Fire is undoubtedly one of the most important discoveries of mankind. For a long time, it was difficult for our ancestors to tame this natural force and use it for our purposes. In fact, it has made our lives dramatically easier 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 therefore 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 already 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 cosy evening by candlelight has probably heard of paraffin. Since its discovery almost 200 years ago Paraffin has found its way into our everyday lives in many forms. Although many traditional applications, such as oil lamps and paraffin wax have now gone out of fashion, the material still enjoys great popularity.
Next to the candle making The second best-known application of paraffin is probably the production of Wax crayons , which are mostly still made from paraffin waxes.
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, including 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 of the rind and protects the cheese from drying out . Even in confectionery Paraffin is found. Here it prevents products from sticking together with Sugar glaze , which otherwise stick together at room temperature would.
paraffin wax for candles
Nowadays about 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 production only half or even only a third as expensive as 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 types of wax 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 is usually less compact and therefore looks larger, but burns just as long.
Is paraffin wax poisonous? – The myth explained
The toxicity of paraffin is a myth that has long been attached to the material. However, there is little truth in it.
Of course, you should do not try to eat his scented candles , but if you do, potential poisoning symptoms are more likely to be the result of dyes and odorants in the candle and have nothing to do with paraffin .
Theoretically, paraffin wax even edible , but does not provide any nutrients to the body.
Here we see a small spark of truth in the question of the danger of paraffin – at least for animals. small animals that mistake the paraffin for their food sources, swallow the material, as after any other meal, a feeling of fullness Normally this is a good sign that the body has had enough food and is now able to devote its time and energy to the digestion want to use.
However, a main reason 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 feeling of hunger sets in again .
Even if this problem is probably 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 they 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 it, as in the food industry – above all the massive deforestation of rainforest to reclaim land for plantations. rapeseed oil is now being considered an alternative to paraffin. However, its use has so far been relatively sporadic.
What all of 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 etc., there is of course another alternative to traditional paraffin on the market today: The electric candle . Who hasn't seen the small plastic lamps with a semi-transparent wax look?
The idea behind the electric candles is simple. You can only switch on the light with the flipping a switch You can turn it on and off without having to worry about smoke, fire or dripping wax. But can electric candlelight really compete with traditional wick candles? At least for a few years now, 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, most electric candles, contrary to many statements, not an environmentally friendly alternative . Of course, the candles themselves last longer and do not need to be replaced regularly like wax candles, but without batteries the artificial candlelight in most models also quickly goes out. batteries However, they are not environmentally friendly and their production consumes valuable non-renewable raw materials such as zinc, iron, aluminium and silver, the extraction of which is often also environmentally harmful. The disposal of batteries as hazardous waste shows that we cannot currently talk of 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 & Co.
As the name suggests, soy wax is made from purely natural raw materials rather than fossil raw materials. 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. 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 higher density of soy wax mentioned above. 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, if anything, only enhances the calming atmosphere of scented candles & Co.
Not only that, but also the quality of the fragrances should improve when using soy wax. In addition, when melting the wax essential oils released, which, similar to bath additives, have a calming effect on the body.
Soy wax candles are often said to burn without soot . As nice as that would be, this statement is unfortunately not entirely correct. Unfortunately, soot is inevitably produced 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 the same. While burning normal candles usually black soot In candles made from soy wax, the most common white soot . This soot is barely visible to the naked eye and so one has the visual impression that the candle is burning without soot. The unsightly black soot is hardly produced when soy candles are burned, as the wax does not contain any synthetic additives, such as those that can be produced during the production of paraffin.
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 livestock . For the production of soy wax candles, a fraction of the farm area used is sufficient and could be 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 petroleum-based fuels. Air pollution from the combustion of soy 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 most of the soya 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 at least since 5,000 BC. Even then, soy and millet, not rice, were the main food of the local population.
The first evidence of European knowledge of 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 soya 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, soya was never able to establish itself as a relevant part of European agricultural culture.
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland together, about 300,000 tons Soybeans were harvested. In comparison, the top 3 producers In the world market, Argentina with about 55 million tons, the United States with about 100 million tons and Brazil with about 115 million tons.
The reason for the cautious use of soya in European countries is mainly due to the existing alternatives. Soya as protein plant is used in this country mainly as feed for livestock. However, other plants are currently being used for this purpose, such as rapeseed Rapeseed is used in Germany mainly 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 GMO-free feed . Soya 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 is no simple answer. Paraffin wax candles burn brighter but soy wax candles are more atmospheric and long-lasting when burning. Paraffin is a common and easily accessible raw material but soy grows quickly and can be grown sustainably.
For us, both materials have their appeal and we enjoy both the 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 try 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.
- Agave Pastel scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Blackberry Buttercream scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Desert Oud scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Donut Worry scented candle by Kringle Candle
- Gingerlily & Palm 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.
- Stonewall Home scented candles made from soy wax
So just try it out and have a look .
