Soy wax candles are increasing in popularity as an affordable natural alternative to the more standard paraffin wax based candles. Over the last few decades in particular there has been growing concern about protecting the environment and the sourcing and use of candles made from natural ingredients is one small step in the right direction.
In the early days of candle making alternatives have always been sought to the messy and smelly tallow candles which were commonly used. Beeswax has always been a popular natural wax for making candles but in earlier times it was a real luxury item and often only seen in churches and monasteries. It certainly wasn't a product for the common man.
Candle making in Colonial America took a turn for the better with the discovery of the bayberry. It was found that when these grayish green berries found on the bayberry bush were boiled down they produced a lovely smelling wax. There was, however, one small drawback in the process. It took approximately 15 pounds of bayberries to create one pound of bayberry wax. That's a lot of berry picking for each candle!
A second glitch soon appeared as well and that was that bayberry candles did not hold up well under storage. After only a few months of being stored, a white powdery residue started to form on the candles and this compromised the burning qualities of the candle. It was not surprising that candles made from bayberry lost their attraction for general domestic use. They did, however, become a popular seasonal candles.
There really haven't been any major developments in the production of a natural vegetable wax suitable for candles until the early 1990s when a businessman called Michael Richards stepped up to the plate. He recognised the growing demand for a natural alternative to the standard paraffin wax based candles. Beeswax was not an affordable option at around ten times the price of paraffin wax.
He tested different plant wax combinations and the result was a vegetable wax which was made up of a mixture of hydrogenated soy oil, coconut oil and palm oil. He also blended beeswax with soy wax to make a more economical natural wax candle. Soy wax can be obtained in a variety of blends with varying proportions of other waxes. Wax can be labelled as a soy wax blend as long as it consists of at least 51% soy wax.
Soy wax is now generally available for candle makers looking for a natural and affordable alternative to paraffin wax. Soy wax is, however, a soft wax with a low melting temperature. Therefore most candle makers using this wax stick to making container candles in jars, glasses or cups, although it is possible to obtain a soy wax blend suitable for votive or pillar candles.
Julie Sinclair is a candle making enthusiast who enjoys helping others to get started in this amazing hobby. For more great information on soy candle making, visit www.candlemakingtoptips.com
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