Soy vs Paraffin vs Beeswax Candles: How to Choose

Hello dear friends. 🕯️ Today I would like to tell you a little about what we do in our candle-making workshops. In one of them, with our youngest participants, we first melted the wax together, and then each of us set an intention. Painting was the favourite part. There were pots of red, green and purple paint on the table, and the children had great fun painting their little tin boxes in their own colors. The boxes turned out wonderfully creative, and I enjoyed that day as much as they did.

We can do this workshop with you too: at your school, at your office or at Şifa Köyü, our organic farm in Şile on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. You will find the details at the end. First, let us look at the wax itself: what is the difference between soy, paraffin and beeswax?

The main difference is the raw material. Paraffin comes from refining petroleum, soy wax is made from soybean oil, and beeswax is made by honeybees. But the wax alone does not decide how a candle burns. The wick, the fragrance, the container and how you use it matter just as much.

Three waxes, three raw materials

• Paraffin: a wax from petroleum refining. It has been widely used for a long time and holds color and fragrance easily.
• Soy wax: a plant-based wax made from soybean oil. It is usually softer, so it is often used in jars and tins.
• Beeswax: a natural wax made by honeybees. It can have its own light honey scent and a yellowish color.

Is paraffin toxic and soy harmless?

I do not draw that sharp line. The National Candle Association in the United States says that well-made, properly burned candles made from the major waxes burn in a similar way. It is an industry association, so it is fair to read this with that in mind. The same association explains that soot comes mainly from a disturbed flame. That is why a trimmed wick and a place away from drafts matter.

So I do not rank candles for health by wax alone. If you have a respiratory sensitivity, you may want to ask your doctor about using candles at home.

What to look at when you choose a candle

• Ingredients: which wax, and is it a blend? A word like “natural” is not enough information on its own; asking what is inside is your right.
• Fragrance: what kind of scent is used? If you are sensitive to scent, a lightly scented or unscented candle may feel more comfortable.
• Wick: it should suit the size of the candle and its container. Keeping the wick at the length the maker suggests helps the flame stay steady.
• Container: heat-resistant, sturdy and hard to tip over.
• Instructions: how long to burn it at a time, when to stop, and what to do with a stone or decoration on the lid. If there are none, you can ask the seller.

At Şifa Köyü we make our candles by hand with soy wax and natural aromatherapy oils. Some have a natural stone on the lid, such as a selenite heart. Some come in tin or copper containers, and many are one-off designs. If you would like to know the burn time or anything else about a candle, you can write to us. The shop sifakoyu.com is in Turkish.

A candle-making workshop with you

In the workshop we first melt the wax. Then everyone chooses a color and a scent, and the wax goes into the mould. While the candle sets, we talk about why we will light it: a wish, a thank you, an intention. By the end, everyone has a candle of their own. With children there is a more playful version with paints. With adult and corporate groups I begin with a short breathing practice, and then we get our hands busy.

This workshop is not only for little ones. It works with students of every age, from kindergarten to university, with adult groups, and at birthdays and gatherings of friends. For company teams it makes a creative break in the working week.

We can bring the workshop to your school or office, or we can meet at Şifa Köyü. Materials are something we talk through; sometimes the school or company provides the paints or jars themselves. Write to us with the number of people and their ages, and we will get back to you and plan the programme together.

What matters most to you when you choose a candle: the scent, the look or what is inside? I would love to hear from you. May the light in your home always feel warm. ✨

Şifa Köyü shop: candles (in Turkish) →

Şifa Köyü shop: set of 4 candles (in Turkish) →

Candle-making workshop →

Write to us about a workshop →

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