Chances are, if you’re drawn to aromatherapy, and particularly if you enjoy making your own crafts from all-natural ingredients, you’re going to be interested in casting a soy aromatherapy candle.

How Soy is Different

Soy wax first appeared in 1993 when inventor Michael Richards was searching for cleaner sources of light. Unlike regular candles, which are made from either paraffin – a byproduct of petroleum – or beeswax, soy candles are created from hydrogenated soybean oil, so it’s related to tofu! This makes them less expensive than beeswax candles and more environmentally friendly than paraffin.

There are other bonuses – a soy aromatherapy candle burns twice as long as and cleaner than regular candles, according to candle retailers. You can look forward to less soot dirtying up the sides of your favorite candleholders! Some allergy sufferers also believe soy candles don’t trigger reactions, unlike paraffin. This may be because paraffin candles give off some of the same byproducts as burning gasoline.

Ever try to get spilled wax out of your carpet? Awful, isn’t it? Most ‘how to’ books suggest laying down a layer of newspaper over the spot and then ironing the paper until the wax sticks. With soy candles all you need is hot water and detergent.

Aromatherapy

A soy aromatherapy candle has another advantage over paraffin. The soy oil carries fragrance – a quality called “scent throw” - better than typical wax candles, thanks to its melting point and solubility. Your stash of essential oils should last long if you decide to make a soy aromatherapy candle instead of using paraffin or beeswax.

One drawback to using a soy aromatherapy candle is that if you want to make your own, the local craft store probably won’t have the right kind of wax. But there are plenty of bulk retailers online who could fulfill the order. The wax is almost more expensive than blocks of paraffin.

Learn about the different kinds of wax blends before you order. Some are better suited for making a soy aromatherapy candle than others. Look for at least 90% percent soy wax, with the remainder filled out by a soy additive to make molding the candle easier.

If you’re used to making paraffin candles, you’ll need to buy thicker wicks before casting a soy aromatherapy candle. The soy wax is much stickier than paraffin as it melts. In keeping with the ‘environmentally friendly’ theme, many people prefer using all-cotton wicks in soy candles.