American Made 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.

All natural soy candles with no fragrance or dye are non-toxic so are deemed to be safe for both humans and pets. The fragrance and dye may also be all natural and non-toxic. The soy candle will burn at a cooler temperature thus allowing it to burn approximately 20% to 30% longer than a comparable paraffin wax candle. Another health benefit of soy revolves around the soot produced by the burning candle. Soy candles will produce soot, but it typically is white in color and quite often is not noticeable by the naked eye. Black soot, so commonly produced by paraffin wax candles, can also be produced by soy candles. However, it is usually minuscule amounts and due to some additive to the soy candle such as the fragrance, dye or paraffin wax.

Soy wax candles can hold more fragrance than their paraffin wax counterparts. Soy wax will release the fragrance with incredible ease. This means that soy candles typically are more fragrant than paraffin wax. Quite often the unlit scented soy candle will fill an entire space with wonderful soothing scent! Scented soy wax also carries the fragrance throughout the entire candle, so it will smell just as good at the end of its life as it does when it is brand new.

Paraffin wax candles are a petroleum based product - meaning they are made from oil. This increases the American dependence on foreign oil supplies and further erodes the American economy. The all natural soy wax candles do not depend on foreign oil or foreign economies because they originate from the soybean plant, grown by American farmers. Soy candles are not just a healthier alternative for our bodies but also a healthy alternative to the economy of the United States.