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Two months ago, after a long discourse at the breakfast table on the many wonderful aspects of soy candles, my 13-year-old son accused me of being a soy candle head, as in dead head. What had got me started was the soy milk e had been drinking for breakfast, and having recently discovered soy candles in a big way, my mind was understandably full of how this wonderful material was so much a part of our lives - food, drink, and now candles!

Whatever my son might say, however, I can’t stop gushing about soy candles and their unique properties, and you, dear reader, are now in my line of fire. Not only are soy candles longer lasting, they also hold a fragrance better and do not produce unsightly deposits of soot. And when I say long lasting, I mean it, because the average 14 oz wax candle will last you about 70 hours, give or take five, while a soy candle will last all of 100, if not more. That’s almost 50 hours more, and not at significantly higher prices either.

If you’ve been following these articles, you’ll know about my friend Charlene Dewitt, the one who is an aromatherapy expert. Well, inevitably, it was Charlene who introduced me to soy candles, and one of the first things I noticed was the absence of soot. All those who have spent time cleaning blackened and grimy candle jars, walls and even ceilings know what a menace soot can be. With soy candles, because they are natural, the jar remains pristine, and the walls and ceilings unsullied.

Now I come to the most important reason for using soy candles. Various studies have revealed that traditional wax candles emit carcinogens into the air. Now, as we all know, carcinogens are cancer-causing toxins that also cause other health problems. Mostly, researchers are trying to prove that anything that emits carbon dioxide when burnt, such as wax candles and charcoal, will release carcinogens. Though it is too early to comment on this issue, soy candles certainly do not produce carcinogens, which means they are healthy, too!

All in all, it is no surprise that soy candles are gaining in popularity, considering they were only launched in 1991, and their discovery is credited to a certain Michael Richards, who found out by trial and error that mixing soybean oil with palm and coconut oils produced a perfect wax. He added a small amount of beeswax to the mixture to improve it even further.

Today, it has been conclusively proved that 100% natural soy wax does not contain petroleum or other environmentally unsafe ingredients. And it is much less expensive than other natural waxes like beeswax.

So I end my rave. Go ahead, call me a soy candle head, but remember what I’ve told you the next time you buy your candle supplies!

***You may reprint this article as long as the three URL’s are hyperlinked.***

Tania Penwell is a successful author who provides information on soy candles and candle fragrance oil for Candles 4U - your guide to candles and candlemaking.

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Candle holders are an essential accessory for candles. The first candle holders, made of clay, date back as far as fourth century BC Egypt.

Of course, today we have a wide variety of candle holders to choose from. They are a colorful addition to home d

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You have total control over how your candles look and smell. You have a myriad of choices for adding your own colors and scents to produce a candle which is individually yours. Craft shops and candle making suppliers stock scents and dyes made specifically for home-made candles from many different materials, but be sure you know what is flammable when adding things to wax.

Adding scents

Only add scent to the hot wax after it has been taken away from the heat source. Check for flammability of the scent at a low temperature before adding any essential oils to prevent a dangerous situation. Many of the cheaply made candles you find in discount stores will not use scent added to all the wax, instead topping off the candle at the end with scent added after the bulk of the candle has cooled. If you want a really good quality of scent, add the oils to all the wax you are using when the wax has completely melted.

The choice for scent is yours, but some natural scents are stronger than others. Vanilla essence, makes for a strong vanilla scent and is typically the most commonly used fragrance in home candle making. Combinations of other scents can be used to create specialty scents– popular ‘recipes’ include ‘holiday’ fragrances - pine scent with cinnamon added, or ‘rose cream’ - rose essential oil with vanilla added. You will only need a small amount of scent- around half a teaspoon will produce a good clear scent.

Where will you be placing your candle? Do you wish a zingy scent for the kitchen? Citrus scents such as orange or lemon are best for this. For an aromatherapy experience, use lavender and geranium, or lilac. For a bedroom candle, use rose oil for sensuality, or eucalyptus for soothing a cold - but remember to never leave a candle burning if you are in danger of falling asleep - this could lead to a serious risk of house fire.

Adding Color

You can purchase dye chips at your craft store or candle making supplier. Add a little at a time because you can always add more later but take into consideration that wax changes color as it cools and hardens. Test a small amount of wax on a non-flammable surface to ensure you are getting the shade that you want.

You can also add color using liquid dyes, which are simpler and can be dropped into the molten wax with an eye-dropper. Add these once you’ve poured the candle, and try experimenting with different dyes and cooling times– they can give a wonderful rainbow effect. When adding scent and color, have fun matching the fragrance with the appropriate colors.

Corinne Waldon writes articles for Candles-24, a comprehensive candle website. For more articles by Corinne, visit the candle articles page of the website.

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