Fire is undoubtedly one of humanity's most important discoveries. For a long time, it was difficult for our ancestors to tame this natural force and harness it for our purposes. Yet it has dramatically simplified our lives in many ways. It gave us cooked food, warmth, and, last but not least, Light independent of the sun, moon and stars.
The candle was a milestone in our use of light. Torches burned out quickly and were thus very limited as primitive light sources. Scientific findings show that this problem was already clear to our earliest ancestors. Cro-Magnon people used stone bowls in which a wick burned in liquid tallow or oil – and that about 40,000 years ago .
Over the millennia, little has changed in the basic structure of our candles, in their raw materials but even more so. The Romans used Bad luck and in the Middle Ages, tallow and blubber were joined by other animal products such as Beeswax . The typical white wax has only been around since 1725 with the invention of Stearin candle . And since the Industrial Revolution, a new material has established itself as the undisputed leader.
The keyword is: Paraffin .
What is paraffin?
Anyone who enjoys a cozy evening by candlelight has probably already heard of paraffin. Discovery almost 200 years ago Paraffin has found its way into our everyday lives in many forms. Although many traditional uses, such as Oil lamps and Paraffin stoves have now gone out of fashion, the material is still very popular.
Next to the Candle making Probably the second best known application of paraffin is the production of Wax crayons , which are still mostly made from paraffin wax.
It is also an ingredient in many cosmetics such as lotions, creams and lipsticks. Paraffin wax hand baths and Paraffin wax cosmetics can be found in most drugstores, even in this country. In medicine, it is used primarily as binder in the production of ointments , but is also used as Antidote against specific forms of poisoning used.
Although it may seem surprising at first, paraffin is also found in some Foods . Because it preserves well, it is used in some cheeses, such as Edam or Gouda , used as a coating for the rind and protects the cheese from drying out . Even in confectionery Paraffin is found. Here it prevents products from sticking together with Icing , which otherwise stick together at room temperature would.
Paraffin wax for candles
Nowadays approximately 75 to 90% of all candles produced worldwide made from paraffin wax. The main reason for this is, as is often the case, the Price . Paraffin wax candles can vary in price depending on the manufacturer only half or even only a third as expensive like goods made from alternative raw materials.
Burning time and behavior However, when processed correctly, they are hardly or not at all changed even when alternative wax types are used. However, paraffin wax often has a lower density than other types of wax. This means that if you place two candles made from different types of wax with the same weight and the same burning time next to each other, the paraffin candle will usually be less compact and thus appear larger, but will burn just as long.
Is paraffin wax toxic? – The myth explained
The toxicity of paraffin is A myth that has long been attached to the material. However, there is little truth to it.
Of course you should not try to eat his scented candles , but if you do, potential poisoning symptoms are more likely to be the result of Dyes and odors in the candle and have nothing to do with paraffin .
Theoretically, paraffin wax is even edible , but does not provide the body with any nutrients.
Here we see a small spark of truth in the question of the dangers of paraffin – at least for animals. small animals that mistake the paraffin for their food sources, swallow the material, as after any other meal feeling of fullness Normally this is a good sign that the body is letting you know that it has had enough food and that it can now focus its time and energy on digestion want to use.
However, one of the main reasons why paraffin is harmless to the body is that the substance actually is not absorbed by the body in any form . It is therefore not digested and, as mentioned, does not provide the body with any nutrients. The body can therefore be tricked into thinking it is full, even though it has not received any food at all.
Thus, an animal that is not aware of these connections can potentially starve while it waits for the paraffin to be completely excreted and a The feeling of hunger sets in again .
Even if this problem is irrelevant for humans, the question of the problem of possible Allergies . Certain gases from the paraffin production process can, in very specific cases, lead to allergies or respiratory irritation, but this is very rare and can also be treated by regular ventilation and normal interaction Avoid using candles.
So there is no health reason to avoid paraffin wax candles.
Palm, rapeseed & beeswax?
Now we already have Alternative substances about paraffin. But what kind of substances are these and why are they used?
Natural alternatives include well-known classics such as Beeswax , but more and more plant-based products are also coming to the fore.
Palm oil (in the form of so-called stearin waxes) is currently the most widely used alternative to paraffin, but brings the same ecological problems with itself, as in the food industry – above all the massive Deforestation of rainforest to reclaim land for plantations. rapeseed oil is now being marketed as an alternative to paraffin. However, its use has so far been relatively sporadic.
What all these substitutes have in common is that they burn with a slightly dimmed light, thus further enhancing the calming atmosphere of candlelight.
Atmosphere from the socket?
In addition to other waxes from plants and the like, there is of course another alternative to traditional paraffin available today: The electric candle . Who hasn't seen those small plastic lamps with a semi-transparent wax look?
The idea behind electric candles is simple: You can switch on the light with just the Flipping a switch on and off and you don't have to worry about smoke, fire, or dripping wax. But can electric candlelight really compete with traditional wick candles? At least for the past few years, many models have been able to Simulate the flickering of a candle flame , but the typical atmosphere of candlelight, such as the Dancing of the flame is inevitably lost in this artificial approach.
Also, contrary to many statements, most electric candles are Not an environmentally friendly alternative . While the candles themselves naturally last longer and don't need to be replaced regularly like wax candles, without batteries, the artificial candlelight in most models also quickly fades. Batteries However, they are not environmentally friendly and their production consumes valuable non-renewable resources such as zinc, iron, aluminum, and silver, the extraction of which is often also environmentally harmful. The disposal of batteries as hazardous waste shows that we cannot currently talk about environmentally friendly alternatives or even sustainability, even if we can at least recycle many of the raw materials if handled correctly (using additional costly and sometimes environmentally unfriendly processes).
