Soy Candles

It takes around 60 kg of soybeans to produce 10 kg of soybean oil.  The solids left over from oil extraction is suitable for use as food for cattle.  Soy wax is produced from soybean oil.  It may however contain other non-soy ingredients.  The oil from the soybeans is separated by mechanical pressing or solvent extraction.  The raw oil is then refined and bleached.  The oil needs to be made more solid for use as soy wax by hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation is the step in making soy wax, but the precise steps are protected and may vary with every producer.  What exactly is hydrogenation?  It is the process that solidifies the poly and monounsaturated oils by increasing their viscosity.  It involves a reaction of hydrogen with the oil at temperatures of 140-225 degree C, in the presence of a nickel catalyst.  To help dissolve the hydrogen and bring about a uniform distribution of the nickel catalyst with the oil, it is important to stir the mixture.  The process of hydrogenation creates saturated fats, which are the double bonds of oil transforming into single bonds.  These saturated fats are unhealthy for human consumption, as they contain trans-fats.  They are superb for use in making soy wax and soy wax candles.

Some soy wax needs to have other ingredients added in making soy candles.  When you hydrogenate soybean oil it produces a soy wax with a low melting point and a texture that is not very solid.  This soy wax is great for use in soy container candles and is 100% pure.  Pillar soy candles require a more solid texture to maintain their form.  Other ingredients need to be added to produce a more solid wax for votive and pillar soy candles.  You can use paraffin , stearic acid, beeswax, palm oil, etc.  There is no regulatory process in the making of soy wax and its composition.  To be sure your soy candles are 100% pure soy wax check with your supplier.  Our natural soy candles are made with biodegradable soybean wax.  Our pillar soy candles are a blend of natural waxes, primarily soy wax with a small addition of beeswax.

When candles are burned they release pollutants.  Combustion creates an assortment of chemical compounds.  There are worse contributors of environmental pollutants than candles however, like open fireplaces, cars, unclean power plants, dirty manufacturing processes, and many more.  Because candles release a much smaller amount of pollutants, you can put them on the bottom of your environmental awareness list.

Some candles are worse with releasing pollutants-than others and if you are thinking of going green you should give soy candles, beeswax or vegetable based candles a try.  The traditional paraffin candles do emit more pollutants.  The ways that burning candles are bad for the environment are due to the byproducts produced when they are combusted.  One byproduct is carbon dioxide.  Paraffin is a petroleum product, a nonrenewable resource, and adds to the pollution through oil spills and issues associated with the process of oil extraction.  Candles produce soot, which is a particulate material that can cause lung irritation.  However soy candles produce very little soot, making them an excellent alternative in the green awareness.  Also the wick can be an issue with burning candles.  Be sure to purchase candles with natural cotton wicks.  Some wicks have zinc and lead as additives, when burned releasing harmful gases.  Even though lead wicks are banned in some parts of the world it is hard to enforce.  Be sure and check the label before buying your candles.  Then think of the wrapping your candle is packaged in.  Is it biodegradable wrapping?  Also the container you candle comes in, is it reusable?   

Our soy candles are made with all natural cotton wicks and have no lead or zinc.  The containers are easily reusable.  The nice thing about soy wax is that it cleans up with just soap and water, making the container environmentally friendly.  Enjoy the holidays with our scented natural soy wax candles.  They come in various reusable containers and sizes, as well as pillar soy candles, soy votives, body massage soy candles, wood wick soy candles and aromatherapy soy candles.  They make great gifts for the hard to buy for person on you holiday shopping list!  

Most practicing Jews begin their celebration of Sabbath with the lighting of the Sabbath candles.  It begins on Friday night and is a time of rest, no work and inner reflection.  It begins precisely 18 minutes prior to sundown and is started with a prayer, usually spoken in Hebrew.  The oldest woman in the house is responsible for the lighting of the candles.  When there is not a woman present then the oldest man will light the candles and say the prayer.  It is then customary to cover their eyes, so not to see the light.  Two is the traditional minimum number of candles used, but more is OK.  The two candles represent two important texts in the Old Testament or the Torah.  During the Sabbath the candles are also an important source of light, as even electricity is shunned. 

