For many years, the candle of choice in our culture was the paraffin candle because it was relatively inexpensive.  But people were unaware that paraffin wax was cheaper because it was made using a petroleum by-product and metal-core wicks, all of which have recently been determined to be health concerns.  Paraffin wax is a derivative of crude oil and the EPA has stated that indoor air quality has become substantially more polluted thanks to paraffin wax and paraffin wax candles.  This is evidenced by the black soot around the top of the popular Yankee Candle jars which can also damage walls and furnishings.  So, richly scented candles made from paraffin aren't as healthy as we would prefer.

As a healthier alternative to paraffin wax candles, Beeswax has become quite popular.  However, Beeswax is about 10 times more expensive than paraffin wax due to the time that it takes to process the beeswax and the quality of the end product. If you have ever wondered just where beeswax comes from then here is a little information that you may find useful. Female worker bees secrete wax from four (4) pairs of special glands, called wax glands, on the underside of their abdomen. The wax is secreted as a clear liquid and hardens as it comes in contact with the air. The wax must then be collected from colonies of thousands of honey bees. Most beeswax is yellow because it is contaminated with gum resins and pollen, which is the adult honey bee's source of protein. Beeswax is a stiffer and longer burning wax because it has a higher melting temperature which also makes beeswax a more expensive alternative to paraffin candle wax.

In the 1990's there was a growing demand for richly scented candles made from a natural wax source that people could afford. Soy wax was an invention that was, and is, a much healthier alternative to paraffin wax and a much more affordable alternative to beeswax.  Soy wax was developed in 1992 by Michael Richards who was looking for that affordable alternative to beeswax. He tested different natural plant waxes and finally developed a vegetable wax which was made with partially hydrogenated soybean oil, coconut oil and palm oil.  He also blended beeswax with soy wax to make an economical and natural wax candle. The Soy Wax Candle.

Soy Wax Candles went on the market in 1995 when the Body Shop, a national chain of stores, offered the Soy Wax Candle to the general public at a price that was affordable. In 1997, the soy wax producer Candleworks negotiated a research project with the University of Iowa that produced the study "Increasing the Use of Soybeans in the Manufacturing of Candles". Then in 1998 The Indiana Soybean Board unveiled its special patented soy wax, Harvest Lights, which was developed by a farmer-funded group.

Since 1999, a lot of research has been done to prove the benefits of Soy Wax which has resulted in two scientific publications: "Rezaei, K., T. Wang, and L. A. Johnson. 2002. Hydrogenated vegetable oils as candle wax, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 1241-1247" and "Rezaei, K, T. Wang, and L.A. Johnson. 2002. Combustion characteristics of candles made from hydrogenated soybean oil. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 79: 803-808". In 2001, Cargill bought the patent of Michael Richard's soy wax invention. Now Cargill manufactures the soybean wax that is supplied to the soy wax candle producers.

Soy Wax Candles are completely "Non Toxic" with many of the same qualities as beeswax candles and cost just slightly more than paraffin candles. Soy Wax candles burn over 50% longer that paraffin candles and produce 90% less soot. The soy wax is often mixed with fragrances to produce richly scented candles which have a much cleaner, crisper and truer fragrance than paraffin candles. Soy wax has a cream-like look and is not yellow like beeswax. Whereas some candle makers will mix their soy wax with various food colorings to produce a candle that looks like its fragrance, at Our Knickknacks we only use special dyes formulated for candles. Soy candles are available in supermarkets and specialty stores and can also be bought online at Our Knickknacks!

Our Knickknacks' Richly Scented Candles, Air Fresheners and other Soy Wax Candle products are hand poured or hand dipped with Love to Order. We have Hundreds of delightful fragrances in stock, as well as Custom fragrances, for you to choose from. Try several of our Tealight candles in different scents or buy our 2 oz Votive Candle Sets in several different fragrances. This will give you an idea of the richness of our fragrances and the quality of our Soy Wax Candles. Then you can buy your larger jar candles in the fragrance that you like the best. Try them today!