Soy Candle Problems

Soy candles are softer than paraffin candles.

Soy candles are often marketed as "healthy" candles. The candles produce much less soot than other candles, and the materials used to make soy candles come completely from natural soy beans. Even though they are considered healthy, there are still some problems associated with soy candles. Identifying these problems can help consumers determine if soy candles are worth their higher cost compared with other types of candles.

Soot

Even though soy candles produce a small amount of soot compared with other types of candles, they still do produce black soot, which can be harmful to breathe. The soot can also cause damage to walls, furniture and other objects around the house if the candles are not placed well away from other objects. People with breathing problems should take care to leave windows open when burning candles, or to burn one candle at a time only.

Expense

Candles of any kind are expensive, but 100 percent soy candles are among some of the most expensive. According to Pagan Path, soy candles can cost as much as $25 for one votive. Soy candles are more expensive than other forms of candles because of the difficulty in producing the oil that makes up the candle. The production of growing, harvesting and extracting the oil from the soy beans is extensive and small-yield.

Limited Forms

Because pure soy wax is soft, soy candles are usually sold in containers. This is a problem for individuals who like to use a lot of different shaped candles for different uses, such as taper candles for dinner lighting, or large pillar candles for mood lighting.

Mixed Materials

Many candles that are marketed as soy candles may contain as little as 25 percent actual soy wax. This means that most of the candle is made from paraffin or some other wax material that can be damaging to the environment or to someone's health. In some cases the amount of soy present in the candle is not listed on the container. Manufacturers that produce these partial soy candles sometimes charge more than the candle is worth just because a small amount of soy wax is present in the candle. If a candle is not sold in a container, it is probably not 100 percent soy.

Production

The process of extracting the soy oil from the soy beans to get the wax is complicated and requires a lot of different machines and processes. This is potentially damaging to the environment, and largely negates any of the benefit that comes from burning a natural candle. There may be cheaper, less environmentally harmful waxes that can be extracted from other foods that provide the same benefits as soy candles, such as corn, coconut and palm.

References

• Pagan Path: Healthy Candles
• Natural Living for Women: Organic Soy Candles