The soy vs. paraffin issue has become a very hot debate the last couple of years.  As a manufacturer, we have offered both waxes over the years, and find benefits to both.  However, the aggressive marketing campaign by proponents of soybean wax seem to feel they have to discredit or devalue paraffin in order to build up soywax.  This really shouldn't be the case.  A consumer is looking for a well-made candle that pleases them.  So what does this mean to you, the consumer? 

Paraffin and soywax are both derived from natural sources.  Paraffin from petroleum, which is a fossil fuel.  And soywax which is derived from soybeans.  Paraffin is actually the final product to come from petroleum after a distillation process involving steam that separates the different components, or chains of hydrocarbons from the raw petroleum.  This is a process of distillation, separating, filtering and cleaning.    Soybean wax is derived from soybeans fields where oftentime Roundup or other pesticides are used, then the beans are crushed and ground before being treated with solvents such as Hexane to get the oil out of the soybeans.  Then the vegetable crude is treated with an acid wash to get rid of the solvents, and hydrogenated to turn it into a solid.  The resulting compounds are not natural, but artificially created to obtain a wax that is used for margarine, shortenings, and candle wax. 

The most important thing to gain from this is that both paraffin and soywax begin as natural hydrocarbon chains.  The hydrocarbons are what burn.  A properly constructed candle, no matter what the beginning wax material is, will produce only water and hydrogen dioxide when burned (the same as we exhale when breathing.

And what makes a properly constructed candle?  It is a careful balance of highly refined wax product, proper wick size and material, and fragrance oils that are specifically designed for use in candles.  And each of these materials must be in the proper proportions, or all bets are off.  You can have a beautifully burning paraffin candle that burns cleaner than a poorly made soywax candle using poor quality soywax.  And you can have a beautiful burning soy candle that burns much better and cleaner than a substandard paraffin candle.  What it all boils down to is this.  You should make your candle buying decision on what you like, the overall product quality of the candle, and the skill of the candlemaker.  NOT on what kind of wax is used.  All waxes are only as good as the manufacturer.