American Made Candles - Soy Candles
Each night the national news is reporting on the various economic disasters that are occurring in the American economy. Fortunately, there is an incredibly easy way for us Americans to support our own economy and our own friends and neighbors. Soy candles are produced by companies based in the United States and sold by companies based in the United States. This makes the process of buying American made candles extremely easy!
Soy candles start with a plant - the soybean plant. Soybeans are grown by American farmers. After planting the seeds in the spring and carefully nurturing the crop during the summer, the soybean is ready for harvesting by the farmer each fall. The beans are then transported to facilities which crush the bean, separating the meal from the oil. The soy meal (or meat) is used by many manufacturers in the production of both human and animal food. The soy oil is sent through a partial hydrogenation process that turns the soy oil into soy wax. The was is extremely soft.
Pure soy wax is extremely soft so it will not produce quality freestanding candles such as pillar candles or taper candles. In order to produce such candles, soy wax must be blended with an additive that will produce a firmer candle. The additive is almost always some other wax. Paraffin wax is very commonly blended with soy wax because it is relatively inexpensive. Vegetable waxes such as castor, palm, rice, jojoba and candelilla, can also be blended with soy producing an all natural candle made from renewable resources.
Soy wax candles are non-toxic so they are safe for humans as well as pets. Soy candles are extremely clean burning, producing at least 90-95% less soot than paraffin wax candles. The soot which is produced by burning a soy candle is black like it is with paraffin wax candles, but mostly a white color which may not be noticeable to the naked eye. There is very little black soot produced with a pure unscented soy candle. Adding fragrance and other additives to preserve color or to form freestanding candles can create more of the black soot. Soy candles also burn at a cooler temperature than paraffin wax candles which results in 20-30% longer burn time.
Soy wax is famous for accepting any fragrance that is added to it with incredible ease. Pound for pound, soy wax can hold more scent than paraffin wax. This means that your unlit soy candle will throw scent just as well as the burning soy candle, potentially filling your entire room with delicious fragrance. The fragrance is evenly distributed throughout the candle, so the scent at the end is the same as at the beginning.
Soy candles are not just a healthy alternative to paraffin wax candles, but are also a natural alternative to them as well. Soy candles start as soybean plants grown by the American farmer, processed into wax by American manufacturers and sold to candle makers - many of whom are American. Buying a soy candle from an American company ensures that the profits stay in the United States, helping our economy and providing American jobs.
