All Callie Co. candles are made with 100% soy wax, a rarity in the candle-making industry. Shop our collection here.
WHAT IS SOY WAX?
Soy wax is really having a moment and there's a reason. Candles have been around since the beginning of forever, but soy wax was invented relatively recently, in 1992. It is derived from a natural plant source, the soybean, and is a clean alternative to paraffin candles.
This is terrific news for us Midwesterners because not only does the production of soy wax support our local soy bean farmers, but it can be produced without major damage to our ecosystem.
SO, WHAT'S IN MY GROCERY STORE CANDLE?
You don't have to turn around twice to find a store that is selling a candle. Candles are a very lucrative market because they are a consumable that most people have in their homes. You can find great smelling candles in the aisles of the grocery store, the mall, the dollar store, heck, even the gas station. But these products are not really made with you or the environment in mind and they could be causing a lot more harm than you think.
Your favorite mall brand candle is great, probably has really pretty packaging, but it is most likely made from something called paraffin wax.
Paraffin wax is a petroleum by product that is derived from the purification process of the oil. Burning paraffin wax can give off harmful chemicals into the air, which scientist have linked to such diseases as asthma and lung cancer. It would take years of exposure for this to be a real threat, but as consumers become more frequent users of candles, it may become more of a threat. An unverified theory is that people who suffer from headaches from the burning of candles may not be reacting to the scent so much as the burning of the paraffin wax itself. Again, this is only a theory that would require more research to confirm.
Crude-oil is a fossil fuel and a non-renewable resource, whereas soy beans are a renewable resource. Fossil fuels are extracted using controversial methods, like fracking, disruptions and breaking down of eco-systems, and water pollution.
Paraffin wax is beloved by large companies because it is cheaper than plant based waxes and is easier to work with. Paraffin wax is very reliable when it comes to getting a very pretty, smooth topped candle. On the other hand, plant based waxes can be very finicky, and don't always produce a smooth topped candle. This sometimes creates more work for the plant-based wax candle maker. The candle is the same product, but consumers like things pretty, so this can be a deterrent to mass-producers.
Some large candle makers boast that their wax is a "soy-wax blend." Since we don't actually know how much of that blend is soy wax, they could have put "sugar-free" on the front of the candle and it would carry about as much meaning.
WHY SOY WAX IS GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
There are a number of benefits of soy wax. Soy wax has a low melting point, meaning it will melt at a lower temperature, making it burn longer, sometimes twice as long, as paraffin wax. So, you could have a soy candle that is the same amount of ounces as a paraffin wax candle, and you will be getting more bang for your buck.
Soy wax also benefits American farmers. The U.S. produces over 4 billion bushels of soy beans every year and over 95,000 people are employed in the US by soybean farming. Even though farm equipment at this time does require fossil fuels to run, farming is a much less controversial and damaging process than petroleum extraction.
No matter what kind of wax it is, you can always reuse and recycle your candle container. However, cleaning it out might be the problem. Soy wax is water soluble, whereas paraffin is not. Soy wax can easily be wiped away with warm soapy water, creating a like-new jar.
It should be noted that no matter the wax, improper wick-care could be causing your candle to soot and dirty up the walls of your home. Read more about candle maintenance and how to keep your candle burning clean and looking pretty here.
MAKE THE SWITCH
Ultimately, it's your choice what products you purchase and use inside your own home. All candles in the US do have to meet FDA cleanliness standards, so rest assured, whatever kind of wax your are burning inside your home, it is regulated.
However, making the transition to soy candles not only benefits you and your home, but also American small businesses and US farmers.