Here at Chthonic Co. All of our candles are made out of all organic, all natural, locally sourced soy wax. Meaning that the soy is derived from soybeans that are grown without harmful pesticides, herbicides and nothing that is going to harm your health when you burn or consume the candles. 

Soy has many benefits such as a clean burn, non-toxic, no carcinogens, or pollutants, meaning that these candles are suitable for people who have allergies as they will not be triggered. Soy wax also has a lower melting point meaning that burn time will be longer than other candle waxes. Soy waxes are also easier to clean up as they are biodegradable, simply use warm water and a cloth and the mess is gone. Soy is natural, renewable, and vegan and often smells better as the fragrance is less in them opposed to synthetic candles.

A study conducted at South Carolina State University found that with paraffin candles, this combustion process also releases toxic chemicals such as toluene, which is a benzene derivative, a known carcinogen for humans, being linked back to cancer and disrupting other endocrine system hormones. Since paraffin wax is derived from petroleum oil, using these candles frequently will cause dangerous pollutants drifting in the air which can be harmful when inhaled. Most candles today are made of paraffin wax which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned (both are known carcinogens). In fact, the toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes and are linked to asthma and lung cancer. Not to mention all of the fragrance is chemically constructed and filled with toxins as well, so you are not only breathing in the harmful wax toxins, but the harmful fragrance toxins as well. 

Another commonly found wax on the market is palm wax, which is not sustainable and is oftentimes mixed with paraffin still causing toxins to be released when emitted. Palm wax on its own is okay, but one that I would not recommend as most of the palm wax is not found here in the United States but overseas. 

Personally at Chthonic, we believe soy wax is the best thing for us to consume as humans and our candles actually purify the air when lit with the essential oils and wax combinations we use so we are breathing clean air that is helping our health and not harming us or pets when in use.