Are Yankee Candles Soy Or Paraffin?
Yankee Candle is one of the most popular and well-known candle brands in the United States and worldwide. According to the Yankee Candle company history, the company was started in 1969 by Mike Kittredge in South Hadley, Massachusetts when he created the first scented candle as a Christmas gift for his mother by melting crayons. This original candle established the unique style of Yankee Candles that would make them famous.
Today, Yankee Candle offers a wide range of candle products including jar candles, wax melts, tea lights, and votives, available in hundreds of different fragrances. The brand has grown enormously since its early beginnings. According to the company profile, Yankee Candle now offers products through a variety of retail channels in the U.S. and internationally in countries like Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company also operates retail stores in the U.S. and U.K. Yankee Candle remains one of the most well-known and popular candle brands worldwide decades after its modest start in Massachusetts.
Different Candle Wax Types
There are several different types of waxes that are commonly used in candle making, each with their own properties and characteristics:
Paraffin wax is the most widely used candle wax. It is derived from petroleum and is relatively inexpensive. Paraffin wax creates a candle with a good burn time and glossy finish (source).
Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. It is a clean burning, renewable and biodegradable wax. Soy candles have a lower melting point than paraffin, so they burn at a lower temperature (source).
Beeswax is a natural wax made by honey bees. Beeswax candles have a subtle honey aroma and burn brighter than other waxes. However, beeswax is more expensive than other waxes (source).
Gel wax is a mineral oil based transparent wax. It allows vibrant colors and designs in candles. Gel wax can be tricky to work with due to a high melting point (source).
Vegetable-based waxes like palm, coconut, and bayberry wax are also used in candle making. They are natural, sustainable options. However, these waxes may not burn as long as paraffin (source).
Paraffin Wax Overview
Paraffin wax is the most common type of candle wax. As described on Wikipedia, paraffin wax is a soft colorless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraffin_wax
Paraffin wax is made from petroleum and is therefore an inexpensive and readily available material. According to ParaffinWaxCo, paraffin wax is obtained from petroleum by dewaxing light lubricating oil stocks.
https://paraffinwaxco.com/paraffin-wax-definition/
One of the benefits of paraffin wax is its versatility – it can be blended with dyes, fragrances, and other ingredients to customize the color, scent, and burn properties of the candle. The fully customizable nature of paraffin makes it popular for candle making.
However, one downside is that paraffin wax releases more soot into the air compared to natural waxes when burned. Paraffin wax candles must have properly sized wicks to ensure complete combustion and minimize soot.
Soy Wax Overview
Soy wax is made from soybeans, giving it a natural origin. According to CandleScience, soybeans are harvested, cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes to produce soy wax. The natural soy wax contains no additives and provides a clean burn. Soy wax is highly customizable, allowing candle makers to add fragrances and dyes as desired. It is an environmentally-friendly alternative to paraffin wax since it comes from a renewable resource.
Compared to paraffin wax derived from petroleum, soy wax has benefits of being biodegradable and made from plants. As noted by The Candle Studio, soy wax comes from soybeans which are a renewable resource, while paraffin wax is non-renewable since it comes from petroleum. Soy wax candles are praised as an eco-friendly candle option.
Yankee Candle Wax Types
Yankee Candle offers candles made from both paraffin wax and soy wax. According to their website, Yankee Candle first introduced soy wax candles to their product line in 1999 (https://www.yankeecandle.com/types-of-candles.html). Today, customers can choose from the traditional paraffin candle line that Yankee Candle built their reputation on, or the more eco-friendly soy wax candle options.
The paraffin wax used in Yankee Candles is a byproduct of petroleum refining. It is affordable and widely available. Paraffin wax has been used in candle making for over a century. The soy wax used in Yankee Candles’ soy candle line is made from soybean oil. Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin wax. Both paraffin and soy wax candles from Yankee Candle deliver excellent fragrance throw and long burn times.
Paraffin vs Soy Wax Comparison
When comparing paraffin and soy wax candles, there are a few key differences to consider:
Burn Time
Paraffin wax candles typically burn longer than soy wax candles. The crystalline structure of paraffin allows the wax to liquefy into a pool while still maintaining a solid wax structure around the wick for optimal burning. Soy wax has a lower melting point and tends to burn more quickly.1
Emissions
When burned, paraffin wax releases more soot and smoke compared to soy wax. Paraffin wax comes from petroleum, so burning paraffin candles releases compounds like benzene and toluene into the air. Soy wax comes from a renewable resource and has much lower emissions when burned.2
Cost
Paraffin wax is generally less expensive than soy wax. Paraffin wax is a byproduct of gasoline manufacturing, making it widely available at low cost. Soy wax comes from soybeans, which are a more expensive natural crop. This makes soy wax candles tend to be more expensive than paraffin candles.