Soy candles can be used as a source of light in areas where there is no electricity.  It is always a good idea to have a few on hand, especially during the stormy weather ahead.  Scented soy candles come in pillars, votives, containers, tart melts, aromatherapy, body massage and wood wicks.  Pick your favorite fragrance, color and size.  Soy candles are made from natural soy wax and are non-toxic, biodegradable, affordable, a renewable resource, and are a healthy choice.

A candelabra is merely a holder for candles that has two or more branching arms.  They were first used as a source of light but continue to be used ornamentally in areas that have electricity.  They are used more frequently during the winter holidays as a reminder that from their glow there will be brighter times ahead.  You can find candelabra at interior design stores, antique stores and auctions.  Sometimes people refer to decorative electric light fixtures as candelabra but this is incorrect.  Candelabra is derived from the Latin “candela”, which means candle not light-bulb.

Candelabra come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and styles.  There is a solid central column that is connected to a broad base as the support and have branching arms in a row coming out from the central column.  Often there are 2 arms on either side of the central column with spaces for 3 candles.  There are some with many more arms, quite large that are intended for use as free standing pillars of candles on the floor.  Then there are the smaller ones that are ideal for the dinner table.  They can be made from metal, glass, even clay with metal being the most common, since it is very sturdy and easy to shape.  The candles are held in cups that are affixed to the arms and central column.  A special candelabrum with many arms is known as the menorah used during the celebration of Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday.

Soy candles can form a beautiful table decoration.  Try several different heights of pillar soy candles, add some artificial foliage, use some decorative pillar holders and presto, you can make your own sort of candelabra.  You can be as creative as you want or keep it simple and plain.  Bring the spring into you home with you favorite floral scented soy candles.

Simply put, votive candle holders are designed to hold votive candles.  The holders come in an array of  sizes and shapes.  The material used to make them can be from metal, wood, stone, glass, or ceramic.  You can find them in home supply stores, from companies who deal in candles and lighting, or even make them yourself. 

A votive candle is a small round pillar candle of standard size, usually 2 inches high by one and a half inches.  They can come in other sizes and shapes also.  A votive candle is used in religious services in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.  They can be made from paraffin, beeswax, soy wax or other waxes.

Candle holders made to hold votives are designed to allow the candle to burn freely without guttering in the wind.  A classic holder is tall and cylindrical with a closed bottom, is made from glass that is clear or colored.  Since the flame is contained in the tall glass holder, making it relatively safe, you can use votives in a large display for parties.  Since a single votive doesn’t give off much light, used in large numbers you will have a nice lighting effect.  A votive candle holder can also be found shaped like a lamp, a candlestick, a candle tray, and a candelabra.  Many holders are versatile and can also hold tea-lights, and taller pillar candles.

For a truly economical and environmentally safe votive candle, try one made of natural soy wax.  Scented soy votive candles are non-toxic and clean up with just soap and water.  They produce little to no soot and burn 50% longer than paraffin wax candles.

The idea to use beeswax in forming candles began in the Middle Ages.  Before that time, beeswax was used by the Ancient Egyptians as a preservative.  The Romans used beeswax to make coins to pay their taxes.

Before the entrance of beeswax in candle making, tallow or fat rendered from butchered animals was used.  These candles provided light but were dirty, offensive in smell and filled the room with smoke.  So when beeswax came on board, they were readily accepted, due to the fact that they were smoke-free, long-burning, had a pleasant honey aroma, and didn’t drip.  The disadvantage was that they were expensive and the common man couldn’t afford them, unless they were a beekeeper.

Beeswax is only produced by the honeybee, as a by-product of ingesting flower nectar and pollen.  It is used in the hive as food for the young honeybee.  Beeswax is a renewable resource. 

