FAQ

Disclaimer: I'm not a scientist, I make candles. If you have questions that you don't feel I provided satisfactory answers for, do your research.

Why soy wax?

Soy wax has a longer burn time than paraffin, which means you're getting more burn for your buck. In the future, I may experiment with other types of wax (or even other non-wax scented products).

Is soy wax better than other waxes (like paraffin)? 

I don't think it's fair to say any one wax is better or worse than another. Paraffin (for example) produces a stronger scent when burned (call hot throw), whereas soy produces a subtler scent. Paraffin is a by-product of crude oil, soy is a by-product of soybean farming. Producing any product at scale brings up questions of sustainability and environmental impact, so there is no perfect wax. 

Why not beeswax?

Beeswax is pretty hard to scent, so I haven't worked with it much. Doesn't mean I won't try it in the future. 

If you don't use beeswax, then why is the company named Honey Coast?

We're based in Utah, the beehive state, so Honey seemed appropriate. It's also a good description of the color of the sunset over the Great Salt Lake - a landscape I'm particularly fond of.

The top of my candle looks lumpy after burning, is something wrong?

Nope - that's just how soy wax behaves when burned. It gets a little lumpy when it solidifies after burning, but everything is just fine.

This candle doesn't smell as strong as my candle from [insert big box store]. 

Candles you buy from large stores or brands are most likely paraffin, which produces a strong throw when burned. Honey Coast makes soy candles and melts - they burn longer, with a more subtle atmospheric throw. This makes them perfect for daily burning and scenting your home without overwhelming yourself. 

Are your candles all natural? Are they made with essential oils?

'All natural' doesn't really have a clear definition. People like to think of 'natural' things as not made in a lab. If that's your definition, then no candle is 'natural'. Wax is made in a manufacturing facility, it doesn't just sprout from the ground or come out of trees like sap. Likewise, fragrance oils are manufactured in labs. They contain some essential oils, but other oils as well. Essential oils are not strong enough to use alone in wax, and if you used enough to get a good throw, the oil to wax ratio would be too high and the oil would separate. You'd also be making really expensive candles. 

 

Feel free to email joanna@honeycoasthome.com if you have questions not answered here.