Comparing soy tapers to paraffin and beeswax tapers
comparing soy tapers to paraffin and beeswax tapers
Taper candles have traditionally been made from paraffin wax or beeswax. Now there is another option, soy tapers. Soy wax is a natural wax that is derived from soy beans. Its natural color is a milky white, but the wax is easily dyed and you can find soy tapers in a range of colors including rose, blue and lavender.
When compared to beeswax and paraffin wax tapers, soy tapers could be seen as better than paraffin wax candles, but there are still some draw backs to soy candles. Paraffin wax is made from petroleum and oil and when burned they give off harmful byproducts. Paraffin wax tends to produce a noticeable amount of soot and smoke when it is burned. Soot can damage walls, furniture and curtains if candles are burned to closely to them. Soy wax and beeswax will both burn at lower temperatures and if kept away from drafts they should produce little soot or smoke. As well, because they burn at a lower temperature they will last longer than paraffin wax candles of the same size.
Taper Candles Made From a Sustainable Resource, Soy Beans
Tapers made of all types of wax are advertised as being dripless and in general when burned properly candles that are said to be dripless prove to be so. Although, it is never a bad idea to keep an eye on your candles when they are burning or to put something under them to catch any wax if they do drip. One last thing about soy tapers, the wax is more brittle than paraffin or beeswax. This usually doesn't cause much of a problem, it just means that soy tapers are harder to produce and thus the cost is higher. So, soy candles are be better to burn than paraffin wax candles, but you will be paying more for them.
Also See: Taper Candles
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