Beeswax candles are used today for the same reasons as used in the 14th century.  You can purchase them from gift shops, home furnishing stores, candle-makers, online or in retail stores.  They come in tapers, votives, aromatherapy, body massage candles and even in pillars.  You can purchase a traditional beeswax candle that has the characteristic six-sided honeycomb structure and is coarse to touch, or with modern methods a smooth molded beeswax candle can be produced.  Soy pillar candles need an additive wax in order to hold their shape.  Beeswax is a good source, since it is also non-toxic. 

You can make these candles at home by purchasing thin sheets of beeswax.  Simply put a wick down on the edge of a sheet of beeswax and begin rolling it up, continuing to add layers to your desired candle width.  In the 20th century beeswax candles also began to be made by the dripping technique.  Innovations as the development of silicone used to release the beeswax from the mold have created newer ways to make beeswax candles.

Unity candles are sometimes used in wedding ceremonies.  They symbolize the merging of two families into a new one.  If the bride and groom want to use a unity candle it is usually performed after the exchange of vows but before the official pronouncement of marriage. 

The unity candle is a set of 3 candles, usually two tapers and one pillar type candle.  During the ceremony the bride and groom each light one of the tapers.  Then the clergy says some words about the meaning of the unity candle.  When directed, the bride and groom then use their lit tapers to light the pillar candle together.  The tapers are extinguished but the pillar is left lit to represent the unity of the two.  Sometimes the pillar unity candle is decorated with the wedding invitation or image of the couple.

Pillar soy candles make an excellent choice for the unity candle.  The soy wax is easy to clean up, burns longer than paraffin wax, produces little to no soot, and is non-toxic.  If you want a scented pillar or unscented, the choice is yours.  The pillar unity candle goes home with you to fill your new home with a loving aroma. 

Resolutions, resolutions, resolutions.  How many have you made in the past and never kept?  Plan on making some for this new year?  How about the resolution to turn over a healthier lifestyle!  Start it with soy candles.  They burn cleaner and are better for your health.  They produce very little to no soot, are easy to clean up with soap and water, create no toxins in the air, last 50% longer than paraffin candles, and are a renewable resource being made from soybeans.

Jar candles or tins make a lovely addition to any room.  These candles are easy to move from one place to another.  You won’t have to worry about the wax dripping onto a surface.  The candle holder is a part of the package, so no worrying about purchasing a holder.  When the soy candle is all burnt, you have a beautiful container for yet some other use. 

If you want a different presentation of a soy candle try a pillar soy candle.  They come in different sizes, so you can make a beautiful arrangement with them on your table.  For a truly creative option, try a chunky soy pillar candle.  They are made using richly scented chunks that are over-poured with scented wax of a complimentary fragrance and color.  These soy candles are a marriage of artistry and fragrance.  The result is a pillar soy candle that is a work of art, visually appealing and aromatically pleasing.  When lit they become even more beautiful as the flame dances behind the multi-colored translucent wax.     

Then if you are looking for a smaller version of a pillar, try a soy votive candle.  The up side of burning a votive is you will never get tried of their fragrance.  You can keep trying a new scent often, and find your favorite one.  For elegance, try putting your votive in a beautiful holder and set several around your home, and let their aroma burst forth.

Looking for a flame-less soy candle, try gourmet soy melts.  Just add them to a candle warmer dish, plug it in and let them melt down.  Soy melts come in several fragrances.  Mix and match till you find your favorites.  Remember the warmer dish will clean up with just soap and water.

Aromatherapy soy candles bring the healing power to your mind and body.  These fragrant candles are made with pure essential oils.  Their aromatic fragrance is captivating, beautiful and sensual.  Each one is designed to provide a gourmet aromatherapy soy candle experience.  The powerful scent of orange is held to be invigorating and renewing while lavender has a calming effect.

Soy wood wicks offers a level of ambiance beyond that of traditional soy wax candles that use a cotton wick. The wood wick melts the scented soy wax faster and disperses the soy candle fragrance into the air much quicker.  With a wood wick soy candle you can hear the soothing sound of the organic wood wick, softly crackling as it burns.

