There's been some controversy within the last few years regarding the sooting of paraffin wax candles verses candles made from palm and soy and other vegetable or renewable waxes. Many candle makers and users of vegetable based waxes claim their candles emit less soot than their paraffin counterparts. While the petroleum based wax candle makers protest that it is due to improper wick trimming and inferior solutions that cause sooting from candles, not the use of paraffin or petroleum based waxes.

I have come across the damage that soot could cause in a home where candles are burnt all the time. It clings to the walls like a veil. Most of the time you don't even notice it until you decide to move a picture and there it is, a square spot the size of the picture you just removed, reminding you of the color your walls are actually suppose to be. Or perhaps you've bought one of those expensive candles with the shades they sell at candle parties and noticed the black film on the glass shade after burning your candle a few times. Was it because you forgot to trim the wick before you lit the candle? It could have been. Unless you are diligent about keeping the wick on your paraffin candle trimmed between an eighth along with a quarter of an inch, you are bound to have soot. It is a real problem and many interior designers will tell their clientele not to burn candles with the soot they emit.

I have been previously making candles for a lot of years. About ten years ago, I began making candles from soy and palm wax to see if there was any truth to the claims of soy and palm wax burning cleaner than paraffin. I have spent many, many hours making and test burning candles to find out. Here are a few of the things that I ran across. All waxes, whether petroleum based, vegetable based or from bees have their advantages and their disadvantages. You can make any wax soot if you work at it. By that I mean, even the best waxes, beeswax for example will soot if it has the wrong wick and wicks are a big factor. Candles with multiple wicks will soot more than single wicked candles. Candles that have wicks that are too large or too long will generally soot. Wicks used when not suitable for specific waxes can soot and drafts blowing on a wick could potentially cause a candle to soot.

There are a whole host of things that may actually cause a candle to soot, dye, scent, wicks, wax, drafts and more. If you are a candle maker, you can keep your candle soot to minimum buy using high quality products. If you are a consumer than you'll have to go through a few lemons first and remember mainly because it costs more than other candles does not guarantee it is a clean burning candle. Some candles with designer names don't burn any cleaner compared to ones at your local mega mart. Sometimes you are only purchasing the name. The only real test is to try them.

Which do I prefer? The palm wax candles I make myself of course. I like palm wax candles for assorted reasons. First I like the pattern that palm wax throws. Palm wax is a very hard wax and because it is, the candles don't get soft and gummy. When properly scented, palm wax candles have a superior fragrance. The palm wax I use cleans up with soap and water. If you happen to spill some wax clean up is a breeze. You just can't get that with paraffin. And last but not least, I have been able to generate a candle that is virtually soot less even if you forget to trim the wick.

Everyone should have his or her wax of choice. Mine just actually is palm wax. If you have ever never tried palm wax candles, they may be a treat if you find one of good quality. If you agree you might like to try your hand at making palm wax candles yourself, be advised that palm wax is one of the more challenging waxes to cooperate with. And if you want to make a superior candle, begin with superior ingredients.

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