Soy Wax Candles 

What is soy wax?

Soy wax is the wax we use in our candles at Cotswold Pure.  Soy wax is a natural product which comes from the soya bean.  Soya grows all over the world and is very popular in vegetarian and vegan cookery.  Here at Cotswold Pure, we think it's a great wax for candle making.  It is natural, renewable and sustainable, which is what we want to hear more about concerning our beautiful world.  Soy wax is fragrance free and effective to work with in terms of candle making.  

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How is soy wax made?

Soya beans are pressed to release their oil.  The oil is then filtered to make it lovely and pure.  Hydrogen is then used to solidify the soya oil and it is at this stage that we get our crafty hands on it and turn it into beautiful candles.  After pressing the soya bean to release the oil, the soy leftovers are still nutritious and are fed to cattle. 

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Soy wax versus traditional paraffin wax candles?

Paraffin candles (common to many mass produced candles available on the market) create indoor air pollution, like smoking cigarettes.  Paraffin wax is produced from crude oil which is a non renewable fossil fuel which is damaging to the environment.  Emissions from paraffin wax include benzene and toluene (known carcinogens to humans).  Soy wax candles on the other hand are non toxic and clean burning and are therefore healthier to have in the home than mass produced paraffin candles.  

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The benefits of soy wax candles

We have selected soy wax as the base of our candles for the following reasons:-

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Soy wax is a natural ingredient.  Soy candles are made from soybeans, a natural, renewable source. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum, which is a nonrenewable source that contains carcinogenic substances. These substances may be released into the air while burning.

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Clean burning.  A candle made from soy wax burns cleaner with little soot released as the candle burns. Paraffin candles often create a significant amount of black soot that collects on the jar, as well as on your walls and other surfaces of the home. The soy candle may accumulate some black soot on the jar, but the amount is much less than paraffin candles. Soy candles are also non-toxic, so they won't release toxins into the air as they burn.

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Soy wax is biodegradable.

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Soy wax has a slower burning time and cooler burning temperature than paraffin candles. You may pay more for a soy candle initially, but the longer-lasting burn means you won't have to buy new candles as often. 

 

A soy candle works well for holding onto the scent from essential oils, which are used to scent our candles here at Cotswold Pure. Because they burn more slowly, the scent is gradually released; there won't be an immediate wave of strong scent. This creates a more pleasant atmosphere for most people.