Real Estate Innovation

Soy Candles that are American Made

Each night the national news is reporting on the various economic disasters that are occurring in the American economy. Fortunately, there is an incredibly easy way for us Americans to support our own economy and our own friends and neighbors. Soy candles are produced by companies based in the United States and sold by companies based in the United States. This makes the process of buying American made candles extremely easy!

Soy candles are made from the soybean plant - which is grown by the American farmer. Once the soybean is harvested in September, the beans are crushed separating the meat from the oil. The meat of the soybean is often referred to as soy meal and is further processed into various products for both animal and human food. The oil then goes through a partial hydrogenation process which transforms the oil into a soft wax. This wax is what candles are made of. It has been estimated that it would take 60 million pounds of soybeans each year to meet the demands of the annual consumption of candles.

The soybean wax is very soft so it works very well with containers. However, freestanding candles such as pillar candles and taper candles can not be made purely of soy wax because it is so soft. Any freestanding candle that is marketed as soy must have some other ingredient in it (paraffin wax is very common) so the candle will not become a complete blob of molten wax the first time it is burned. Another possible wax used to “firm” the soy wax is palm wax - a natural renewable resource. Other vegetable waxes, such as bayberry, candelilla, carnauba, castor, jojoba oil, ouricury wax (from the Brazillian Feather Palm) or rice bran may also be used to firm the soy wax to form the freestanding candles.

All natural soy candles with no fragrance or dye are non-toxic so are deemed to be safe for both humans and pets. The fragrance and dye may also be all natural and non-toxic. The soy candle will burn at a cooler temperature thus allowing it to burn approximately 20% to 30% longer than a comparable paraffin wax candle. Another health benefit of soy revolves around the soot produced by the burning candle. Soy candles will produce soot, but it typically is white in color and quite often is not noticeable by the naked eye. Black soot, so commonly produced by paraffin wax candles, can also be produced by soy candles. However, it is usually minuscule amounts and due to some additive to the soy candle such as the fragrance, dye or paraffin wax.

Scented soy candles hold a larger amount of fragrance than paraffin wax candles and can release the scent very easily. In fact, most of the time, a scented soy candle can fill the entire room with fragrance without being lit! Scented soy candles will carry the scent all the way through the candle and release it from the beginning to the end of the candle.

Paraffin wax candles are a petroleum based product - meaning they are made from oil. This increases the American dependence on foreign oil supplies and further erodes the American economy. The all natural soy wax candles do not depend on foreign oil or foreign economies because they originate from the soybean plant, grown by American farmers. Soy candles are not just a healthier alternative for our bodies but also a healthy alternative to the economy of the United States.