Soy Candles: Green And Great

Chances are the stylish candles you use to decorate and scent your home are made from materials derived from fossil fuel and animal fats. You probably know that if you'd like to live more "green" you should decrease your use of fossil fuels and reduce the amount of factory farmed meats in your diet. However, most people don't realize that they should also refrain from burning fossil fuel candles.

A great option for people who love burning candles are soy candles. These special candles are made from natural soybeans; in fact, soy wax (like the soybean oil from which it is derived) is a natural byproduct of soy-based food production. Because they are plant-based, they are suitable for vegan and vegetarian households. Vegan households in particular will benefit from the fact that they are not in any way animal-derived, since many vegans will not use beeswax candles for this reason.

As an extra plus, soy candles are harmless to children and animals, and they are completely biodegradable. Lastly, the emissions from burning soy candles have less of an impact on the environment than emissions created by burning fossil fuels. So there are many reasons why you should be happy to burn soy candles at home.

If you are worried that a soy candle won't have the same qualities you like in a regular candle, don't worry! Soy candles burn easily and cleanly, which is an advantage over ordinary candles. They can be made in a variety of colors and scents, and can be found in different sizes, from votives to tapers and jars.

You will also enjoy the way that soy candles burn without producing soot. If you are using paraffin candles in your home, you may not know that they are producing a black or brown residue which is slowly settling on the surfaces in your house. In fact, these soot particles are even in the air you breathe if you use paraffin candles!

Sootless candles are preferred because they not only do not cause cleaning problems in your home, but also don't produce the kind of sooty carbon particles that could be dangerous to your lungs. They are perfect to use around the bathtub, because ash particles will never fall in your bathwater. If you're searching for environmentally friendly candles to grace your home, look no further than soy!