Soy Candles: A Source of Endless Fragrance

Two months ago, after a long discourse at thegrimy candle jars, walls and even ceilings know what
breakfast table on the many wonderful aspects ofa menace soot can be. With soy candles, because
soy candles, my 13-year-old son accused me of beingthey are natural, the jar remains pristine, and the
a soy candle head, as in dead head. What had gotwalls and ceilings unsullied.
me started was the soy milk e had been drinking forNow I come to the most important reason for using
breakfast, and having recently discovered soysoy candles. Various studies have revealed that
candles in a big way, my mind was understandably fulltraditional wax candles emit carcinogens into the air.
of how this wonderful material was so much a partNow, as we all know, carcinogens are cancer-causing
of our lives - food, drink, and now candles!toxins that also cause other health problems. Mostly,
Whatever my son might say, however, I can't stopresearchers are trying to prove that anything that
gushing about soy candles and their unique properties,emits carbon dioxide when burnt, such as wax
and you, dear reader, are now in my line of fire. Notcandles and charcoal, will release carcinogens. Though
only are soy candles longer lasting, they also hold ait is too early to comment on this issue, soy candles
fragrance better and do not produce unsightlycertainly do not produce carcinogens, which means
deposits of soot. And when I say long lasting, I meanthey are healthy, too!
it, because the average 14 oz wax candle will lastAll in all, it is no surprise that soy candles are gaining in
you about 70 hours, give or take five, while a soypopularity, considering they were only launched in
candle will last all of 100, if not more. That's almost 501991, and their discovery is credited to a certain
hours more, and not at significantly higher pricesMichael Richards, who found out by trial and error
either.that mixing soybean oil with palm and coconut oils
If you've been following these articles, you'll knowproduced a perfect wax. He added a small amount of
about my friend Charlene Dewitt, the one who is anbeeswax to the mixture to improve it even further.
aromatherapy expert. Well, inevitably, it was CharleneToday, it has been conclusively proved that 100%
who introduced me to soy candles, and one of thenatural soy wax does not contain petroleum or other
first things I noticed was the absence of soot. Allenvironmentally unsafe ingredients. And it is much less
those who have spent time cleaning blackened andexpensive than other natural waxes like beeswax.