Autumn is here and soon it will be dark and cool again early. Candles are an important part of every home. Candles help against the melancholy feeling that knocks on everyone's door on cloudy winter evenings. A lively fire and a bright candle flame bring warmth and brightness into our rooms and make cloudy evenings cozy and pleasant - this feeling can even be described as candle therapy.
Let's talk more about candles and their ingredients so that you make the best choice for nature and for your own health when choosing!
What are candles made of?
Most commercially available candles are made of mineral or paraffin wax. Paraffin is the most popular material for candle making because it is very cheap and the easiest to work with compared to other waxes. However, paraffin is a residual oil product. This means that with paraffin candles you are actually burning fossil fuels in your home, releasing various toxins into the air in the process. Natural waxes like soy, palm, sunflower, coconut, and beeswax are great alternatives. They are slightly more expensive and difficult to handle, but more sustainable and health-friendly.
What is soy and how is soy wax made?
The soybean is a legume that originates from East Asia and is mainly used as food, for the production of cosmetics and also for the production of candles. Soybean oil is obtained from soybeans by cleaning, crushing, shelling and then rolling the beans into flakes. Soybean oil is extracted from these flakes, which in turn is used to make soywax. Soy wax and also other vegetable oil waxes are produced by enriching the oil with hydrogen or by hydrogenation.
Why should you always choose soy wax candles?
Soy wax is a 100% natural wax and one of the best natural waxes for candle making as it contains no synthetics. Soy wax candles do not produce soot when burned, which will stain nearby walls or objects. Also, burning soy wax candles does not increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
When paraffin is burned, toxic substances are released: benzene and toluene, which are known carcinogens. Breathing them in is said to be just as harmful to health as passive smoking. In addition, soot and synthetic fragrances pollute the air in your home and can cause lung or heart problems, in some cases cancer or autoimmune diseases, and allergies.
Which candle wicks are used? What to avoid and what to prefer?
Soy wax candles usually consist of braided cotton wicks, waxed, pleasantly crackling wooden wicks, and reinforced wicks with a copper or lead wire in the middle. However, lead is a heavy metal and in many countries it is currently illegal to sell lead wire candles as burning candles can cause lead poisoning which is often fatal. However, some parts of the world still manufacture lead-based candle wicks, which should be avoided at all costs. The most environmentally and health friendly choices are natural candle wicks made from cotton or wood.
