Sunday November 22nd, 2009
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Soy candles vs. Parrafin Candles
Posted by Anne Keefe on April 22, 2008 - 4:54pm.
Each time you light a soy candle, you not only create a beautiful atmosphere, you also light a candle that is better for you and the environment.
In the candle industry, paraffin candles have been around a very long time and are a byproduct of crude oil. Did you know that burning a paraffin candle creates the same air quality as sitting behind a diesel truck inhaling exhaust fumes?
A few chemicals normally found in paraffin candles include formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, ethanol, and acetone. Add petroleum based fragrances and you got a toxic cocktail burning in your home.
High levels of indoor pollutants are a major problem considering that airborne soot can penetrate the deepest areas of the lungs and the lower respiratory tract. Emissions in the home are estimated to stay around for up to 10 hours after extinguishing a paraffin candle.
Paraffin candles also burn more quickly and much hotter than soy wax candles which increases a concern for fire hazards. Environmentally, paraffin is a non-renewable resource, where soy can be grown easily by US farmers and is a renewable source.
Have you ever notices black soot around your candle when it burns? Do you have soot on your walls or drapery near candles that have burned? Pure Soy wax candles do not create soot.
EclipseSpa candles are hand-poured and made from 100% soybean wax. They are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and contain no lead or petroleum. We have a variety of sizes, from candle tins, candle jars and candle decanters. Candles make great hostess or house-warming gifts.
One thing I would like to say is, as a manufacturer of 100% pure soy candles is that unforntunately Soy Candles do produce minimal amounts of soot. The only way to rid a candle of soot is to have a perfect combustion of the flame meaning "the flame is blue" we all know this is impossible with candles so therefore there will always be soot of some kind.
None the less, Soy Candles do have a whole lot less soot most of the time undetectable. Never damaging interiors and is a much healthier alternative to dangerous Parrafin wax. I have deeply researched the field of candles before deciding to produce them.
I just enjoy giving people the real facts to the present situation and letting them decide whats fact or fiction. But Always do your homework!
There is a whole lot more info on my website as well, you can never know enough, to keep you and your family healthy.
Our reputation speaks for itself. Honesty, Quality and Fairness is what we are all about.
ONLY made in the USA!
www.normansnaturalcandles.com
Thanks for the information on soy candles. My company, Watkins offers soy candles. I knew they burned cooler but I did not realize how much better they are for the enviroment compared to paraffin candles.
I now have a new selling point, as well as a better understanding.
Thanks for the information!!
Both soy-based and paraffin-based candle wax have their issues. But this issues this posting states are false. Most good quality candles from domestic and international manufacturers are made from food grade paraffin wax. The same stuff you find in lipstick, lip balm, chocolate and may other food items. All FDA approved. So it is not like standing behind a diesel burning truck.
One of the major causes of sooting is not keeping wicks trimmed. The major cause of toxic emissions from candles is synthetic based fragrance oils which are petrochemical based. Your best best is to by fragrance free candles (either paraffin or soy) and use natural fragrances in your home.
Here is a summary of a study commissioned by quite a diverse group of candle related groups. You can also check www.candle.org which is the website of the National Candle Association which is composed of manufacturers of both soy and paraffin candle manufacturers so represents a fair and balanced viewpoint.
New Candle Study Press Release!
A recent study of all major candle wax types shows that when candles are well-made, they have the same clean-burning behavior and pose no discernible risks to human health or indoor air quality.
The independent lab tests, which were completed in late 2007, were conducted at the Bayreuth Insitute of Environmental Research in Germany. The tests constitute the most extensive and rigorous scientific investigation of candle emissions to date.
The study tested paraffin, soywax, stearin, palm wax and beeswax candles in specialized testing chamber. The emission gasses were analyzed for more than 300 chemicals that are known or suspected of toxicity, health risks or respiratory irritation. These chemical groups includd dioxins and furans, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons, short-chain adehydes and volatile organic compounds. The recorded emision levels were then compared to known relevant indoor and standards.
The study found all of the waxes burned cleanly and safely, with no appreciable difference in burning behavior. Their combustion byproducts were virtually identical in composition and quantity, with all emissions levels registering far below the most restrictive of any applicable indoor air standards.
The study also looked at two candle types -- paraffin and soy -- that were specifically made to soot at high levels. The study found that even though these candles generally produced greater levels of emissions than the reference candles, they were still far below the most stringent of the applicable air quality standards.
The study was sponsored by the Association of European Candle Manufacturers, the Asociacion Latino Americana de Fabricantes de Velas, Cargill, Inc., the European Wax Federation, the National Candle Association, and the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association.