffin-wax candle could be harmful and toxic.
Pros:
Cheap
Works well with colors and fragrances.
Flexible wax
Cons:
non-renewable resource
claims of toxic when burning
Our Choice?
Soy wax!
Bees Wax is sadly more expensive choice. We do not live near a local Bee coop/hive to see if we could get a cheaper price. We want to make candles that are affordable for you. We also enjoy putting color into our Candles, and Bees Wax is very tough to add color to. We would love to use pure beeswax, but the price is the main factor for us.
When comparing to paraffin, we want to go with the renewable and cleaner resource. I would rather not give something I made to someone and find out that it caused some harmful fumes to people. Although paraffin candles don't frost, the wax can shrink as it cools and require a second pour or top fill. We are fine with the candles getting a little frost on the wax, I find it a little bit pleasing but that is me.
