What is a soy wax candle?
Soy wax candles are the ethical and economical alternative to paraffin wax. Soy wax is sustainably harvested by American farmers and burns on average 30% longer than paraffin. Unlike petroleum based paraffin candles, our soy wax burns clean. You can rest assured your family will enjoy the ambiance of our candles without the toxic soot produced by combusting mainstream paraffin candles.

Why is your company different?
The Ecological Candle Co. was born to provide a genuine "all natural" soy wax candle. We were disappointed by the lack of an absolutely natural candle in the marketplace. There are many candle companies that claim to have aromatherapy products, be all natural and even use soy wax. However, many companies either use a hybrid soy/paraffin wax blend, use fragrance oils(FOs), chemical dyes, metal wicks or all of the above. The buyer must beware. If you see terms like "natural fragrance oils" use caution. There is no such thing as a natural fragrance oil. All FOs are synthetic petrochemical by-products. Genuine aromatherapy can only be attained by the use of natural ingredients. In fact, aromatherapy is defined as the "preparation of essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers and fruits to enhance general well being."

Also beware of candles labeled as using "food grade wax". This is code for paraffin. Some companies even go as far as using terminology like "all natural soy blend". This can be deceiving as the "blend" is often a mixture of soy and paraffin waxes. For us, being in business is about making a difference. Sure, we could sell more products if we used lesser quality ingredients, cheap chemicals and machines to make our candles. But at what cost? We will never compromise the integrity of our products, your health or our environment. Leadership in the sustainable economy will be built from the ground up. We are committed to doing our part.

Every one of our products are handcrafted using only the highest quality, sustainable ingredients. Our containers are all recyclable and some are made from recycled materials. Our packing peanuts are biodegradable. All of our product labels are made from soy ink. Our soy wax is free from pesticides, herbicides and GMOs. Our wicks are unbleached cotton and our essential oils are 100% pure. When you purchase our products you can rest assured you are supporting a company that is leading the way to a cleaner, healthier and sustainable future for our children. The Ecological Candle Co. is the only brand with Our Purity Pledge.

Why don't you use fragrance oils?
Our company was built on a promise to use only natural ingredients to provide an elegant and sustainable ambiance. We will not compromise our values nor your health. Essential oils are natural plant extracts that have been used for centuries in aromatherapy. The benefits of aromatherapy can only be attained with the use of pure essential oils.  Many candle companies use synthetic fragrance oils (FOs) to perfume their products. This is why a room fills with fragrance when the candle is lit. The combination of burning petroleum based paraffin wax and synthetic FOs creates an environment full of potential toxins. Although some may find this acceptable, we do not. We began this company to provide candle lovers a healthy alternative to the overwhelmingly fragranced candles common in the marketplace.

Why don't you use dyes to color your candles?
Many consumers are attracted to candles not only for their fragrance but also for their vibrant colors. Unfortunately, many ingredients used to color candles today are full of potentially hazardous elements. To further protect your health and our environment, we do not use any dyes to color our candles. After an exhaustive search, we concluded there are presently no genuinely all natural dyes available on the market that meet our quality and safety standards. While we do not add any synthetic coloring agents to our candles, some of our products take on beautiful, subtle hues similar to those found in nature as a result of the essential oils.

Are all of your products made by hand?
Yes. As part of our commitment to producing the highest quality and purest candle in the marketplace, all of our candles are handcrafted by skilled Maine artisans. Quality candlemaking is a science and an art form. We take special pride in the creamy, smooth and delightful texture of our candles that can only be achieved by perpetual attention to detail. Unlike machine made candles that dominate the marketplace, each of our products are carefully crafted by hand from start to finish to ensure you receive the truest essence of fine candlemaking.

What is soot?
Soot is created by the combustion of wax, wick, fragrance and additives. The fewer additives a candle contains, the cleaner the candle will burn. Unlike paraffin, burning soy wax does not produce any harmful toxins and does not contribute to negative indoor air quality. Although soy wax is not completely soot free, it does not produce the thick black soot common to paraffin candles.

Do you use metal wicks?
No. The Ecological Candle Co. only uses unbleached cotton wicks to provide you with the highest quality, clean burning and sustainable candle on the market. It is our opinion, based on the lack of understanding of the long term health effects of burning zinc wicks that cotton is the cleanest and most eco-friendly wick available. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we only use unbleached cotton to reduce the amount of dioxins produced in the bleaching process. Also, burning bleached wicks may release harmful elements further reducing indoor air quality.

Why do candles smoke?
A candle may smoke if the wick is too long. If your candle is smoking, extinguish the candle, trim the wick and relight. As a general rule, most candles perform best when the wicks are between 1/8" to 1/4". No wick should be longer than 1/4". Remember to trim the wick prior to each lighting and keep burning candles away from drafts.

Where are your candles made?
All of our products are proudly made in Maine.

My candle has a rough surface after it cools, is this normal?
Yes. This is a unique characteristic of soy wax and is completely normal.

Do you have a storefront?
We do not have a storefront at this time. Please check back soon for an updated listing of select retailers who carry our products.

Do you sell wholesale?
Yes. If you are a retailer interested in stocking our products, please contact us at info@ecologicalcandle.com for more information regarding our wholesale soy candles. Please include your tax id number with your inquiry.