Hooked on Soy ~ My Candle Addiction

I'm making this page about Handcrafted Soy Candles because I have been burning candles for all of my adult life. So much so that my online name is SoyCandleLover or SoyCandleLover-Maker.

I started researching making soy or vegetable wax candles to stop using candles made with byproducts of petroleum. The debate about the air quality issue between soy and parrafin is ongoing. Asthmatics have been reported to have less to no issues with Soy Wax candles depending on fragrance strength and other additives. Soot from either soy or parrafin candles may be harmful so trimming the wick for each type before burning is important.

Another important issue is the temperature of melted wax. Paraffin is a harder wax so it requires a hotter wick to melt it to release fragrance. The melt point temperature of paraffin can burn skin. Soy has a lower melt temperature so burning is not an issue. As a matter of fact, although I do not recommend this, some people actually use soy candles as a warm lotion.

Be Green ~ Reuse your candle jars, or donate to your local candlemakers or thrift store!

• Non-toxic
• Completely natural
• Water soluble for easy clean up
• Made from renewable resources and is recyclable
• Supports the U.S. farm economy
• Clean burning
• Produces less candle soot when wicks are trimmed as recommended
• Safer around children and pets due to lower melt temperature
• Burns up to 50% longer than petroleum-based paraffin candles

I purchased my first vegetable wax candle from a great candle maker from the State of Texas. I had "met" her on iOffer where I already had a store selling new to vintage items. When I received the candle I fell in love at first sniff right out of the jar. When lit it filled my home with an amazing scent that I just wasn't getting from store purchased paraffin candles. So much so that I became a dealer and bought enough of her candles at wholesale, with the proceeds from my store, to sell at a local community garage sale.

I was hooked. Sadly she no longer produces these wonderful candles.

But with her help, the happy addiction had begun...

I began to investigate making my own Soy candles for my own enjoyment with the future hope of producing my own line. Since I was newly unemployed I had plenty of time.

The more I learned about the advantages of Soy Wax Candles the more I grew to appreciate the whole idea.

I purchased small quantities of supplies to start testing since I still had some income from my original store. Since then I have shared my addiction with friends and family, and yes, some of them have become happily addicted, too. A fun part of the venture was making candle centerpieces and favors for my daughter's wedding. My next step was to share my passion outside my inner circle so I began to play with sales packaging to become a seller. Since I already had an online store I was familiar with the community and set up. Due to the high cost of shipping wax filled glass jars I seem to mostly sell locally, so I had begun to test other types of home fragrances, such as tarts (also known as wax melts or cubes), tealights, votives, and maybe mixing other vegetable waxes for pillars.

Although I no longer sell any candle products, I am still wandering contently on the road of my addiction...

I discovered how easily soy cleans up while making my first set of candles. Just a quick scrape and a rinse with warm water and dish soap eliminates any trace of soy wax.

Soy really does clean up with soap and hot water. A good friend, and great customer, literally cleaned her carpet this way after a soy candle spill.

If you have ever made or spilled a paraffin candle you may have an idea how hard it is to clean up. You must scrape and remelt over and over again to get rid of every last remant of wax before rinsing in the hottest water possible. If you are not sucessful, you chance clogging your sink drain.

Thankfully I have never spilled a soy candle, but I have dropped a tall paraffin candle I was melting to reuse the glass, and I can tell you I was sorry it was not soy...

My oven door has been a mess ever since.

This is also another passion of mine.

My 5 best tips for staying healthy, and for Mother Earth's health too, are...

1. Know what you are Eating
2. Know what you are Breathing in your own home
3. Recycle, Reuse or Re-purpose, and Reduce
4. Support U.S. Farmers by purchasing American Grown products (like soy)
5. and lastly... Live Happy, Have Fun and Laugh often

• Soy candles produce less soot.

• Soy candles last up to 2 times longer than paraffin products.

• Soy Wax has so increased in popularity that the price of Soy Wax has nearly doubled in the last 2 years. Because of this beware of soy blends and store bought soy candles. They may contain a soy/paraffin blend.

• Look for candles made with 100% Soy wax, or labeled as Vegan which is made with soy and/or palm, or a blend of vegetable waxes.

• Soy wax candles support the U.S. Farming community, not to mention the American Chandlers (aka Candle makers)

• Soy candle makers produce the healthiest candles for our families, homes, valued customers, and the environment, too!

(Once upon a time in place called Squidoo, there was a debate module. These were the answers to that debate. For some reason, there were no people who preferred paraffin. Who would have thunk it?)

dahlia369: I prefer soy candles and the way they burn.

anonymous: I don't need convincing about the pollutants we put into the atmosphere in our homes. I am married to a chemical physicist who works in the environmental sector!

hlkljgk: Candles with lead-free wicks burn much cleaner and don't use petrochemicals.

anonymous: Soy is the healthy choice!

Laurel Johnson: I live in the middle of soybean country and many farm wives make soy candles to sell locally. I LOVE soy candles. They burn longer and cleaner, the scent lasts longer too. Interesting article.

You think Handcrafted candles may be hard to find?

• I bet there is at least 1, or more, Soy Candle Makers in your area. Most of us are connected to the internet community, so just do a search for soy candle makers or hand crafted soy candles in your immediate area.
• Still can't find one? Try for your next nearest town or metro area. I'm sure you find someone who will ship to you, if not deliver.
• Try looking for a craft group on Facebook.
• Or Facebook Sales and Garage Sale sites. Some even allow ISO (In Search Of) posts so you can tell area makers you are looking for their products.
• Look for local craft shows. Events are held or sponsored by fundraisers, local groups, municipalities, trunk shows, flea markets, and more. Events in my area start in the spring and go until Christmas.
• Check out your local online classified ads like Craigslist, in your local newspapersb and city and town circulars.