Almost everyone loves candles. If you do, consider stocking up on some soy candles if you want the best candles available. Soy candles are made from pure soy wax instead of paraffin wax or beeswax and have several advantages over more traditional candles.

Soy candles are made from hydrogenated soybean oil, easy to make and don’t impact the environment in the same way making beeswax candles does. Soy is an inexpensive, renewable resource, and you don’t have to disturb any bees to get it. This naturally renewable source makes it easy to make soy candles inexpensively and still end up with a top quality product.

Soy candles are also better for your health. Many people with asthma or allergies can’t tolerate being around traditional wax candles. The combination of soot build-up and higher levels of CO2, released by standard candles, can aggravate their symptoms, which can lead to breathing difficulties. Soy candles are better for the environment in general, since they don’t increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere. It’s great to be able to burn richly scented soy candles without feeling guilty about contributing to the greenhouse effect!

The cleaner burn of soy candles means less soot build-up. This means if you burn soy candles, you won’t see that unattractive build-up of black, sticky soot inside a jar candle or around the edges of a votive holder. If you use candles year round, that soot is also being released into the air, increasing dust and grimy film in your house over time. Clean burning soy candles mean almost no soot, so you’ll have cleaner lungs and a cleaner house!

If you love scented candles, you might want to compare the scent of a soy candle to the scent of a traditional wax candle. You’ll soon realize that the scent given off by soy candles is much more pure and intense than the scent released by wax candles. Why? Soy candles have a lower burning temperature. This means you’ll get a larger pool of wax around the wick. The more wax that is liquefied, the more scent there will be released into the air. Soy candles have a lower burn point, so they melt more wax in order to scent the air more intensely.

Soy candles are especially nice if you have young children or pets that may knock over a candle. Traditional candle wax is almost impossible to remove from upholstery or your favorite tablecloth. Soy wax, on the other hand, can be easily washed out with warm, soapy water without leaving any waxy residue.

Finally, soy candles last longer than traditional candles, so even if you pay the same price for a soy votive, you’re saving money because it will last 50% longer than a paraffin wax votive candle.

When you’re shopping for soy candles, be sure you’re getting top quality. Although many candles are advertised as "soy," not all of them are pure, 100% soy candles. Read the label and make sure it is pure soy (not soy based). Also, look for soy candles with cotton or hemp wicks for the cleanest possible burn. Some candles have metallic wicks, which can lead to soot build-up.

Once you’ve found some good soy candles that are made of 100% pure soy, look for ones that are scented with essential oils. Essential oils are derived from plants for a pure, natural scent that have powerful aromatherapy properties and aren’t cloying or artificial.

Once you’ve tried scented soy candles in your home, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to try these wonderful, charming home accents.