It has been far too long since we last posted…we have been quite busy. Some exciting things have been happening. We are getting very close to offering some new soy candles which will also be one of a kind products.

One of our stores had a very nice display which we wanted to highlight-The 3 Graces. This great boutique store is located in Santa Monica, California and focuses on organic and all natural products. Our candles fit right in.

The ambiance you create in your office and treatment rooms reflects who you are as a business and a massage therapist. Candles are one way of introducing both soft lighting and healing fragrance into your practice. Learn more about choosing and using candles safely.

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How to Make Soy Wax

Soy wax is a natural wax derived from the sustainable soybean plant. Today we want to discuss how soy wax is made. From the soybean to soy wax to soy candles.

Soybean or soya bean plants are legume plants native to Asia. China has been using the plant for food and medicine for over 5,000 years. Soy contains essential amino acids and is a good source of protein and is often used as a dairy substitute. Soybean oil is a large source of “vegetable oil” worldwide. The main countries in the world that now grow soybean plants are the US, China, India, Brazil and Argentina.

Soybeans come in many sizes and colors including black, brown, yellow, gray and green. Soybeans are used for many foods and are a large part of many Asians diet with foods such as Tofu, soybean paste and seasonings. The soybean oil can be used to make a variety of things such as soaps, cosmetics, inks etc. The soy plant is a hearty plant that grows well in climates with hot summers and can grow in a wide variety of soil types. This plant is 100% sustainable and can grow on almost every continent.

Soybeans to Soy Wax

Before soywax is made we need soybean oil. The most common method of obtaining soy oil and subsequent soy flour is through a method of oil extraction involving rolling the clean dehulled soybeans into flakes and the oil is extracted and refined leaving the soybeans to be made into flour or meal. The oil is then hydrogenated which turns the oil into a wax. Hydrogenation is basically where poly and mono-saturated oils are solidified by temporarily mixing hydrogen with the soy oil at an elevated temperature through a special proprietary process. Once hydrogenated the soy oil is now soy wax. Pure soy wax is white or slightly off-white. 100% soy wax is even safe for consumption, although not recommended.

Soy Wax to Candles

The soy wax can then be used to make all natural clean burning soy candles.

So, that is the process…soybean to soy candle…isn’t it wonderful!

Candles come in many shapes and sizes and as we’ve discussed before not all candles nor their ingredients are equal.  So, what makes a candle natural and what is a natural soy candle? These are great questions and questions which need to be addressed…

What is a natural candle or natural soy candle? There are 4 main elements we like to consider when it comes to natural candles…Wax, Wick, Scent, & Presentation.

Natural Wax: Let’s start with Wax. In order for a candle to be natural the wax should be from 100% natural waxes such as soy or beeswax. We also suggest making sure the wax is sustainable. Most candles on the US market are made using Petroleum-based waxes which don’t burn very clean. Would you burn gasoline in your house? Here is a link for more wax information.

Natural Wicks: Wicks are often overlooked when considering candles. Wicks should be made of 100% natural fibers, cotton is usually the best option. Because the fibers are fine most wicks are reinforced with another material. This is very important as this material is burning too. Be sure to choose wicks reinforced with natural paper (or other fiber) filaments and not metals. Some candles use lead reinforcements. You wouldn’t burn lead in your room would you?

Natural Scents: In addition to improving ambience in a room candles are often used for aromatherapy and to scent a room. The scent of a candle is important and shouldn’t be overlooked. Most, about 90%, of candle manufacturers use chemical fragrances to scent their candles. We’ve looked at some of the ingredients for these chemicals and many are potentially dangerous and even hazardous. Most companies use chemicals because they are far cheaper than essential oils. We always suggest using 100% essential oils made entirely from plants. When it comes to scented candles there really is no other way.

Natural Presentation: Presentation says a lot about a candle and the manufacturer. It is important to support companies that use natural packaging and recycled materials. We suggust using 100% soy ink for printing, natural glues, biodegradable plastics and organic cotton materials. Packaging is a simple way to tell a lot about a company.

It is no secret that we offer some of the finest Natural Soy Candles and Natural Beeswax Candles in the world and hopefully the above information helps you when buying candles for your home, office, or spa.  We appreciate your comments and suggestions for improvement. Thank you!