FAQs - Soy Wax Candles & Flower Wax

Why Are Soy Wax Candles Better ?

Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin wax !

When paraffin wax candles burn, they release toluene and benzene into the air, which are known carcinogens and toxins. Paraffin is made from crude oil / petroleum and is know to soot and smoke. They are one of the causes when the walls in your home blacken.

Here are some of the benefit of using soy wax instead:

• 100% plant based, made from pure soybean oil
• they burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Soy wax candles do not produce the soot or smoke of paraffin candles, if they are formulated correctly. They are less likely to trigger allergies related to air pollutants.
• a healthy candle to use. No carcinogens in the wax that can attack your lungs. In this context it is also vital to check that the wick does not contain a metal filament. Zinc or lead wick cores have been proven to be carcinogenic. We only use natural cotton wicks without metal cores.
• longer burn than paraffin wax. We have found that because soy wax has a cooler burn temperature, that typically it lasts around 30% longer than a paraffin candle.
• natural and biodegradable, making it renewable and sustainable
• produced without the use of pesticides and herbicides
• much easier to clean up than paraffin wax. Soy wax stains can be cleaned with soap and hot water without the need of having to use solvents or other tricks, e.g. ironing blotting paper placed over a paraffin wax stain in clothes
• not subject to animal testing
• as our soy wax is made from soy bean oil, it is automatically kosher and halal. We do not use any animal tallow.

We make soy candles because we don't believe our enjoyment such bit at the detriment of our health or the enviroment.

We are passionate about luxurious perfumery products that you can enjoy without ill-effects to your health, having to worry about the environment or where they have been made.

This is why PAIRFUM embodies our passion for pure luxury with a conscience.

Why Do We Add Flower Wax To Soy Wax ?

The one typical criticism about soy candles is that the fragrance is weak. Many people complain that they cannot smell the perfume.

The reason for this is the lower melt-point of soy wax, leading to the molten wax not being as warm when it burns.  The hotter the molten wax, the stronger the fragrance in the room and unfortunately molten soy wax is not very warm.

Sadly, many established candles companies simply add some soy wax to their scented paraffin candles which allows them to offer a 'natural soy wax candle' to their customers. This keeps the price of the candle (paraffin is cheap) and the fragrance strong. Legally, they are only obliged to include at least 20% of a natural material in their candles to be able to write 'natural' on the product.

There is alternative solution though!

By combining flower waxes with soy wax, we can offer the best of both worlds:

• a healthy and clean burn, and
• at the same time, a beautifully strong fragrance bloom

Through the addition of high temperature flower waxes to our soy wax, we lift the temperature of the molten wax which boosts the fragrance bloom.

It is a pioneering, new approach but then PAIRFUM frequently uncovers the routes that many competitors like to follow later.

What Else Is In The Soy Wax ?

Be assured in the knowledge that we do not use colourants, dyes or pigments in our candles. Fundamentally, they are white but some may be cream in colour. The colour you may notice comes from the type of natural, essential oil that is in your candle. Some essential oils have an inherent colour such as Jasmine and Cinnamon but also many others.

We do not add any chemicals or synthetic additives to our candle wax and yet most candle manufacturers do.

All of our soy wax candles have a smooth and clean finish.

Burning Soy Wax Candles Correctly

We have no doubt that will enjoy burning soy wax candles, as they have so many advantages over paraffin candles. Here are some simple guidelines to ensure they do their best for you:

Being made from a natural material soy candles may discolour or be damaged through exposure to sunlight or a strong light, such as fluorescent light. Please keep them away from strong lights as much as possible.

A side effect of soy is its sensitivity to fluctuations in temperature. Being a wax with a low melting point, it may soften or melt at temperatures from 25ºC upwards. Please store your soy candle at room temperature, in a dry place and avoiding high temperatures. If your soy wax candle does, however, begin to melt, then we recommend moving it to a cooler place. You will notice they return to their original state when the conditions change.

In warmer conditions or over time, small oil droplets may appear on the top of the candle. This is not common but neither is it unusual. Rest assured though, that this will not affect the burn quality of your candle nor the quality and strength of its fragrance bloom.

Sometimes when stored at cold temperatures, soy candles may develop a 'cloudy' or 'frosted' look on the surface. This is a normal phenomenon of soy wax which does not affect the performance of the candle. To prevent this from happening to your soy candle, store it at room temperature and shield it from temperature fluctuations.

