Are Soy Candles Better? Everything You Need to Know

Are Soy Candles? Comparing soy and paraffin wax candles.

Find me a girl that doesn’t love candles. I swear, every single girl I know is borderline obsessed with scented candles. For me personally, I just love the way candles fill up a room and make my apartment feel more like a home. Over the years, I’ve become quite the scented candle hoarder – now I have an entire cabinet filled with different scents and variations! BUT, I never thought to look into what was in the candles I was burning every night and had no idea what they were made of. So, I did some research. Turns out, scented candles can have some pretty gross ingredients in them that can actually be hazardous to your health. Yep. That bougie $60 candle you’re burning may actually have negative effects on your health. SO – if you’re wondering what kind of candles are best and specifically, are SOY candles better ?? – then read on.

Are Soy Candles Better? Everything You Need to Know

Are candles toxic?

YES !! That is, paraffin wax candles are. If you’re checking the labels on all the foods you eat, you should definitely be checking the labels on your candles! You might be shocked to find that most candles on the market are made of paraffin wax. The reason paraffin wax is so dangerous is because when it burns, petro-carbon soot is released into the air.

The compounds in this soot – benzene and tolune – are known carcinogens. Fun fact: they’re also the same toxins in diesel fuel. Meaning: the beautiful, scented candles you are lighting in your house are toxic. Definitely not what you want to be breathing in on a nightly basis.

Are soy candles better?

Soy candles have recently seen a huge rise in popularity and are touted as the safer, healthier option to paraffin candles. Here’s why –

+ Soy wax is 100% biodegradable 
+ Soy wax candles smell stronger because the fragrance is released more easily
+ It burns longer than paraffin candles
+ Soy wax is derived from natural vegetables
Are soy candles better? Craft + Foster candles are all natural, 100% soy, and come in a variety of scents.
Are soy candles better? Craft + Foster candles in Champagne Blush and Coconut Lemongrass are safer and all natural options to traditional paraffin wax.

What are some affordable alternatives?

I’m totally guilty of buying bougie candles, but the sad truth a lot of them are made of paraffin wax. As much as I might love the scents and packaging, I’m making a concerted effort to switch to more natural candles as much as I can. One particular brand I really love is Craft + Foster.

Made in San Diego, Craft + Foster creates 100% natural soy candles that come in a variety of fragrances. Champagne Blush is their most popular scent, but I personally adore the Coconut Lemongrass version (beach vacation in a jar!!). In addition, the company was founded by a US Veteran, Melissa Burgess, and supports local workers and various nonprofit organizations. So you can feel good about the candle you’re buying and the company you’re supporting : ).

Other brands I also love: Penelope Co. and P.F. Candle Co. All three brands are California based, 100% soy candles, and under $25. PS – they make great gifts too ; ).

xx, Amy

14 Discussion to this post

  1. Magda says:

    Thank you so much for this post, this is something that has been bothering me for a while. I will be definitely buying soy candles from now on!

    http://www.gloryofthesnow.com

  2. Jessi Malay says:

    Omg I had no idea about this babe!! I swear I have a candle on every surface of my apartment lol..but never thought to look for this ingredient!! Thanks for sharing this and I’ll definitely be purchasing soy candles from now on!! <3

    XOXO, Jessi
    http://www.mywhitet.com/nyfw-highlights-2017/

  3. Carina says:

    I didn’t know and truthfully never researched it. Need to start looking for soy candles, thanks for the info!

    xo
    http://www.carinavardie.com

  4. Adelina says:

    What a beautiful post! You are so smart to do your research!! A few years back I did my research on scented candles and sort of became grossed out by the information that I stopped buying candles altogether! Did you know that the wicks in candles can also contain lead? It’s a huge problem as its not something thats typically disclosed! I am having a really hard time finding a non-toxic candle and will certainly look into the ones you’ve linked above. Thank you for sharing love! xx, Adelina

    http://www.thecharmingolive.com

    • Amy Zhang says:

      Thank you!! I know, I read the wick is not great either. It’s so sad that something so comforting is so terrible for you!! I try to not use them ALL the time and will open the window when I do to let some fresh air in. I really do love these though! xx

  5. Kathryn says:

    I was learning a little bit about this recently, so I appreciate the post on it! I’ll be honest, I haven’t been very conscious of what’s in my candles in the past because if it smells good, I’m all about it LOL. The Craft and Foster candles seem like a really great option, though, so I need to look into them for my next purchase. Plus their packaging is so cute. Thanks for sharing all of this, lady!

    Kathryn • simplykk.com

    • Amy Zhang says:

      Thanks for reading, Kathryn!! I honestly had no idea about the hidden dangers of candles either (sounds so funny typing it out, LOL) but it really was an eye opener for me. Hope you have a great weekend! xx

  6. Naya says:

    Soy candles are so hard to find here in Dubai, but I agree 100% that they are much better for our lungs than basic scented ones.

    Great post!

    Naya // http://www.partyparrotblog.com

  7. yuka says:

    Thanks for this post Amy! It was really useful! Although I have been blogging for some time now, I still don’t feel comfortable reaching out to brands. Reading this just made me realize I just need to suck it up and do it!

    http://www.prettyinleather.net

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  9. AW says:

    You should really try Sanari Candles, which are from Pacific Palisades, CA. The Founder started the Company due to becoming ill from Breast Cancer and donates a portion of sales to Breast Cancer Research. They are made with a blend of Soy and Coconut Wax, Natural Essential Oils (not synthetic oils) and a natural cotton wick (no lead)

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