About
WHY CHOOSE COOL CANDLES?
Cool Candles supports the use of Soy Wax because Soy Wax replaces non-renewable Petroleum Wax with a renewable, environmentally friendly alternative. Produced from sustainable agricultural resources, Cool Candles chose Soy Wax because of its lower melting point. A lower melting point means Soy Wax burns cooler, longer and cleaner than Paraffin. This allows fragrances to be released into the air faster and longer. Soy Wax also burns 25 – 50% longer and is water soluble, meaning Soy Wax can be easily extracted from glass, tin and other materials for efficient recycling of containers. Cool Candles made this choice by comparing the alternatives:
PARAFFIN / BLEND CANDLES
SOY WAX CANDLES
Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum. Soy wax is vegetable based.
Burning paraffin wax emits harmful vapours. Soy wax is 100% non-toxic and totally natural.
Burning paraffin wax emits black soot. Soy wax burns cleaner and cooler.
Paraffin wax is extremely difficult to remove from carpet. Soy wax cleans easily with soap and hot water.
Burning paraffin may produce carcinogens. Soy wax lasts 25%-50% longer.
Paraffin candles may not burn completely. Soy wax burns completely.
Paraffin is blended with chemicals which releases the fragrance. Soy wax releases fragrances naturally, faster and longer
Paraffin supports the Oil Industry. Soy wax supports the Farmers.
THE HISTORY OF CANDLES
Candles have been a part of our homes and religious traditions as far back as 3000 B.C. Because it was the single source of light, candle making is considered one of mankind’s earliest and important inventions. Tallow, the historical main ingredient for candles, comes from cattle and sheep fat. A renewable and natural source, these candles were environmentally friendly, but emitted a disagreeable odor and an abundance of smoke when burned. Seeking an alternative, Roman candle makers considered beeswax, a cleaner and odorless wax. The expense of production, however, limited its use to nobility and the Church. In Colonial America, the humble bayberry was used to produce a clean, sweet aroma wax, but extraction was time consuming and impractical. It wasn’t until the whaling industry discovered spermaceti that a superior candle was produced. Then Joseph Morgan invented the first candle making machine and continuous production put candles in every home. When paraffin, a by-product of petroleum, was combined with stearic acid, what was considered a “clean burning candle” became the standard candle until Thomas Edison’s creation of the light bulb in 1879. Today, renewable environmentally friendly waxes are a healthy, safe alternative to paraffin.
WAXING ON WAXES
The type of wax available to Candle Makers is extensive and can be formulated to individual and specific needs. However, not all waxes are the same as the table below demonstrates:
DIFFERENT WAX TYPES
RENEWABLE
BIODEGRADE?
ENV. FRIENDLY
PETROCHEM?
PURE BURN
Soy
Beeswax
Palm Wax
Gel
Paraffin
Australian Paraffin
Chinese Paraffin
Japanese Paraffin
