Candles are a normal part of most people's lives. In countries where electricity is not always guaranteed they light up the darkness and even in countries where it is they are the last resort when the lights decide to go out. Candles come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Some candles are simply meant to give light while others are meant for a romantic candle-lit dinner. Some humorous candles are shaped like animals, people, or all manner of objects. Scented candles can make a room more interesting or can be used in various aromatherapy applications. But it does not matter what a candle is used for, it is still made of wax. Whether it is soy candle wax or beeswax; wax is usually the main ingredient.

Most of the candles that we buy today are made from a wax that is made from paraffin. This wax is inexpensive to produce and easy to use. But recent studies have shown that this wax may not be that healthy for the people that use them on a regular basis. Other wax has been used in candle making before paraffin wax was used - most notably beeswax. In fact, beeswax has been around for quite some time and people have been using it to make candles for a long time. But beeswax does not last as long as normal wax and the cost of gathering and processing the wax means that candles made from this kind of wax are usually more expensive and sold as novelties or curious. As an answer to both problems there is soy candle wax.

Soy candle wax, as the name suggests, is made form soybeans. It has the same texture and feel of normal wax and reacts the same way in a candle, as you would expect it to react. There are some important differences that make it preferable to paraffin wax. For starters, soy candle wax is not toxic. There are no carcinogens or other harmful agents in it making it safe to burn for a long period of time. This wax also tends to burn up to 50% longer than normal paraffin wax making it much more cost effective especially since the price is comparable to that of normal wax. It is easier to clean up as it is water soluble and is environmentally friendly as well since it is easily biodegradable.

Soy candle wax is starting to be used in more applications every day. The technology and techniques surrounding this peculiar source of wax are becoming more refined. For scented candles, this wax retains scent and color for much longer than any other wax and, unlike the paraffin wax, comes from a renewable source. While beeswax is also renewable there are the problems of it being hard to gather and process that limits its usefulness on a macro economic scale. People will probably always need candles - just in case - and soy candle wax will ensure that our candles remain safe and that we always have enough to go around.