Soy wax
Soy wax is one of the new star products for the sustainable production of candles and the like.
As the name suggests, soy wax is made from fossil raw materials rather than Soybeans To produce it, the soybean oil is first pressed from the beans. The oil is then extracted in a process that is Production of margarine resembles wax under high pressure and temperatures of up to 300 °C.
Soy wax is mainly used for the production of candles. For this purpose, the hardened wax is usually cut into small Soy wax flakes The final candle burns just as long, and in some cases even longer, than paraffin. The reason for this is the aforementioned higher density of soy wax. This allows the scented candles to burn with lower temperature than other candles, which not only longevity can improve, but above all also for a significantly dim light which only enhances the calming atmosphere of scented candles etc., if at all.
Not only that, but also the Quality of the fragrances should be improved when using soy wax. In addition, when melting the wax essential oils released, which have a calming effect on the body, similar to bath additives.
Soy wax candles are often said to Burn soot-free . As nice as that would be, this statement is unfortunately not entirely accurate. Soot is unfortunately unavoidable when organic materials are burned, and this is no different with soy wax than with paraffin or other alternative materials.
But not all soot is created equal. While burning normal candles usually black soot is formed, in candles made of soy wax, mainly White soot . This soot is barely visible to the naked eye, giving the visual impression that the candle is burning soot-free. The unsightly black soot is hardly produced when soy candles are burned, as the wax contains no synthetic additives, such as those that can be produced during paraffin production.
At first glance, soy wax still has clear advantages compared to classic paraffin. Soybeans can be grown and are therefore more quickly renewable than petroleum , which is only produced over a very long period of time and under certain geological conditions.
Unfortunately, soy wax is often the nasty Obituary of the plantation economy While it is true that large areas of rainforest are cleared every year to make way for new fields for soybeans, entire 80% of the income from these processes only for agriculture used, namely as Feed for farm animals . For the production of soy wax candles, a fraction of the farm area used is sufficient and could manage sustainably .
The remaining 20% of the total yield from soybean cultivation will also be used for further environmentally friendly applications used.
Soybean oil, like many other vegetable oils, can be used to produce Biodiesel be used and reduces greenhouse gas emissions of the vehicle by 41% compared to fuels made from petroleum. Air pollution from the combustion of soybean oil is even lower than that from fuels made from other non-fossil sources such as Ethanol or corn .
In addition, soybean oil is also used to produce environmentally friendly Printing inks In the United States, about half of all newspapers and even 75% of all daily newspapers printed with soybean oil-based inks.
Soy wax from Europe?
Even though the majority of soy consumed worldwide is now exported from countries close to the equator, such as Brazil, the plant has its Originating in Southeast Asia . According to records, the bean was cultivated as a crop since 7000 BC in northern China and in Japan since at least 5,000 BC. Even then, soy and millet, not rice, were the staple foods of the local population.
The first evidence of European knowledge about the plant are the records of Engelbert Kaempfer from 1691/92, created during a trip to Japan by the doctor and botanist.
The oldest known breeding programs for soy on European soil can be traced back to botanical gardens in Holland and France where the plant can be proven to have been from 1739 was bred.
Despite all this, soy has never been able to establish itself as a relevant part of European agricultural culture.
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland together, approx. 300,000 tons Soybeans were harvested. In comparison, the Top 3 producers In the world market, Argentina with approximately 55 million tonnes, the United States with approximately 100 million tonnes and Brazil with approximately 115 million tonnes.
The reason for the cautious use of soy in European countries is primarily due to the availability of alternatives. Soy as Protein plant is used in this country mainly as animal feed. However, other plants such as rapeseed Rapeseed is used in Germany primarily for rapeseed oil and for the production of biodiesel. This produces rapeseed meal as a suitable feed .
Another aspect is the increasing domestic demand for genetically modified feed . Soy from the USA is in many cases genetically modified , while rapeseed, which is already grown under stricter conditions in Europe, meets the requirements for GMO-free food, such as those for Dairy products apply, is fair.
And what is better now?
Paraffin or soy wax, which alternative is better for our candles?
As is often the case, there's no simple answer. Paraffin wax candles burn brighter, but soy wax candles are more atmospheric and long-lasting. Paraffin is a widely available and readily available raw material, but soy grows quickly and can be cultivated sustainably.
For us, both materials have their appeal and we enjoy both traditional paraffin wax candles and our new soy alternatives.
Therefore our recommendation:
Try it out and make your own decision.
Just try it out
Anyone who now If you want to experience the benefits of soy wax for yourself , we at American Heritage have good news for you. A whole range of our most popular scented candles from Kringle Candle is now available in a new version as a soy tumbler and our newly arrived Summer scents are also available in sizes Medium and Large available as soy candles.
- Blackberry Buttercream scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Desert Oud scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Sea Salt & Tonka scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Sicilian Orange scented candle by Kringle Candle
We also have a whole range of exotic fragrances from Stonewall Home in Maine, also cast from soy wax. The wide range of exceptional aromas includes scents such as " Driftwood ," " Fresh Cucumber ," " Rainy Days ," " Fresh Linen ," and many more.
So just try it out and have a look .
