A lot of people ask me what is the difference between a soy/coconut wax candle and paraffin candles, and why the former is considered more luxurious whereas the latter is commonly sold in discount stores.
Soy wax is made from soybean oil and other types of oil (ex: coconut and apricot, in Redolence Gems' case). The oil is treated with a hydrogen solution that causes it to solidify and form wax.
Soy wax is thus a natural product that has the following qualities:
- Non-toxic
- Colorless
- Clean burning
- Sustainable
Paraffin waxes are actually petroleum based and are created using fossil fuels, which is extracted from the Earth. On a molecular level, crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that were created from the decomposition of plants and animals that lived under water many years ago. Once extracted, the fossil fuels are sent to refineries where it is then turned into finished products like lubricating oil. It is from the lube oil refining process that paraffin waxes are created.
Although paraffin waxes are also considered non-toxic, their soot can produce certain emissions that can compromise the air quality in your home. These may include: alkans, alkenes and toluene, which have all been reported to have harmful effects on humans.
Also, paraffin wax doesn't come from a sustainable and eco-friendly source.
Advantages of the soy wax:
- Comes from a renewable source
- Clean burning & non-toxic
- Burns longer
- Holds the scents longer
Soy wax candles are more dense than paraffin candles, which means that it takes a little bit more time for the fragrance to be released. But it also means that the candles will last longer and will hold the fragrance longer. Soy wax doesn't yellow or Harden and shrink like paraffin does.
So why are paraffin candles still used?
Soy wax is more expensive than paraffin, hence why it is considered luxurious and is only used in premium candles, such as Redolence Gems'.
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