Soy or paraffin candles: Which is better?

If you're looking for an aromatic candle and have ever wondered about the difference between a soy candle and a paraffin candle, you're in the right place.

At Monsters Candles, we have never used paraffin. It has never been our goal. From day one, we have worked exclusively with organic soy wax certified by BIOINSPECTA, and in this article, we explain why that decision matters and what the real difference is between one candle and another.

It's not just a matter of price or trend. The wax used to make a handcrafted candle directly affects how it smells, how long it lasts, how it burns, and what it releases into the environment while it's lit. And that, in a candle you'll have burning for hours in your home, matters. A lot.

What is paraffin and why is it still so widely used?

Paraffin is a petroleum derivative. It is obtained as a byproduct of crude oil refining and is, by far, the most widely used wax in the global candle industry.

And you might ask: Why? Why is it still used? Mainly due to cost and technical performance. Paraffin is cheap, easy to work with, retains fragrance well, and produces candles with a smooth, even finish. For large-scale industrial production, it makes a lot of sense.

The problem is what happens when you light it.

When you light the wick of your aromatic candle, paraffin can release compounds like toluene and benzene: substances also present in diesel smoke. In enclosed spaces and with continuous use, the accumulation of these compounds in the indoor air is undesirable. This is not alarmism: it is pure chemistry.

Furthermore, as a petroleum derivative, its environmental footprint from extraction to final product is considerably larger than that of plant-based alternatives.

What is soy wax and how is it different?

Soy wax is obtained from hydrogenated soybean oil. It is of vegetable origin, biodegradable, and renewable: three characteristics that paraffin cannot offer.

From a combustion perspective, soy wax burns at a lower temperature and more slowly. This has several practical consequences:

• The candle lasts longer: a soy candle can last 30% to 50% longer than a paraffin candle of the same size.
• The fragrance is released more gradually: instead of an initial burst of scent that fades, the aroma remains more constant and balanced.
• Combustion is cleaner: less soot, less smoke, fewer residues in the container and on nearby walls.

It is also easier to clean if spilled, and the container can be reused without difficult-to-remove residues.

But not all soy wax is the same

Within soy wax, there are significant differences depending on its origin and certification process:

• Conventional soy wax: comes from standard crops that may include the use of pesticides, herbicides, and in some cases, genetically modified varieties. It is the most widespread in the market.
• Certified organic soy wax: comes from crops that comply with organic farming standards, without synthetic pesticides or genetically modified organisms, and with traceability verified by an external body.

At Monsters Candles, we work exclusively with the latter. Our soy wax is certified by BIOINSPECTA, an accredited organic control and certification body in Spain and recognized within the European framework of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production. It's not a seal we chose for aesthetic reasons: it's the guarantee that what goes into our candles meets responsible and verifiable production criteria.

Soy vs. Paraffin: A direct comparison