Soy Candles

Candles can be addictive. Just try flipping off the light switches and lighting a few candles one evening and you'll find yourself counting down the days until the next candle-filled night. While it's easy to wax on about the enjoyable aspects of candles, tensions aren't the only things being released due to candles; many conventional candles have been found to contain potentially toxic chemicals and are made from petroleum-derived paraffin, both of which are set loose back into the air as the flame burns down. In light of these findings, the candle market has seen an increase of organic offerings and soy varieties. To figure out what flame is right for you, we've completed an eco-focused candle competition. Read on as we shed a little light on the candle industry.

Sometimes the greener choice is simple. Other times, it might not work for you.

Conventional Candle

Soy Candle

Do the math

A scented candle in a glass jar can range vastly in cost from about $3.99 to $65.00

BsaB Green Bamboo Soy Candle Unscented = $27.00 (not including shipping)

Pros

Because soy candles have yet to reach anywhere near the popularity of conventional candles, traditional options are much easier to find. Whether it's the cleaning aisle of the local grocery store or the home decor section of Bergdorf Goodman, these candles are readily available for the buying. Since there are so many offerings, there also tend to be options that are truly affordable for anyone.

If you light up a soy candle, you're getting all the romance and relaxation without harsh chemical toxins and so much wall-scarring soot (although all candles do release a certain amount of soot). But just because you're going a healthier route with your glow doesn't mean you have to give up the perks of a great candle. All-natural soy candles look just as good as their counterparts and have can still have some amazing scents thanks to essential oils.

Cons

Although little research has been done, scientists are beginning to question candles as a culprit for harming the earth and our health. It starts at the most basic part of a candle--the wax. Much of the candle wax we see today is made from paraffin, a petroleum derivative, and that means a gas-guzzling glow of sorts. Then there are the synthetic fragrances and preserving chemicals added, which are now suspected to increase indoor air pollution and potentially release toxins like benzene into the air. Finally, there's the wick; although it's so small it can seem harmless, some are made from lead and, when burned, release lead into the air--kind of casts a grosser glow on things, doesn't it? If you want to err on the side of safety you should test wicks by scraping away the string to see if metal lies underneath, and banishing it from burning if it is so.

Depending on your candle use, the price tag of a soy candle might be hard to manage. If you go through a full fleet of candles every time you sit down to dinner or slip into a bath, the cost could really burn you. If you only indulge in one glowing piece at a time, however, it could easily be a justifiable luxury. Also, shipping the soy candle to you has a carbon impact that a locally-made candle would not incur.

The Big Picture

The truth is that evidence to prove that traditional candles are indoor air polluters is inconclusive. The crude oil consumption required for paraffin and the danger of lead-core wicks, however, are not and the American Lung Association is now recommending that some people avoid candles for health reasons. If you can't cope with the cost increase of a soy candle, at least avoid wicks that contain metal and keep all wicks trimmed low to reduce soot-causing smoke.

If you're not ready to swap out all your candles for soy or outfit your whole house with the cleaner-burning candles, think about incorporating them slowly into your decor. You'll be breathing cleaner air in exchange and saving your walls from an excess of soot. Plus, every time you switch off the lights for candle glow you're reducing your energy consumption. The same rules for regular candles still apply, though: Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch and snuff out candles instead of blowing them out.