MoonBeam Landing - What Are Soy Candles?

Why Try Soy Candles?

So, what's so great about soy? The reason for the interest in soy candles is part of the move towards all natural candles. All natural means clean burning and less or no soot. What is soot? Carbon tracking, ghosting or soot from candle burning refers to the black soot deposit that results from burning paraffin or lead wick candles. It is the result from the incomplete combustion of a carbon fuel. In the home, candles account for much of the black soot pollutants. The benefits of using soy candles include the fact that they are 100% biodegradable, burn at cooler temperatures, cleans up with soap and water and produces 90% less black soot than a paraffin candle.

If you are thinking that soy candles are like soybeans, you are right. This wax is made from soy bean oil, and soybeans are a natural crop grown by American Farmers. Paraffin wax is a petroleum based product. Soy wax is also water soluble so spills and containers can be washed up with regular soap and water. Ever try to clean up a spill of paraffin wax? Talk about a mess. However, you can clean out the left over soy wax from a candlestick with warm water and soap. Another great thing about soy is that the oil can be recycled from other materials like glass and tin.

Soy candles sold here on Moonbeam Landing are made from a proprietary blend. This means they are not 100% soy. The reason is that 100% soy does not produce a long lasting scented candle. This proprietary formula is specifically designed to produce a clean burning and strongly scented candle from wax that is comprised of vegetables and other natural, renewable resources. Scents used in these candles are synthetic and natural which have been designed specifically for our alternative wax formula. When a natural scent can function at the same level as a synthetic, the natural scent is used. The main goal is to create a scent that will last all the way from the top to the bottom.

If you are like other people who enjoy burning candles, you probably notice that paraffin can suffer from "tunnel" syndrome. This occurs when the wax only burns in the middle, leaving most of the candle behind when the wick is finished. Soy candles burn more evenly than paraffin candles. As long as you take care of your candle, it will burn evenly all the way to the bottom freeing you from the dreaded "tunnel" syndrome. Most of your candle winds up being burned, making the candle a better deal for your money! No more paying for a candle where you only wind up using half of it.

Soy wax candles are also great for those who have young, curious children. We all have seen a child stick their hand in the candle right after it is blown out making them burn themselves. Paraffin candle wax can stay hot for a while after the flame is snuffed out. If you dip your finger into a melted pool of soy wax, it will not burn you because the wax burns at a cooler temperature. Both paraffin and soy candles flake off easily enough, but paraffin also tends to leave a greasy, oily feeling on your hands. Soy candles reduce this greasy, oily feeling allowing you to continue with your tasks without having to scrub your hands.

The wicks used in our candles are lead and core free (no zinc) - made from 100% cotton. Even thought these wicks are considered self trimming, we still recommend that you trim the wicks to between 1/8 and ¼ inch at all times. Remember you should never burn a candle for more than 3 hours continuously.