What is the difference between Paraffin and Soy Wax?

First we need to clear up a misunderstanding about soy wax. All candle wax emits some amount of soot when used in a container candle; a candle that has a wick. The difference between paraffin and soy is that the soot emitted by paraffin candles is generally darker than the soot emitted by soy wax. It has been stated and even advertised that soy wax does not emit any soot at all. This statement is incorrect. The only time there is no soot from either wax is when used as a tart Candle and melted in a tart Warmer. This information below may help you to decide which candle wax you prefer. Most all candle wax today is non-toxic. It has gone through a refinement process and as far as known causes no health issues. So, what is the big deal about paraffin and soy wax? Well let's start off with paraffin wax. This wax is made from crude oil which is not a renewable source. Where soy is considered to be more environmentally friendly because it is made from a renewable source, the soy bean plant. The question is still, which candle wax do you want in your home? I will give a few pluses and minuses of each wax and maybe this will answer the ongoing question that many have been asking for years. Let's start off with paraffin wax. It’s Pluses: 1. This wax is noted for its ability to release a fragrance throughout your home or office more efficiently than soy wax. 2. When dye is incorporated in the wax, the end results are a deeper and truer color over soy wax which has a somewhat pastel color in its finished product. 3. Has been around for many more years and fragrance oils were first chemically blended especially for the use in paraffin wax. It’s Minuses: 1. Made from fuel oil production and even when refined we at Mountain Crafted still detect a hint of fuel oil smell when burning. 2. Gives off a black to brown soot. 3. When making candles this wax is a lot harder during clean up. 4. This wax has the probability to shrink as it cools and requires a second pour to leave a smooth surface. 5. In most cases it must be poured at a hotter temperature than soy wax. 6. Non-renewable. Once the crude oil is used up, there will be no more paraffin wax. Ok, so what about soy wax? It’s Pluses: 1. This is a renewable wax because it arrives from the soy bean plant. 2. Cleaner burning wax, meaning you do not smell the hint of fuel oil while burning a soy candle. 3. I did state that at the beginning the manufacturing of fragrance oils were more geared toward paraffin wax. Not so today, more and more research are being performed to have fragrance oils work as efficiently in soy wax as in paraffin. 4. Easier clean up when making candles or with a wax spill in your home. 5. This wax can be poured at a lower temperature. 6. In most cases this wax doesn't need a second pour to leave a smooth and flat surface on your candle. It’s Minuses: 1. Like its cousin paraffin it does give off soot. 2. When dye is incorporated in the wax, the finished product has a somewhat pastel color. 3. With some fragrance oils this wax is noted for its inability to release as strong a fragrance throughout your home or office as paraffin wax. 4. Soy wax can produce what is called frosting, which are tiny crystals that form on the top and sides of the candles when cooling. So, there you go, I hope some of this information helped you to decide which is the best product for your home or office. Our personal preference at Mountain Crafted is soy wax. To us, and this is only our personal opinion, soy candles seems to burn a lot cleaner than paraffin. Debra has a touch of asthma and seems to be able to handle the soy wax when I test new fragrances than she was able to handle paraffin. Again this is a personal choice, try both and decide what is right for you. Good Candling... Barry www.mountaincrafted.com Mountain Crafted | It just Makes good Scents!