Candles have always been companions in our lives. Their flickering, pleasant light creates a special atmosphere, appeals to our senses and often serves as romantic lighting. Unfortunately, conventional candles have a negative impact on the environment and your health. In this article you will find a healthier and environmentally friendly alternative: soy wax candles as trendy eco candles.

What are soy wax candles?

Soy wax candles are candles whose wax is made from soybean oil. This process involves extracting the oil from soybeans and solidifying it into a wax that is used to make candles. Unlike conventional candles, soy wax candles are free of petroleum, burning accelerators and chemical pollutants. As purely natural products, they are vegan and burn odorless. We often see the sustainable candles in the colors white and light beige.

What are the types of candles?

There are many different types of candles. What many people don't know is that the classic candles on the shelf are often very harmful to the environment:

Traditional paraffin wax candles: These are the most common candles. They are produced from fossil materials such as petroleum or brown coal, which means they pose an enormous environmental burden. When they burn, they also release pollutants, such as benzene. Nevertheless, they are vegan because the fossil substances are natural materials.

Stearin candles: Stearin candles are made from natural fats and are therefore biodegradable. However, the fats can be of both plant and animal origin, which makes them only partially vegan. Most stearin candles are made of at least one part Palm oil. However, it is well known that the cultivation of palm oil is questionable, as it is not uncommon for huge areas of rainforest to be cut down for production in order to create palm oil plantations.

Beeswax candles: Although beeswax is made from natural raw materials and is biodegradable, it is often obtained from factory farming and is therefore not vegan. Due to their high price and limited availability, these eco candles can also be a burden on the wallet.

Health Benefits of Eco-Friendly Soy Wax Candles

Soy wax candles offer a number of health benefits: Firstly, the environmentally friendly candles burn cleaner than conventional candles. This results in less soot and pollutants, which improves the air quality in the room. Furthermore, the candles often contain essential oils that can provide aromatherapeutic benefits. Soy candles are also free of carcinogens and environmentally harmful substances and therefore do not cause allergies.

Benefits of Soy Wax Candles

Soy wax candles offer a number of benefits:

• Environmental friendliness: Soy wax is a renewable and vegan resource and is therefore biodegradable, which is better for the environment.
• Sustainability: Growing soybeans requires less land and water than growing paraffin raw materials, for example.
• Longer burn time: Soy wax candles tend to burn longer than other types of candles.
• Not poisonous: Soy wax is non-toxic, making it safe for indoor use.
• Pleasant smell distribution: The scent is released more slowly than other types of candles, resulting in a more pleasant atmosphere.
• Natural scents: Essential oils are often used as fragrances and can have a relaxing and calming effect.

Disadvantages of soy wax candles

The eco-friendly candles also have some disadvantages:

• Limited variety of scents: The selection of scents may be smaller compared to traditional candles.
• Soft texture: Soy wax has a lower melting point, which can cause candles to warp at high temperatures.
• Price: Soy wax candles are usually slightly more expensive than traditional candles.
• Plantation economy: Soy wax is obtained from soybeans and therefore requires agricultural land. However, very little of the agricultural land used is required for the production of soy wax and it can certainly be operated sustainably. Therefore, you should rely on organic soy wax or corresponding certifications if possible.
• White soot: Burning soy wax candles is also not soot-free; so-called white soot is produced. This is not that alarming, because the candles do not contain any harmful substances. White soot is the healthier version of soot, but it is not healthy.

Buy the most beautiful soy wax candles

Soy wax candles are now available in many stores and online shops such as Mosch, Avocadostore or Manufactum. Here are our favorite soy wax candle brands:

1. L:A BRUKET

L: A BRUKET offers refillable scented candles made from 100% organic soy wax. The woody scents of blackened oak and Nordic woods are very natural. The candle is filled by hand into a mouth-blown, tinted brown glass. Therefore, the brand also offers a refill pack to keep the glass longer. The burning time is 45 hours.

2. Ava & May

Ava & May offers a wide range of soy wax candles in different colors as well as shapes in beautiful glass containers with different scents. There are also large scented candles with a 500g filling and a burning time of 70 hours.

3. Munio

Munio offers free-standing soy wax candles infused with natural flower petals. This is not only an eye-catcher aesthetically, but also spreads a very natural scent of the wild into your room. The burning time is 55 hours. The DIY set that you can make yourself is also a nice gift idea.

4. Salt & Stone

The coconut and soy-based wax, Salt & Stone offers a vegan alternative to enliven the home with a relaxing scent. The scents range from sea breeze to a bouquet of black roses to a sophisticated blend of cedarwood. The burning time is 55 hours. The brand is available from the USA Niche beauty.

5. The Universal Soul Company

The Universal Soul Company stands for non-toxic and vegan room sprays and scented candles made in the UK. Based on soy wax and essential oils, the products are not only sustainable, but also pleasant for your well-being.

DIY tip: Make your own soy wax candles

Soy wax candles offer an environmentally friendly and healthy alternative to traditional candles. They are characterized by their clean combustion, are biodegradable and can be enriched with natural scents. Although they may be a little more expensive and may become softer at high temperatures, the health and environmental benefits outweigh them.

If you enjoy handcrafting, you also have the option of making your own soy wax candles to have full control over ingredients and scents. You can find compact sets (DIY kits) online that allow you to make soy wax candles conveniently in your own home. Additionally, online workshops offer the opportunity to deepen your candle making skills.