Where the wax comes from
Soy wax is made from soybean oil, hardened so it holds its shape at room temperature. Paraffin is a by-product of refining petroleum. Both are common, both are legal and safe to sell, and both can make a perfectly good candle. Many candles sold as "soy" are actually blends, so it's worth reading the label. Ours are natural soy wax made from US-grown soybeans, with a cotton wick.
How they burn
Soy melts at a lower temperature than most paraffin, so it burns cooler and more slowly. In practice that usually means more hours from the same amount of wax, and a soft, creamy pool of melted wax rather than a hot, runny one. The trade-off is that soy has a memory: if you blow it out before the melted wax reaches the edge on the first burn, it tends to tunnel down the middle from then on. Our care guide covers how to avoid that.
How they smell
Paraffin can carry a lot of fragrance and throw it hard across a room. Soy gives a softer, steadier scent that fills a room more gradually as the candle burns. If you want a candle to scent a big open space fast, that matters; for a living room or bedroom, most people find soy plenty.
Soot
Any candle can smoke if the wick is too long or it's burning in a draft. Wick length matters more than wax type: trim it to ΒΌ inch before every burn and keep the candle away from open windows and vents, and you'll see very little smoke from either kind.
Why soy costs more
A 19 oz paraffin jar candle can cost under $10 at the grocery store, because paraffin is cheap and those candles are made by the hundred thousand. Soy wax costs more, and small-batch candles are hand-poured. You're paying for a slower, steadier burn and a softer scent, not just a bigger jar.
Which should you buy?
If you want the most candle for the least money, paraffin is hard to beat. If you'd like a plant-based wax that burns slowly and smells gentle rather than loud, try soy. Vanilla Bean and Fresh Balsam are good first candles, or take the scent quiz.