Beeswax Candle Vs. Soy

Candle wax can be made from various products, including beeswax and soy.

Traditional candles use paraffin wax, which contains petroleum byproducts and produces soot when burned, according to the Chic Ecologist website. Beeswax and soy candles do not use these products, so they burn cleanly and naturally.

Content

Beeswax candles are made only from beeswax. Soy candles can be made from soy wax alone but are also commonly made from a combination of soy and paraffin or beeswax.

Cost

According to candle maker C.S. MacCath, beeswax candles are significantly more expensive than soy candles in terms of making them. A pound of soy wax chips costs $2 while a pound of beeswax costs $12.

Burn Temperature

Soy candles burn at much lower temperatures than beeswax candles, which means they melt quickly and do best in glass containers. When making candles, it takes longer to heat beeswax than soy wax; when burning them, soy wax takes longer to harden after burning.

Scent

Beeswax smells pleasantly on its own; MacCath doesn't recommend scenting these candles, as the fragrance of the wax itself would likely overpower the fragrance added. Soy wax candles work well with essential oil fragrances; on its own, soy wax smells similar to cooking oil, according to MacCath.

Allergens

Soy wax and beeswax candles work well for people with allergies, because they do not contain the harsh chemicals of paraffin candles.

References

• The Chic Ecologist: Eco Candles---Soy Candles vs. Beeswax Candles
• C.S. MacCath: Working With Beeswax vs. Working With Soywax