I will help to explain the difference between the two waxes and answer some myths. Here at Country Home Candle, we manufacture and sell both paraffin and soy/vegetable based candle products. 

Our paraffin candles are made from 100% pure food-grade paraffin. The same paraffin that is in chocolate bars and coated on some vegetables in the grocery store. 

Our soy wax (more accurately called vegetable wax) candles are made from the oils of soybeans, palm and coconut oils. A hydrogenation process converts some of the fatty acids in the oils from unsaturated to a saturated form. This chemically alters the melting point of the oil, making it a solid at room temperature. After much processing and blending the vegetable wax is then suitable for candle use.

In truth 100% Soy wax candles are virtually non-existent.  We have done exhaustive testing here in our factory over the years and it was almost impossible to manufacture a 100% soy wax candle consistently that will burn properly for you the consumer. And now most recently 100% soy wax cannot even be purchased for candle production because all of it is pre blended by the processors and distributors. What is referred to, as Soy wax is actually soy blended with other vegetable waxes including palm, coconut and apricot. Most of these waxes do not come from North American sources but are imported from tropical regions.

The makers of only Soy/Vegetable candle products would have you believe paraffin is “unnatural,” “unhealthy” or otherwise undesirable when compared to their products. Nothing could be further from the truth, but much misinformation exists.

Soy’s “no soot” myth is #1. Soy sellers love this claim, but there is zero truth and much hype behind it. All organic compounds – including soy – emit some hydrocarbons (soot) when burned. This is due to incomplete combustion, as evidenced by the yellow-orange flame of any typical candle. There is simply no such thing as a soot-free candle. Proper wick maintenance is the key here and very important. 

Soy wax does produce soot, and not all soot is black. “White soot” cannot usually be seen with the naked eye. Soy wax will typically produce little black soot - unless the candle is improperly wicked, made or burned, but it does produce nearly invisible white soot.

 All candles (and nearly any burning material) give off elemental carbon particles. So do heating systems, fireplaces, kitchen toasters and cooking oils. These everyday household sources are not considered a health concern, and are chemically different from the soot formed by the burning of diesel fuel, coal, etc. The myth of “soot free soy candles” is totally untrue. It is merely an effort by soy boosters to frighten the public.

The National Candle Association based in Washington D.C. has thoroughly researched this topic and provides the following statements:

All waxes are primarily hydrocarbons, whether of animal, vegetable, or petroleum origin. The chemical composition of all candle-making waxes is similar, and all candle waxes burn in the same manner.
No specific type of wax or wax blend is considered “best” for candle making. All waxes - when provided in high-quality format - have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner.
No candle wax has ever been shown to be toxic or harmful to human health.
There is no such thing as a soot-free wax.

In the end, both paraffin wax and soy wax are both good choices for candle wax. Neither is more “environmentally friendly” than the other, and there has never been any scientific evidence that paraffin wax is harmful to your health in any way at all.  Our focus here at Country Home Candle has always been to craft quality candles.  We have been doing this for over  20 years and we are determined to bring you the highest quality Canadian Made candles whether they are made from paraffin wax or vegetable wax.

I hope you find this information useful and we Thank you for being our customer and having interest in our business.

Best Regards,

Peter Northgraves,

Country Home Candle Co. Inc.