Soy wax shrinks and expands like many natural materials. When soy wax is poured into glass, the candle may have or develop areas where the wax looks like it does stick to the glass. This is another side of effect of temperature fluctuations and very common in soy wax candles. Actually, it is one way of being sure that the soy wax does not contain a large amount of other waxes, such as paraffin wax. You should treat it like a 'guarantee'.

Is The PAIRFUM Flower Wax & Soy Candle Handmade ?

Yes, all PAIRFUM candles are handmade ! They are individuals or one-off pieces of candle-art.

You may notice some slight variations in size, shape or finish of the candles.

This is direct result of each individual candle being handmade. We guarantee that the are not produced on a fully automatic production line. These slight variations prove it and do not affect the burn quality or performance of your candle.

Instead, each candle is unique, with its own 'personality' and a certain 'je ne sais quoi'.

Comparsion Paraffin And Soy Wax?

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What Are The Wicks Made Of ?

The wicks are made from cotton, i.e. plant based.

They do NOT contain any metal or lead filements (toxic, carcenogenic).

PAIRFUM candles comply with the following quality marks:
• RAL – www.kerzenguete.com
• American National Candle Association - http://www.candles.org/industry.html

Do Soy Candles Soot ?

The short answer is: yes, some of them do.

Here are the reasons why soy candles may soot.

When Mixed With Paraffin

In order to save costs, some companies blend soy with paraffin wax. In these cases the soot is caused by the paraffin element.

Our recommendation is to only use pure soy wax candles or soy wax candles that contain other natural waxes, e.g. flower wax.

Incorrect Formulation

When a soy candle is incorrectly formulated or engineered, it may also soot.

It is about perfectly fine-tuning the wick with the grade of soy wax, the glass container, any dyes used and the fragrance.

What Is Soot ?

Soot is the result of incomplete combustion.

Fuels that contain carbon, e.g. petroleum or paraffin in the case of candles, are burnt or combusted by the flame of the candle. When this process is not working perfectly, the flame flickers and releases soot.

Is Soy Wax Safe?

We wrote about the health benefits of soy wax candles for human, pets and the environment in the section above.

Soy wax on it is own is safe.

When soy bean oil is hydrogenated it creates saturated fats. These contain trans-fats, which are not very healthy for human consumption.

This does not pose a problem though for making soy wax candles.

What Are The Instructions For Safe Candle Use ?

The safety & candle usage instructions for the PAIRFUM candles are in line with the industry standard safety guidelines from the following associations:

• please refer to the website of the British Candlemakers Federation: http://www.britishcandlemakers.org/Safety.htm
• please refer to the website of the European Candle Association: http://www.europecandles.com/
• please refer to the website of the American National Candle Association: http://www.candles.org/safety.html

When used correctly, soy candles will enhance the atmosphere of your home and candle safety guidelines:

• Soy candles require a slightly bigger wick than paraffin candles. Taking care of the wick is essential to ensure safety and burn quality.
• You must the trim the wick to 0.25cm - 0.5cm in length, every time you light your candle. This prevents the flame from becoming too big and the wick from smoking.
• The maximum recommended burn time is 2-4 hours per burn. Candles allowed to burn for longer than this may begin to soot and smoke.
• If the flame begins to smoke it must be extinguished immediately and the wick trimmed to 0.25cm - 0.5cm before relighting.
• Never touch the candle container (sides, bottom) whilst the candle is lit. Instead, extinguish the candle and allow it to cool before touching.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions supplied with candles and candle holders.
• Burn out of reach of children and pets.
• Extinguish candles with a candle snuffer only. Do not blow out a candle and never use water to extinguish a candle.
• Ensure candles are placed at least 10cm (4inch) apart and allow sufficient headroom above the candle for the heat to disperse.
• Ensure candles are burned away from other sources of heat such as television sets and away from direct sunlight.
• Candles should be burned in an area free from draughts, as draughts will cause a candle to burn uneven and smoke.
• Never allow the flame of a container candle to touch the container surface, e.g. its side.
• Remove all packaging and labels before use.
• Place candles on a suitable heat-resistant surface to prevent damage, for example to furniture.
• Ensure candles are only burned in an upright position.
• To avoid damage to surfaces, always place candles and candle holders on a surface that will not be damaged by heat, e.g. ceramic tiles or plates. Table mats are NOT suitable.
• Do not move candles when lit or the wax is still liquid.
• Discontinue the use of the candle when 1cm of wax remains at the bottom of the container.