Scented Candles & Scented Melts - 100% Soy

To ensure your soy experience with our high-quality scented candles and soy melts  we have listed below some common soy candle questions and answers. We encourage you to incorporate these techniques when enjoying your soy candles with family, friends and loved ones.

Should you trim the wicks?

Trimming the wicks will keep the soy candle burning without any black soot and it will give your soy candle longer burn time. Trim as needed, when the flame is too high. When a wick gets too long it cannot draw soy wax all the way up to the top of the wick. Therefore, the wick itself will start to burn. Even with our wicks and petro-soot free soy wax, you will see some soot if your wicks start burning themselves. If you cut the wicks too short, your soy candle will not stay lit or will go out. Wicks to long pose a safety risk. So, keep those wicks properly trimmed and your soy candle will burn petro-soot free. 

How should I trim the wicks?

The wicks should be trimmed to a 1/4 inch before you light your soy candle if needed. You can use scissors, nail clipper, or candlewick cutters. 

Why Am I getting Soot?

Soy wax burns clean with no petro-carbon soot. Don’t worry we are not a petroleum product. A small amount of soot is a normal by-product of burning. You may get some, but it will be very, very little if any. 

Will one soy candle be good for an open floor plan or bigger room?

Some get great results with 1 soy candle, some need 2 or 3 soy candles. It can be more difficult to fill  a large open floor plan since the scent has to continue to travel and as the scent spreads over large areas it will get less intense. An average room with walls will keep the scent inside and of course create a stronger scent smell. We use the MAX scent load our soy wax will hold.

Why do must candles have a hole burning down the center of the jar?

Wax has a memory. The first time you burn your soy candle, you should burn it until you get a melt pool across the entire top. If you don’t, your candle will remember that and continue to tunnel down the center. It is not so much the soy candle or wick, it’s the memory.  So, remember you have to burn it long enough to allow the melt pool to extend all the way out to the outer edge of the candle so you utilize all the wax.  Our candles have never tunneled on our testing.

What is the burn time?

Some candle companies give you the maximum time their candles will burn in an ideal setting. We have learned there is no ideal setting. Most candles are tested in a “test box”, the test box creates a perfect environment for the candles to burn. It protects the candle from drafts, allows just the right amount of oxygen in, and often the candle is refrigerated. We know this is not realistic in your home or ours. Our burn times are based on test burning in a normal living environment. You know, with AC running, or heat running, or windows open, and people walking by it. We test all of our soy candles in our living room, our kitchen, or our bathrooms. We burn them for about 3 to 5 hours at a time.  The normal burn times we have been getting 40 - 45 hours, but each soy candle and scent is a little different. 

Why are most candles on the market harmful?

There are several unhealthy aspects in the majority of candles on the market today. First, most candles are made from paraffin wax or a combination of soy and paraffin wax. Combinations are called SOY BLEND - that is NOT good. Paraffin wax is a petroleum by-product. It is refined gasoline. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, paraffin wax is harmful when burned and contains toxins, two of the toxins are considered above the excess cancer risk with multiple exposures. This is why we use a 100% soy wax in our candles and melts. The use of wicks by other companies with any type of metal in the core, namely zinc or tin is also bad. When these wicks are burned the metal inside is burning, emitting harmful toxins into the air. Lead wicks have been banned, we are hoping no one is using them still. Also, many are in metal tins, which is not safe. Others are in ceramic or pottery which is also not safe & leach lead. 

What Is BHT? 

BHT is Butylated hydroxytoluene, also known as butylhydroxytoluene. It is a lipophilic (fat-soluble) organic compound that is primarily used as an antioxidant additive in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, electrical transformer oil, and embalming fluid.  It is arguably carcinogenic. BHT is also used as an additive in some candles, NOT ours.

The controversy of BHT –In the 1970s, Benjamin Feingold, a San Francisco MD who established the Feingold Diet, claimed that BHT could produce hyperactivity in some children. Besides, some controversy surrounds the link of BHT to cancer risk, some studies showing the potential to increase and some showing a decrease in risk. A lot of food industries have voluntarily eliminated this additive from their products, and since the 1970s it has been steadily replaced with the less studied BHA. BHT, or butylated hydroxytoluene, is an antioxidant that is used to extend the shelf life.  BHT is also used as an additive in some candles. We do not use any. We rather your candle be better for your health. 

Why is my soy candle changing color?

It is proof our soy candles do not have additives to prevent it. Organic compounds in candles tend to react with oxygen, which can cause the base color of the wax to change. When we pour our soy wax with fragrance, we are introducing oxygen, which can cause the color of the finished candle to change over time. BHT binds with the oxygen molecules trapped inside the candle so that other organic compounds do not mix with each other, which reduces the effects of oxygenation and color shift in candles. Our soy candles may discolor, because we do not add colors or stabilizers. In order to keep the ingredients of our soy candles as natural as possible, we have chosen to not use ultra-violet inhibitors. Therefore, some natural color will change over time. We recommend that our customers keep soy candles in a cool and dry place when not in use. Most changing occurs when soy candles are exposed to direct sunlight.

How do I know If its Soy?

The majority of candles today are made with paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product or a combination of both. We use 100% soy wax, not a soy blend.

Keep in mind the candle industry is not regulated by the government so there are candle companies who will claim it’s 100% soy wax and it is really not. You must trust your source. A good way to tell is by its outward appearance. Soy wax tends to not look so perfect, sometimes with subtle white discolorations and unique natural markings on the surface of the candle. You get the uneven surface, it’s not a perfect looking candle. Paraffin wax has a transparent texture. Our soy candles have unique natural markings and not always a smooth top. If you hold our jar up and look in it, sometimes you can see it also pulls away from the jar, which is an excellent thing. No hiding it, we are not hiding anything,  we are different. Different in a great way. 

