The benefits of soy wax & why we chose it
When it comes to candles it's important to know that not all candles are equal.
Sure, they may look similar, they may even be the same size but there's so many variables that most people aren't aware of; whether it's the choice of wax, wick, fragrance load, vessel, or pouring temperature all these choices and more are what gives a candle its unique identity.
Today, let’s focus on one of the variables, the choice of wax.
Paraffin Wax
Parafin wax is without a doubt the most commonly used wax for candles. It’s very inexpensive when compared to other options, it’s easier to work with, it holds scent well and if you like a coloured candle, they are great for that too, it’s even vegan friendly & cruelty free.
So I know you're thinking, ok, why not choose Paraffin as it’s cheap and ticks a lot of boxes? It seems perfect, right?
The answer is, yes it might be the right choice for others and we are not knocking that choice, but it wasn't an option for Dusk by Dawn.
Paraffin wax is a by-product of crude oil, this is not an eco-friendly source, when burned it can emit toxic benzene, formaldehyde and toluene, all of which are known carcinogens.
Health and eco-friendly is something we take seriously so we chose not to use paraffin in Dusk by Dawn products.
Beeswax
Beeswax is 100% natural and one of the oldest forms of candle wax, it’s secreted by bees after they consume honey, this is literally the building blocks of their honeycombs.
Beeswax is eco-friendly and a great renewable source with no toxic emissions when burned.
Honestly, we really loved the idea of beeswax and we even experimented in the early stages of product development using locally sourced beeswax.
At Dusk by Dawn we are conscientious about our choices, the impact and footprint we make but we also want to create inclusive products, Beeswax is not vegan friendly and we want our wonderful vegan friends to enjoy our products!
Like paraffin, we aren't going to knock it but it wasn't for us.
Soy Wax
As you know, we use soy wax in our products and there's so many aspects to share so let’s highlight the key areas.
Soy wax is made from soybeans, it's a 100% natural wax and a renewable source that's carbon neutral. Once the soybeans are harvested they are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled and then rolled into flakes. You can see the flakes in the short video we made below.
Unlike paraffin wax, soy wax is clean burning, this means there's no toxic emissions or links to carcinogens, it’s a healthy choice.
Soy wax candles burn slower, it’s been reported to last 40-50% longer than paraffin wax candles, so don't be fooled by the size of a soy wax candle when comparing with a paraffin wax candle, bigger isn't always better!
From a candle maker's point of view, it’s not the easiest choice but where would the fun be in always taking the easy route?
To be fair though, when cleaning up after a production run or when recycling your vessel, a simple wash with soapy hot water is enough to clean up, the same can't be said for other waxes.
Let’s consolidate the paragraphs above into the familiar snappy buzz words we are all so familiar with…
Soy wax is vegan friendly, eco friendly, clean burning, non toxic, longer lasting, cruelty free, and 100% natural.
It’s not the cheapest or easiest option to work with and that's fine, we aren't about bringing the cheapest solution to market but we do pride ourselves on delivering quality products at great value. Soy wax was absolutely the best choice for Dusk by Dawn and it’s best aligned with our ethics and values.
As we said in the beginning, not all candles, wax melts or diffusers are equal, there's so many variables that impact the quality and identity of each product, thanks for choosing Dusk by Dawn.