09/08/2021
Did you know 100% beeswax candles are the cleanest and most ecologically friendly candles you can buy. Beeswax has been used for candles, skin care, soaps, and lubrication since, at least, the times of the early Egyptians. They improve the air you breath in your home which is, especially, good for people with allergies and asthma. They produce minimal to no soot, burn longer, have a brighter flame, and produce a subtle honey aroma free of chemicals. The wax is naturally produced by honeybees and not produced in a factory.
Although advertised as natural, soy is mechanically extracted from GMO (genetically modified organisms) soybeans. There are environmental concerns about soybean plantations being planted in areas of South America that impact the rain forests and the Amazon Basin. The soy wax that is produced is most often mixed with other waxes, such as palm wax or, commonly, paraffin. Investigate palm oil production and you will understand the negative impact it’s harvesting may have on the environment.
Since petroleum became a major source of fuel over the past 100 plus years, uses for its byproducts have led to paraffin wax which is extracted from oil sludge. Therefore, paraffin became the main wax for candles. Paraffin candles produce more soot and will stain curtains, walls, and ceilings if used frequently. They also produce VOCs ( volatile organic compounds), which are known to cause cancer. The industry will argue that there are not enough of these compounds to do harm but add them to what you already encounter on a daily basis, I.e. exhaust fumes, etc., I would not want to purposely add them to the air I breath.
Although slightly more expensive you get better value for your money and a healthier product.
In a later post I will discuss adding fragrances to 100% beeswax candles. Candles are considered beeswax if they are 51% or more beeswax.