Smelling candles before you buy?

We do not have sample sizes for sale. We recommend buying the wax melts if you would like to smell before buying a soy candle.  We are a new e-commerce company.  We have been making candles for over 35 years, but we just started sharing them with others. We hand pour each candle and melt with love per order. We do set up at North Carolina Vendor locations & functions, you can always stop by & smell them & purchase them if your in the area. We can even make your order for you to pick up at events. 

Why are some scents stronger than others?

We use the same % of fragrance per soy candle or wax melt. It is quite normal everything has a different scent throw. We use as much scent as our soy wax will hold comfortably. As we call it all of our candles are fully charged, Hot & Loaded. If you would like a stronger scent, we recommend buying more of the same fragrance. We use more fragrance than any other maker or company we know.

Why do I have sensitivity to candles

Here at Barrel Candles, we realize some people will have adverse reactions, no matter how hard we try. We simply depend on what our soy wax and fragrance manufacturer state about the products we buy, and share it with you, on our website. We cannot make any medical disclaimers. If you have any sensitivities please discontinue use. We also have a plain candle with no scent if you are looking for emergency light.

Can I order soy candles in hot months to be shipped?

Good Question. Soy candles have a low melt point. If not properly handled during transit and summer temperatures reach above the melting point, they will melt. We will be sitting them upright, with a lid on them that has a seal. We also will be shipping all our soy candles priority mail to get them to you faster. We are unable to guarantee that the shipper will keep them as they should. If you are to get a soy candle that is melted to one side, you can sit it on your melt warmer, or an electric burner on low to level out the wax. Heat guns also work. We are a new company, if this becomes a problem during the summer months, we may change waxes to one that has a higher melt point, just during that time. We will still use the most healthiest products. We would defiantly note it on the website if we do change the soy wax. We will ship everything priority mail to get it to you the fastest we can. We are also currently looking into finding a supplier for thermal bags, before summer arrives.

Why is my candle not smooth on the top?

Good News, Its Soy Wax. Soy wax looks much different them a petroleum based paraffin candle, or a soy blend. As you burn it you will see the difference. 

More about our candles

The Look of Soy Wax

We here at Barrel Candle worry more about the chemicals in your candle, than the looks of your candle. We do not buy additives, to prevent discoloring, to add color, to bleach candles, we do not add adhesives to get adhesive to the side of jar, for the texture to look smooth and so much more. Our candles are NATURAL colored. Our candles are NATURAL textured.  We believe if you knew what was in paraffin wax and soy blends and what national candle stores put in there candles, you would choose ours.  Don't be fooled by a cheap unhealthy overpriced candle. Look at ours, you can see the difference immediately. If you can buy it cheap and they are still making a profit, do you want to burn that in your air with children, pets and elderly?

Our Soy Wax 

100% Premium soy product from America best natural soybeans in the world. Food Grade. It is ethically produced, sustainable and renewable, eco-friendly, carbon neutral, lead-free, biodegradable, cruelty-free, zero carcinogens, zero petro-soot, toxic-free, contains no animal by-products and is never tested on animals. It does not contain insect products. Our Soy wax burns cleaner than Paraffin. We are Paraffin Free and our wax is not refined or blended. No other wax is added. It is pure soy wax and fragrance only.  Natural colored. With no additives to prevent adhesive qualities or discoloration. No ultra-violet inhibitors. We do not add additives to keep our candles white. We do not add color additives to burn in your air you breathe. Soy wax has a lower melting point for your child, your pets and the rest of your family, if it gets hit and spilled, you have less risk for burns. 

Our Wicks

Our wicks are flat braided cotton threads interwoven with paper threads. Our wicks are lead and zinc free. They are designed to help offer consistent flame with our higher fragrance loads and to ensure an even burn.

Our Jar Color

Our Jars are Amber color. Not only does the color Amber go with everything, but have you ever noticed medicine and beer come in Amber colored containers. Ever wonder why? Amber provides maximum protection in anything that it holds. We want our scents to last longer for you in your candle. 

Why Glass Jars

Glass has been found to be the best material for keeping items fresher for longer. We really don't want candles in painted ceramic or pottery that normally contains lead. We do not want our candles in tin or metal. Food doesn't come in tin hardly anymore unless it is lined, some metal studies show it causing Alzheimer's and more. So, we here at Barrel Candles, choose glass, Amber glass it is a bright, warm hue, that symbolizes and promotes energy, confidence, and safety. Our glass is APPROVED for candles for your safety. When you are done with your candle, reuse your jar and lid for many things. 

Our Lids

We chose wood, for our Amber glass jars. Everyone wants a lid.  No Melting plastic, no paper liner, no metal leaching, no box that you throw away. You get a nice wood lid with a seal from us. 

Our Labels 

Are hand written by our son who has No corpus Callosum, No septum pellicidum, Autism, Epilepsy, Seizures, Mentally Challenged, has an inoperative brain tumor & more.  He is heaven sent.

Our Candles scents

All of our scents are in compliance with the most recent guidelines published by I.F.R.A. (International Fragrance Association). 48th amendment. The IFRA standards are based on safety assessments. Each scent has a different scent throw. All of our candles and melts have been fully charged with the MAX scent our soy wax holds comfortably and up to the soy wax manufacture max recommendations. We push the limits to give you a great scent throw.  All candles are fully loaded with scent. You will smell a pleasant aroma that fills your room when burning our candles. You will not get a pure soy candle anywhere else with more scent, because we put the max load in and push the limits. 

All soy candles are poured with love per order in the USA

Family owned and operated.

You'll notice the difference in quality right away.

Make a smart choice - Choose www.BarrelCandles.com