Paraffin Wax vs. Soy Wax

The question as to whether Paraffin Wax or Soy Wax should be used in candles crops up time and time again. With more and more people learning about sustainability and wanting to live and shop more consciously, consumers are deep diving into not only what is in their products but how they're made too. 

When we started The Wandering Bee, we felt passionate about creating products that will not only be better for your health but kind to the planet too. So when it came down to choosing what type of wax we'll use for our candles, we did our own deep dive into the complicated world of pros and cons of candle wax (riveting stuff). All jokes aside, we found out LOTS of interesting and insightful information. It became clear that not one candle wax is completely perfect, but some are definitely better than others.

This is where the argument of Paraffin Wax vs. Soy Wax comes in, as they're the two most popular waxes used in the candle market.

So lets compare the two: 

Paraffin Wax

  • Non-Renewable as it is a petroleum by-product
  • Emits harmful gases when burnt
  • Emits CO2
  • Not biodegradable
  • Emits black soot
  • Has carcinogen compounds
  • Doesn't burn down completely
  • Blended with chemicals to release fragrance
  • Supports the oil industry

Soy Wax

  • Renewable as it is made from soy beans which is a renewable resource
  • 100% Non-Toxic
  • Doesn't emit CO2
  • Biodegradable
  • Has a clean burn 
  • Burns down completely
  • Diffuses aroma naturally
  • Burns 25% to 50% slower than Paraffin
  • Supports the farmer

This is just a handful of reasons as to why it was a no-brainer that we stayed clear of Paraffin Wax and chose to use Soy Wax for our candles. 

Our customers praise The Wandering Bee candles for having a perfectly balanced strength in scent throw and not having that chemical undertone when burning. It also feels really good to know that our candles are biodegradable, renewable and 100% non-toxic, which is what we're passionate about. So we definitely feel like we made the right choice!

If you want to know more about the difference between the two waxes or compare them to the many other waxes on the market, have a little google and I'm sure you'll learn lots more like we did.