Gourmet body massage soy candles will heighten your senses; of touch (as the warm skin-nourishing and moisturizing massage oil is gently massaged into your skin), of sight (by setting the mood with the mesmerizing glow of candlelight) and smell (from its deliciously soft fragrance).  They will ignite your love life, helping to make those special moments even more intimate.  The candle oil is irresistible!  The nutrient rich oils contained in the soy candle will rejuvenate, soften and hydrate your skin.  Along with improving skin resiliency and texture, the massage soy oil blend will leave your skin luxurious, silky smooth and delicately scented.

Try a fragrance oil that is 100% pure and undiluted.  You can add fragrance oil to potpourri or use them in a scent burner.  They are perfect to use in a lamp ring.  Simply pour a small amount of your favorite scent into the lamp ring, set it on top of the light bulb and turn on the lamp.  The heat from the bulb will disperse the scent from the fragrance oil throughout your home. 

Whatever your choice of soy candle is, you can’t go wrong.  Mix and match styles, sizes and fragrances for a truly, enjoyable, healthy, soy candle experience.  Happy New Year!  

A pillar candle has a tremendous amount of wax in them to be able to burn for a longer time frame.  They are very wide to allow for this amount of wax.  They come in different sizes and heights.  If you have a power outage they come in handy for lighting or just to accent your home decor.  Pillar candles outstanding characteristic is its width.  This separates it from tapers.  They are most often found in a round or square shape. 

You can burn a pillar on any nonflammable object.  Many use a plate or dish.  You can buy a plate with spikes that will impale the candle and hold it in place.  It is recommended to use some sort of candle holder for your pillar to catch the wax and hold the candle in place, to reduce the risk of fire while it is burning. 

A pillar can be made from many different types of wax.  It can be dyed or just left a plain color.  You can find them scented or unscented.  It is easy to make a pillar candle at home with the right candle making equipment and knowledge. 

If you are concerned about the environment the best type of pillar to try is one made from soy-wax.  Soy-wax comes from the soybean.  It is a renewable resource, helping to give the American farming industry a boost.  Soy-wax is non-toxic and a better choice for individuals that have any sort of breathing issues.  It also burns at a lower temperature so lasts longer than a paraffin wax pillar.  The nice plus with soy-wax is that you can clean up a wax spill or your candle container with just soap and water.  Pillar soy candles come in a variety of fragrances.  You can try a traditional pillar or a chunky pillar.  They make a great holiday table decoration, intermingled with some garland and evergreen.  Ring in the holidays with your own creative centerpiece using pillar soy candles!

Drip-less candles do not drip wax when burned properly.  The advantage is that you don’t have a ruined surface and no mess to clean up.  You can find tapers, pillars and cylindrical candles that are drip-less.  Be sure to replace a drip-less candle before it burns all the way down, as it can create a wax plug in your candle holder that is hard to remove.  To burn it properly keep the candle upright, straight and still while burning.  If you allow it to lean, it will burn unevenly and may drip, even though it is a drip-less candle.  Also drafts can cause uneven burns, resulting in dripping, so keep the candle out of places where drafts occur. 

The wick on a pillar drip-less candle must be absorbent enough to not allow the melted wax pool to become to high.  If the wax pool does get to high, the flame will be reduced to a tiny flame and might even go out.  A quality drip-less candle will not have this problem.  You can also find pillars in may different fragrances.  They make a lovely accent piece in your home. 

To make a taper drip-less candle you will need a thick absorbent wick that will consume the melting wax before it can drip.  All you will have left of the taper candle in the candleholder is the stub, as the rest of the candle has burned away.  Pillar style drip-less candles are made with two different kinds of wax.  In the core a softer wax is used and on the outside a harder wax that has a higher melting point is used.  This will form the outer shell of the pillar that will stay intact as the inner core burns down the center.

If you are looking for a pillar candle that is easy to clean up and will elegantly accent your home decor, try a chunky pillar soy candle.  It cleans up with two easy items, soap and water.  They are made using richly scented chunks of soy wax that are over-poured with scented wax of a complimentary fragrance and color.  These soy candles are a marriage of artistry and fragrance.  The result is a work of art that is visually appealing and aromatically pleasing.  When lit they become even more beautiful as the flame dances behind the multi-colored translucent wax.