Availability
Paraffin wax is widely available and the dominant candle wax on the market. Soy wax is less common and mainly used by artisanal, eco-conscious candle makers. Paraffin wax candles can be found almost everywhere while soy wax candles are found at more specialty retailers.
Yankee Paraffin Candle Details
Yankee Candle offers a wide range of paraffin candles at inexpensive price points. Their paraffin candles come in various sizes, from small votives to extra large jars, so customers can find an option to suit any budget. The paraffin wax allows Yankee’s candles to hold fragrance well and provide a strong scent throw. This makes them an economical choice for effectively scenting a room.
One of the benefits of Yankee’s paraffin candles is the ability to customize your fragrance. Many of their candles come in a wide variety of scents, from fruity to spicy to floral. Popular options include Clean Cotton, Lavender Vanilla, and Home Sweet Home. With so many fragrance choices, customers can find a candle tailored to their personal preferences. Additionally, Yankee allows you to combine multiple fragrances in a single candle for a custom blended scent.
Overall, Yankee’s paraffin candles offer a broad range of classic scents at affordable prices. The variety in sizes and fragrance options makes customizing your candle easy. These factors contribute to the popularity and accessibility of Yankee’s paraffin candle line. For those seeking an inexpensive yet high performing candle, Yankee’s paraffin products deliver.
Yankee Soy Candle Details
Yankee Candle offers a smaller range of candles made from soy wax compared to their paraffin candles. The soy wax candles were introduced in 2010 as part of the company’s efforts to provide more natural candle options.
The soy wax used in Yankee Candles is made from American-grown soybeans. Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin wax, producing less soot and smoke. It also burns cooler, which helps preserve fragrance. The natural soy wax allows Yankee’s fragrances to shine through brightly.
Some popular Yankee soy candle fragrances include Clean Cotton, Pink Sands, MidSummer’s Night, and Sun & Sand. The soy candles come in Yankee’s signature jar styles as well as tumblers and votives.
While the soy candle range is more limited than the paraffin candles, it provides an option for customers looking for a natural, clean-burning candle. The soy wax allows Yankee’s signature scents to fill a room without producing excess smoke or residue.
Environmental Considerations
When it comes to evaluating the environmental impact of different candle wax types, there are some key factors to consider.
Paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum, has a larger carbon footprint. Extracting and refining crude oil to make paraffin wax emits greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Burning paraffin candles also releases some soot and chemicals into the air, which can contribute to pollution (https://www.lalueurcandles.com/blogs/blog/are-candles-bad-for-the-environment).
On the other hand, soy wax comes from soybean oil, a renewable resource. Producing soy wax has less environmental impact overall. Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin wax, releasing less soot and fewer chemicals into the air (https://impactful.ninja/candles-environmental-impact/). Soy wax is also biodegradable, unlike paraffin.
When it comes to Yankee Candle specifically, their paraffin candles will have a larger carbon footprint than their soy wax candles. Opting for Yankee’s soy candles is a more eco-friendly choice that reduces emissions and air pollution.
No candle wax type is 100% sustainable or eco-friendly. But soy wax has a smaller environmental impact than paraffin overall. Choosing soy wax candles from brands like Yankee can help reduce your carbon footprint.
Conclusion
Both paraffin and soy wax candles have their pros and cons. Paraffin wax burns longer and releases stronger scent, while soy wax is more environmentally friendly and burns cleaner. Yankee Candle offers candles made from both paraffin and soy wax, giving customers options to choose the type that fits their preferences and needs.
For customers who prioritize burn time and fragrance, Yankee’s paraffin candles are a great choice. The paraffin wax efficiently absorbs and emits fragrance for strong aroma. Paraffin also hardens into a smooth wax that creates even burn pools for long-lasting candles.
For eco-conscious shoppers, Yankee’s soy wax candles are the way to go. Soy wax comes from renewable soybean crops and is biodegradable. The natural soy wax burns cooler and cleaner too. While soy candles have a shorter burn time and lighter scent, many customers appreciate the sustainability of this option.
Ultimately, Yankee Candle offers quality candles in both paraffin and soy wax, giving customers options to find the best candle to light up their homes. Yankee’s blend of natural and synthetic waxes strikes a balance between fragrance, burn time and environmental factors.
