Are Soy Candles Healthier To Burn?

An Introduction to Candles and Indoor Air Quality

Candles have been used for centuries to provide light, warmth, and ambiance in homes. But with increased awareness around indoor air quality, some people wonder if burning candles is actually safe and healthy.

It’s true that burning candles produces smoke and releases chemicals into the air. However, with the right materials and proper precautions, candles can be an enjoyable part of a healthy home.

In this article, we’ll explore the differences between paraffin and soy wax candles. We’ll look at the chemicals released when they burn, their soot levels, wick materials, and other safety considerations. By the end, you’ll understand if soy candles are indeed a healthier choice for your indoor environment.

Candles and Indoor Air Quality

Candles release various chemicals and particles into the air while burning, impacting the air quality indoors. Some studies show burning candles produce fine particulate matter, which has been linked to increased respiratory issues. However, there are many factors that determine how much a burning candle affects indoor air quality, such as ventilation, the size of the room, and the type of wax and wick used.

Paraffin wax candles tend to emit more soot and smoke compared to candles made from natural waxes like soy. This is because paraffin is a petroleum-based product that releases more black carbon and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. In contrast, natural soy wax comes from sustainable plant sources and burns cleaner. The wick also plays a role, as poor quality wicks release more soot while cotton or hemp wicks minimize emissions.

While candles impact indoor air, opening windows, using fans, and avoiding heavily scented or low quality candles can help. Overall, choosing natural soy or beeswax candles with cotton wicks produces less soot and particulates compared to paraffin varieties.

Paraffin vs Soy Wax

Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct made from crude oil refining, while soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. Here are some key differences between these two commonly used candle waxes:

Source: Paraffin wax comes from non-renewable fossil fuels, while soy wax comes from a renewable resource – soybeans. Soy wax is often considered more eco-friendly for this reason.

Texture: Paraffin wax is brittle and prone to cracking or breaking, while soy wax is softer and more flexible. Soy wax adheres better to container walls.

Burn Time: Paraffin candles tend to burn longer than soy candles, up to 50% longer. Paraffin remains solid as it burns while soy wax liquifies into the wick.

Fragrance: Soy wax has natural fragrance retention abilities, absorbing scents well. Paraffin does not have the same capacity to hold fragrance oils.

Wicks: Soy candles require a larger wick than paraffin to compensate for soy wax liquefying during burning. Proper wicking is important for soy candle performance.

Smoke: Soy wax produces almost no smoke or soot when burning. Paraffin wax produces more smoke and releases more soot into the air.

Chemicals in Paraffin Candles

Many standard paraffin candles contain concerning levels of toxic chemicals like benzene and toluene. These chemicals are released into the air when the candles are burned, creating indoor air pollution. Benzene is a known human carcinogen that can cause cancer with long-term exposure. Toluene is linked to developmental and reproductive harm. These hazardous chemicals come from the crude oil used to produce paraffin wax. Manufacturers are not required to list the specific ingredients in candles, but studies have detected concerning levels of benzene and toluene emissions from many paraffin candles on the market.

Natural Soy Wax

Soy wax is made from soybeans, a renewable and sustainable crop. The soybeans are cleaned, crushed, and undergo an extraction process to separate the oil. The oils then go through hydrogenation to convert them into a solid wax. This natural process results in a biodegradable wax made from plants, without any petroleum products. Soy wax is often blended with other natural waxes to optimize its burning properties in candles.

The renewable and biodegradable nature of soy wax makes it an eco-friendly alternative to paraffin wax. Since soybeans absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, soy wax can be considered carbon neutral or even carbon negative. Soy wax production also generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to paraffin wax. Using soy wax candles can reduce your carbon footprint compared to traditional paraffin candles.

Soy Candle Fragrance

One of the main advantages of soy candles is that they can use natural essential oils for fragrance instead of synthetic fragrances. Essential oils are extracted directly from plants, giving soy candles a pure and natural scent. Common essential oils used in soy candles include lavender, eucalyptus, and lemon.

In contrast, many paraffin candles use synthetic fragrances created in a lab to mimic natural scents. These synthetic fragrances can contain hundreds of chemicals, including potential allergens and irritants. Burning a synthetic fragrance may release these chemicals into the air.

With pure essential oils, you can enjoy lovely scents like vanilla, jasmine, and pine without breathing in unknown synthetic chemicals. Soy wax’s natural purity allows candle makers to create a huge variety of aromas from plant-based essential oils rather than artificial scents.

Sooth Soot Levels

When it comes to soot, paraffin candles tend to produce significantly more soot emissions compared to soy candles. The soot produced by paraffin candles is due to the petroleum-based wax and certain additives used. As the paraffin wax burns, it releases more soot into the air.

Soy wax, on the other hand, produces very little soot when burned correctly with the right wick. The natural vegetable-based soy wax has a lower carbon content, resulting in a much cleaner burn. Studies have shown that soy candles can reduce soot emissions by more than 50% compared to paraffin candles. The difference is noticeable – paraffin candles tend to blacken the walls and ceiling around them, while soy candles burn cleaner.

Limiting soot is important for indoor air quality. The soot released by candles can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other contaminants that you don’t want lingering in your living space. Soy candles release significantly fewer soot particles into the air compared to paraffin.

Wick Materials

The material used for the wick is an important factor when considering candle safety and air quality. Most modern candles use braided cotton wicks, which burn cleaner than other materials. Cotton wicks tend to curl as they burn, which promotes complete combustion of the wax. This helps prevent smoking, dripping, and excess soot.

Older candles sometimes used wicks with a lead or zinc core. As these wicks burn down, they release small amounts of heavy metals into the air. This can be dangerous if the candles are burned frequently or for long periods. Lead exposure poses health risks, especially for children. Thankfully lead-core wicks have been phased out in most countries due to health concerns.

Be sure to inspect wick material when buying candles. Quality soy and paraffin candles will use clean cotton wicks without any metal core. This produces less soot and better air quality when burning. Cotton wicks also tend to provide a brighter, steadier flame compared to other materials.

Safety Considerations

When burning any candle, safety should always be a top priority. Here are some tips for safely enjoying soy candles in your home:

Ventilation

• Ensure there is adequate airflow in the room by opening windows or doors when possible. Candle smoke and soot need proper ventilation.
• Avoid burning multiple candles in a small enclosed space.
• Never burn candles in high-traffic areas where ventilation is limited.

Placement

• Keep candles away from flammable items like curtains, blankets or stacks of paper.
• Place on a stable, heat-resistant surface at least 12 inches from other objects.
• Never place near drafts that can cause rapid, uneven burning.

Supervision

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep out of reach from children and pets.
• Extinguish candles before leaving a room.
• Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to avoid high flames.

Conclusion

Based on the information presented, soy candles do appear to be a healthier option compared to paraffin candles. The natural soy wax used in soy candles emits lower amounts of soot and fumes than paraffin wax which contains concerning chemicals like toluene and benzene. Soy wax also has a lower melting point which reduces the risk of accidental fires. While both candle types generate some soot, soy candles produce significantly less. And with wick materials like cotton being safer and more eco-friendly than lead-cored wicks found in some paraffin candles, the evidence points to soy candles as the healthier choice for home use.

However, there are still safety considerations for burning any candle. Proper precautions should be taken like keeping them away from flammable materials, not leaving them unattended, and trimming wicks to avoid excess soot. But overall, soy wax candles with cotton wicks are less likely to negatively impact indoor air quality compared to paraffin options when used cautiously. For those concerned about health risks and exposure to harmful fumes, soy candles can provide a cleaner burning alternative.