Soy Candles

Soy wax is relatively a new market.  It was in 1991 that is came into being.  A man by the name of Michael Richards developed soy wax in the search for a cheaper alternative for beeswax.  Beeswax is ten times more expensive than paraffin, and there is a big demand for candles made from natural wax.  He tested a variety of different natural plant waxes and found one made from partially hydrogenated soy oil, coconut oil and palm oil.  He also made a blend of beeswax and soy wax to usher in an economical natural wax candle.

In 1995 a national chain of stores called the Body Shop offered soy candles for purchase to the general public.  The very first natural wax candles were a blend of beeswax and almond oil but later the almond oil was replaced with soy wax.  Michael was able to replace the beeswax with soy wax in 1996.  He developed soy wax mixtures for container candles as well as free standing candles.  Free standing candles need a higher melting point so their blend must be different.  Candleworks, a soy wax producer, in 1997 did a research project with UNI in Iowa: the results being a study of ” Increasing the use of soybeans in the manufacturing of candles.”  In 1998, at the Farm Progress Show a special patented soy wax was introduced by the Indiana Soybean Board.  It was called “Harvest Lights” developed by a farmer funded group.  Much research has been done since 1999 to prove the benefits of using soy wax which has resulted in two scientific publications: Hydrogenated vegetable oils as candle wax and Combustion characteristics of candles made from hydrogenated soybean oil, both by Rezaei K T Wang and L A Johnson.  Cargill, in 2001, bought the patent of soy wax from Michael Richards.  It now manufactures soybean wax and supplies it to soy wax candle producers.