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Soy Candles? What Will
They Think of Next?
by: M J Plaster
Quick: What comes to mind when
you think of soy candles? Before my
formal introduction to soy candles, I
thought organic (read expensive) and
BEIGE! And not just the color beige, but
beige as an overall description for soy
candles—blah like baby food, ground chick
peas, and a pale winter pallor. I had no
idea why it would even occur to anyone to
purchase a soy candle.
I couldn't have been more wrong
in my assessment! After gaining a working
knowledge of candles, soy candles reside
front and center in my growing candle
collection. When you learn the facts, you
will probably replace your paraffin
candles with the soy version, at least on
an attrition basis. If you're still at
the beige stage, read on while we shed a
little light on the subject.
Paraffin vs.
Soy
First, clear your mind of all
preconceived notions that you've conjured
up about soy candles. Replace those
thoughts with just two thoughts for now:
clean and fresh. Traditional candles made
of paraffin are actually petroleum-based
products.
Oil is not
only a finite resource, primarily
imported from the Middle East, it
recently made a new all-time high. You
see it reflected at the gas pump, and
you'll see it reflected in candle prices,
if you haven't already. You pay no
premium to reap the benefits of soy
candles, because soy candles are priced
competitively with their paraffin
counterparts, and soy candles last up to
50% longer than paraffin
candles.
Petroleum products do not burn
cleanly. If you wouldn't voluntarily walk
into a burning petroleum field, then why
would you burn paraffin in your home? If
you burn candles regularly, try this
experiment. Move a picture on your wall.
If you see an outline on the wall at the
edge of the picture, soot from burning
candles is the culprit. That same burning
petroleum deposits itself in your lungs,
and it\'s a known carcinogen. Soy candles
are non-toxic, burn cleanly without
smoking, burn cooler than paraffin
candles, and use all-natural cotton
wicks.
If you've ever spent hours
cleaning spilled wax on your floor or
carpet, you know what an exercise in
futility it can be. Sometimes there is
simply no removing it. Spilled melted soy
wax cleans up with soap and water, and it
does come out, unlike some paraffin
spills. Biodegradable soy has its
practical advantages as well as its
health advantages.
Made in the USA! Soy is a
renewable resource, made right here in
the United States, and you don\'t see
much of that these days. You're helping
the economy by using soy-based products,
and charity begins at home.
Scented Soy
Candles
With all these good-for-you
attributes, you may wonder if you'll have
to settle for the aroma of melting
soybeans. Not only are scented soy
candles available, but they are typically
scented with a natural essence rather
than a synthetic fragrance. With
"flavors" such as Crème Brûlée,
Gingerbread, Jeweled Citrus and Banana
Nut Bread, you can easily tease your
appetite with soy candles. In fact, soy
candles burn more evenly than paraffin
candles, and the fragrance lasts through
the entire candle, rather than burning
off in the top half of the
candle.
Aromatherapy Soy
Candles
It would seem a contradiction of
terms to use a pure essential oil in a
candle of paraffin, but it's a common
practice. The highest-quality
aromatherapy candles use pure essential
oils, soy wax, and cotton wicks. If
you're going to pay a premium for
aromatherapy candles, and there are
numerous benefits in doing so, make sure
that the candle is comprised of 100%
unadulterated, natural products.
Otherwise, why bother?
As an educated consumer, you
have the power to further the advancement
of superior products through your
purchases. Every industry requires
research and development to make
advancements, and the natural candle
industry will evolve at a rate that makes
economic sense. Through your support of
natural candle products, you can effect a
healthy change while enjoying the
benefits and the pleasures of burning soy
candles.
About The Author
M J Plaster is a successful
author who provides information on
shopping online for http://www.candles-4-u.com/soy_candles.htm
and http://www.candles-4-u.com/
in general. M J Plaster has been a
commercial freelance writer for almost two
decades, most recently specializing in home
and garden, the low-carb lifestyle,
investing, and anything that defines la
dolce vita.
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