What Are the Benefits of Natural Wax Candles Compared to Paraffin Wax Candles?
Most candles not otherwise labeled are made from paraffin wax, a by-product of the process of refining crude oil into gasoline. Natural waxes, derived from plants and animal sources, include soy wax, palm wax and beeswax. Does this Spark an idea?
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Paraffin Candles
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Paraffin is a non-renewable resource. Less expensive than natural wax candles, paraffin candles burn more quickly, though, which may make their use more expensive over time. Burning paraffin emits benzene and toluene fumes, documented by the American Lung Association as carcinogens, and releases petrol-carbon soot, damaging walls and furniture and threatening those with chemical sensitivities, allergies or asthma.
Soy Candles
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Soy wax is extracted from soy beans, a renewable resource. Most of the world's supply is grown in the United States, primarily in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. It burns cleanly, leaving a washable residue. Softer than paraffin, soy wax will not hold some candle shapes.
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Beeswax Candles
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Beeswax candles burn cleanly with no smoke or soot and last two to five times longer than paraffin. Whether dipped, molded or rolled when warm, beeswax candles hold their shape once they cool.
Palm Wax
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Many now avoid palm wax because the harvesting of palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia has caused such devastating damage to the rain forests that a 2007 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report predicted complete destruction of those forests by 2022.
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- Photo Credit Christmas Candles image by Thorsten Schnier from Fotolia.com
