Aromatherapy Soy Candles vs. Aromatherapy Paraffin Candles?

I'm a candle lover. As soon as dinner is over and the dishes done, the electric lights are turned off and the scented candles are lit. Usually I select lavender for calmness, jasmine for confidence, or rose for emotional healing. Until recently, those candles I lit were made from paraffin wax. No longer am I using that kind of wax, as I definitely prefer to get my aromatherapy from soy candles, and I'm much happier for several reasons.

Ecological Benefits of Aromatherapy Soy Candles

Aromatherapy soy candles, as the name suggests, are made from soybeans. Paraffin wax candles are made from petroleum. No, burning soy candles instead of paraffin candles won't solve the nation's oil crisis, but every little bit helps. Also, buying soy candles does a little bit to support U.S. farmers. Aromatherapy soy candles are also biodegradable, so that if they do end up in a landfill they will disintegrate quickly. Furthermore, due to the petroleum, paraffin wax candles release carcinogens as they burn--some liken them to second-hand smoke; soy candles, on the other hand, do not produce these carcinogens.

Personal Benefits of Aromatherapy Soy Candles

Environmental concerns aside, aromatherapy soy candles have other advantages over paraffin candles. First, they last longer than paraffin candles. Different websites selling soy products claim that their candles last anywhere from 35 to 50 percent longer than paraffin candles of the same size. Since high-quality candles aren't usually cheap, having a candle that lasts longer is a money saver.

Another benefit of soy candles is that they are less sooty. Since switching to soy candles, I've found that it's no longer necessary to clean a fine layer of soot off the shelf every time I blow out the candles. Soot candles are also water soluble, which makes for easy cleanup if some wax drips on the shelf--no more having to get out a knife or letter opener and scrape until the paraffin comes loose.