There you have it, when comparing wax, soy wax is arguably better than beeswax due to cost, aesthetics, oil retention, vegan friendly and eco friendly properties. However on sweetness, and burn temperature, beeswax wins out.
In addition to herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are commonly used in commercial soybean farming practices. These chemicals pollute the environment, and traces of them may be found in soy wax. With beeswax, there is a less direct risk of exposure to pesticides.
Beeswax. Beeswax candles are the healthiest choice in candles. Made from the caps of bee honeycombs, beeswax candles burn clean, are very long-burning, and give off a pleasant natural fragrance as they burn. Beeswax candles are dripless when burned properly, and release negative ions which help clean the air in a room.
Because beeswax has a higher melting point than other waxes, it emits the brightest, most warm-toned flame. Beeswax candles also last longer than most other candles. Because it is so dense (0.958), it burns slower and drips less, and many consider beeswax candles to be drip free.
The Winner. In terms of being environmentally and health-friendly, soy candles are the winner of the soy vs. beeswax candles debate. There is no concrete evidence that soy candles are as toxic as people fear.
Burning beeswax produces negative ions that don't cover up odors but actually clean your air of odors, pollens, smoke, dust, dust mites, and other allergens and hazards. This is the ONLY wax with this magical quality.
Because it's natural, it is an excellent pick for candle making—and a better alternative to paraffin wax, which releases harmful chemicals as it burns. Beeswax also generally burns longer than your typical soy wax candle.
Beeswax candles (like ours!) trump all other candles for their many and varied health benefits. Firstly as they are all natural, there are no toxic byproducts created when burned.
The dull white powdery finish that appears on the surface of pure beeswax (over time) is referred to as “Bloom”. It is a characteristic of pure beeswax candles, and bloom is a sign of the purity of beeswax candles.
Farooq suggests avoiding paraffin wax. Paraffin is made from petroleum, and seems to generate greater emissions than other waxes. And candles made from paraffin tend to be cheaper. “In some cases,” she explains, “these cheaper products have more formaldehyde-generating materials and a lower melting point.
Soy wax is also healthier than paraffin wax. It emits less soot and few toxins. Soy wax, a by-product of soybeans (not crude oil), is a more natural wax alternative. So when you light a soy wax candle, you can rest easy knowing it's better for your home's indoor air quality, keeping your family and pets safe.
Paraffin wax is the most widely used and most inexpensive of all the waxes used for candle making. If you want to make scented candles that are highly saturated in color, paraffin wax is the way to go as it holds both color and scent very well.
100% beeswax candles are safe, environmentally friendly, and nontoxic. They are biodegradable and don't undergo any chemical processing. They burn very clean with little smoke since they aren't oil-based like paraffin candles. Bees play an impactful role in the restoration of our ecosystem.
I like to use a blend of both soy wax and beeswax and don't add additional color. The more beeswax you use, the more honey-colored the candle will be. Beeswax also gives off a sweet honey aroma, so the more you use, the less added fragrance you will need.
Soy wax is often used as a replacement to beeswax in candles and wax melts and is ideal for this because of its low melting point. It can also be used as a vegan substitute for beeswax in lip balms, as well as other cosmetics.
It's a natural oxidation process and it will only occur with 100% natural beeswax. So if your beeswax candle has started to Bloom it's actually a good thing.
Because they are a natural product, they are chemical free and non-toxic. Meanwhile paraffin candles often contain toxic chemicals such as synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes. By choosing beeswax candles, you are limiting your exposure to toxic compounds.
Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunneling. But, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it. Pour the wax and coconut oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.
Coconut wax is a colorless and odorless wax made from cold-pressed coconut meat or coconut oil mixed with soy wax. It is considered as one of the best and healthiest types of wax to make candles because it doesn't produce as much soot as the other types of wax.
Unlike paraffin candles, which are made with a petroleum-based wax, beeswax candles have a completely clean non-toxic burn and have been said to produce negative ions when burning. Beeswax cost about 10 times more than paraffin.
Adding fragrance to beeswax candles
You can use any fragrance or essential oil you like for candles. Test them to make sure you like the smell! In general, I use about 1-2 ounces of scent for every pound of beeswax. You may need to make a few test candles to find out what strength you prefer.
As the wax starts to melt and puddle around the candle's cotton wick, it actually travels upward. The wick soaks it up, and it eventually evaporates into the air as either carbon dioxide or water vapor after it burns.
TLDR; For the safest healthiest candle to burn, look for soy, coconut or beeswax candles, unbleached cotton, hemp or wooden wicks and scented with pure essential oils.
What's the cheapest candle wax? Beeswax is more expensive, but all natural. Soy and paraffin wax aren't too different in terms of price, and can often be had for anywhere from $2 to $10 per pound depending on where you source it from.