The Great Debate - Paraffin or Soy?
Carbon buildup, more commonly referred to as 'soot' is a direct
result of
incomplete combustion and ALL organic compounds, including both soy and
paraffin will emit some level of 'soot' during the
burning process - this is
an indisputable scientific fact and to suggest otherwise,
is
not only misleading but unethical.
While all candles produce some level of soot, a sub-standard candle
will
produce inordinate amounts of soot and should always be avoided.
The difference between paraffin and soy is that one (paraffin), creates
'black' soot while the other (soy), creates 'white' soot,
oftentimes making it
difficult to detect.
In combination with countless other claims, this difference helps support
the 'myth' that soy is a healthy alternative
to paraffin.
In effort to dispell several myths and provide accurate information
to consumers, it is important to understand that candle soot is composed
of elemental carbon particles, the same particles
that emit soot from
cooking oils, toasters and other common household sources, all
of which are chemically different than the more harmful soot created
by gasoline, diesel fuel, coal and other similar sources.
Additionally, with over 10 years of research and manufacturing experience,
we have yet to encounter one producer of paraffin candles who
doesn't use high
quality food-grade paraffin, the same wax that is
used to preserve the life of countless
fruits and vegetables sold in
supermarkets and more
importantly, that
meets FDA Standards in terms of
human consumption and safety!
Again, with the understanding that ALL
organic compounds produce some
level of soot, consumers are in a better
position to select high quality
candles when armed with the knowledge that the challenge is to find
products in which these levels (whether emitting black or white soot),
are at an absolute minimum aka 'virtually
soot free'.
Also important to note is the rapidly growing number of soy supporters,
who, with an educated awareness, are recognizing
the benefits of paraffin
and are therefore beginning to incorporate paraffin into their soy 'recipes'.
Ultimately, when the 'science' of candle making is respected,
candle enthusiasts can rest assured that whether choosing
paraffin, soy or a combination of both, the real debate should be one of
preference rather than safety --- an unsubstantiated concern arising from
misinformation often being spread to discredit highly reputable
and educated producers of paraffin-made products.
-
