Beeswax Pillar Candles vs Soy Candles: Does the Type of Wax Matter?

Candles and the sense of smell are, perhaps, one of the most underrated elements of relaxation. A simple aroma of the right fragrance can provide a comforting and pleasant form of relaxation. Candles are easily available on the market; however, the difference lies in the type of wax used in the candles you purchase. Many consumers are unaware of the drastic differences the type of wax can have on the light, aroma and burning time, among others.

Features of Soy Candles

Soy candles are created from hydrogenated soybean oil, which is a relatively sustainable resource, especially for the people trying to live a vegetarian or vegan life. However, one of the key challenges for soy candles is that they cannot stand on their own. If a candle is mostly soy based, it will be slushy, and as a result, soy candles require additional ingredients, such as paraffin, to maintain the structure of the candle. Another major characteristic of a soy candle is that around 90% of the key ingredient, soy in particular, is genetically modified, and ‘100%’ soybean candles are actually blended with different types of vegetable oils, such as coconut, and other various waxes. This means that unfortunately, there is no such thing as 100% pure soy candles. This can often be a major deterrent for customers who are looking for pure, all-natural candle options.

Features of Beeswax Pillar candles

As the name suggests, beeswax is the key ingredient in Beeswax Pillar candles, and is one of the oldest materials used in candles. According to various archaeological findings, beeswax candles were even found in the ruins of pyramids in Egypt.

In contrast to soy candles, beeswax candles are completely natural, pure and non-toxic, both in nature and ingredients. Beeswax is a product of post–harvest of honey from honeycombs, and the residual is then collected and used to make candles. As a result of nature, beeswax candles can be produced without any toxic elements. Notably, Beeswax Pillar candles are vegan and vegetarian friendly, and cruelty-free, as no bees are harmed during the process of harvesting and production.

Additionally, Beeswax Pillar candles do not generate any toxic elements or byproducts in terms of air pollution. In fact, they neutralize the harmful effects of already existing pollutants in the air. According to scientists, beeswax candles eliminate mold, odor, and dust when burnt by releasing negative ions in the air. In doing so, they generate positive effects on people suffering from air related allergies, hay fever, and even asthma. Compared to soy candles, Beeswax candles are dripless by nature, leading to minimal wastage and safer burning elements.

Difference in emanating light due to the type of wax

Apart from the difference in manufacturing components, there is a difference in the light generated from soy candles and Beeswax candles. Ostensibly, Beeswax candles emanate a relatively natural glowing light, which is easy on the human eye, whereas soy candles emanate a glowing white light, with a flame reflecting a cool toned effect. The light emanated from soy candles is comparable to light generated by fluorescent bulb or blue light from a cell phone screen.

So, which is better - Beeswax or Soy?

The difference between the types of candles can be seen in the pricing point of the two products. It takes approximately 30 million trips to different flowers for bees to produce 500 grams of beeswax, thus leading to a higher premium price compared to soybean-based candles. However, the benefits accrued to Beeswax candles are multi-fold. On the flip side, soy candles burn longer and whilst they may do better to mask naturally occurring aromas such as food, this is primarily due to the inclusion of paraffin in their make-up. As a result, manufactured soy candles are, at present, heavily modified and pose a threat to the environment and human health when compared to the many environmental benefits of Beeswax candles.