What is soy wax?
Soy wax is derived from the oil of soybeans, making it an environmentally friendly, natural form of wax. After the soybeans are harvested, they are washed, split, de-hulled, and made into flakes, where the oil can be extracted and hydrogenated.
This hydrogenation procedure lowers the oil's melting range, making it become solid at room temperature, where the flakes can be used to make candles. The left over bean husks are often then used in animal feeds, making the use of soy wax even more environmentally friendly!
How is the wax made into candles?
The first step is melting the soy wax flakes in our melter. When the wax reaches 185 degrees, we take the wax out of the melter and stir in the fragrance oil, giving each candle the unique smell that lasts throughout the burn of the candle. Before pouring, the wicks are strategically placed at the bottom of each jar to ensure the soy wax solidifies around the wick. After the wax is poured, it is cooled at room temperature over night.
Benefits of Soy Wax
The biggest benefit of soy wax is the advantage that it is completely renewable. Another popular type of candle wax is paraffin wax, which many mainstream candle companies use. This wax is derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. As you can imagine, as the price of oil goes up, the price of paraffin wax candles will rise as well. The only restraint on soy wax candles is the amount of soy that is chosen to be grown.
In addition to the sustainability, soy wax candles burn slower because they are more dense than a paraffin wax candle, meaning your candle will last longer. Black Forest Candle Co's soy wax candles are eco-friendly, renewable, American grown, and sustainable!