Let's begin by defining the characteristics of our candles. Our candles are made ethically in small quantities using environmentally friendly components and packaging. Our candles are cruelty-free, vegan, and made without the use of parabens, phthalates and petroleum or carcinogenic ingredients. We also make use of 100% soy candle that is harvested from sustainable crops in the USA. But what is soy wax, and why is it so important?

Soy wax is made from soybeans (shocking you, isn't it?). They make this happen by taking clean, cracked, dehulled soybeans and rolling them into flakes. The oil is taken out and the hydrogen is then produced. In addition the flakes that remain can be used as animal feed! This process alters the melting point so that it is hard at room temperature, and ideal for candles. If being renewable, natural, biodegradable, and vegan weren't enough, soy candles generally have the longest burning time and has no indoor air pollution.

What is the other kind of wax? There are three more waxes that are commonly used in candles, these include paraffin wax, beeswax, and coconut wax. Let's look at these three. Paraffin is, in fact the most widely used wax for candles, especially scent-laden candles because it has a great scent throw. So, why are more and more companies turning to other waxes? It's because it's not renewable! Paraffin wax originates from petroleum, coal, or oil, and is a carcinogen! We are concerned about the environment, and our customer's health, we are here Brand & Iron, so renewable, sustainable and ethically sourced products are a must.

Beeswax is an extremely popular organically sourced wax that performs very well for candles in general. Be aware that beeswax comes with a strong natural scent, that doesn't blend well in conjunction with scents. But more importantly, beeswax is made from bees (obviously) and, as an organic candle company that makes it entirely impossible to make.

The final thing to consider the final ingredient is that coconut is a wax. Aside from the hefty price tag, it's challenging to get genuinely 100% pure coconut. This is due to the softness of coconut wax. Since it has such a lower melting point many coconut waxes blend which includes one of the waxes mentioned above. While this in itself isn't a problem because of its lack of transparency of manufacturers and the complicated language they employ, it's almost impossible to discern exactly what is in the mix, and even the reason why they're mixed in the first instance. We're committed to providing an organic sustainable, vegan, renewable and sustainable candle, which is why we choose to use soy wax.

It's not just about using soy-based wax to make the most sustainable and safe candle. We make use of a lead- and zinc-free cotton wick which is toxin-free and easier to work with, and requires less care than an wick made of wood. What else can we do to differentiate our candles? Our commitment to our beliefs extends all the way to the packaging. That's right; even our packing peanuts are biodegradable. in actual fact, all of our packaging is recyclable. We also encourage the customers we serve to recycle or reuse empty candle vessels. We'll discuss some of our favorite methods of vancouver candle company doing this in the coming month, so make sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter in order to keep up-to-date.