Soy vs. Paraffin: What's the Difference?

Which would you rather have burning in your home?

Watch the story of Soy courtesy of the Iowa Soybean Association www.iasoybeans.com

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One of the most talked about attributes of soy candles is their ability to burn clean.  For those who rarely  burn scented candles in their homes, a cleaner burn may not mean that much, but to frequent candle users, those who have been bothered by the black left around the jar tops and the gray, sooty residue soot left behind on walls, drapes and furnishings, a candle that produces considerably less or no soot is an astounding breakthrough.

So why do paraffin candles produce soot while soy candles don't?

Soot is the result of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, such as petroleum and its by-products. Paraffin, the waxy residue left behind in the refinement processing of petroleum, not only contains carbon but a host of other chemical compounds, some of which have been found to be toxic, and others labeled as carcinogens.  Soy is  the  "solution to the pollution".  First created in Iowa where most of the soybeans in the United States are grown, clean burning soy wax candles produce measurably less soot than traditional candles made from paraffin. Lower soot levels help maintain pure air quality and reduce home maintenance problems associated with soot deposits.

Soy wax is a novel product solution where everyone wins:  consumers now have a clean burning candles from sustainable sources, and farmers have a rapidly growing new market.  Soy wax is the first wax innovation in the candle industry in over a 100 years and is rapidly becoming the candle industry standard for the twenty first century.  Soy is cost competitive with petroleum wax.  Soy is the future.

There are several carcinogen compounds (cancer-causing agents) found in paraffin candles.  Virtually all of them have been considered "toxic air agents" by various environmental agencies and the state of California, in particular.  Though studies are not yet completed, there is already supporting documentation stating that paraffin candle soot contains some of the same toxic compounds given off by burning diesel fuel.

While little or no research has been conducted into the health effects of exposure to candle soot, studies into the risks of exposure to soot from diesel exhaust and factory emissions suggest candle soot can be harmful.  Since soot particles are very small, they can potentially penetrate the deepest area of the lung. Researchers caution that the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases like asthma should avoid exposure to candle soot. *

* The American Lung Association

The photograph above shows the typical soot accumulation which occurs when a paraffin candle burns. Unfortunately, the  particles of soot don't stop at the jar rim, but are carried by air currents to be deposited on draperies, walls, furnishings and, sadly, your lungs.

West Coast Candles are clean burning, as is evidenced by the photograph above.   Containing  nothing but pure natural soy wax, soy-based fragrance and dye, there are no toxic chemicals to worry about.  West Coast Candles really are the clean and healthy alternative.