Why We Choose Soy Wax: A Kinder Way to Fill Your Home With Fragrance
When we started Rose of Sharon, we knew we wanted to create home fragrance that felt good in your space. Not just because it smells amazing, but because it’s crafted with better ingredients and better intentions. One of the biggest decisions we made early on was choosing soy wax that’s regionally processed and made from American-grown soybeans, many of them right here in the Midwest.
But what exactly is soy wax? And how does it compare to other waxes on the market? Let’s break it down in a simple, helpful way so you can feel confident about what you’re warming in your home.
What Makes Soy Wax Special?
Soy wax is a vegetable-based, renewable wax made from hydrogenated soybean oil. It’s biodegradable, plant-based, and a more sustainable choice compared to many traditional waxes. For us, it was a no-brainer: it supports American farmers, reduces environmental impact, and aligns with our belief in creating products that are better for your home and our planet.
Benefits of Soy Wax for Your Home:
Cleaner burn with no petroleum byproducts
Longer-lasting fragrance because it melts slower and cooler
Gentle, steady, and more authentic scent throw when warmed
Vegan + plant-derived
Supports small, regional agriculture (which we love!)
Soy Wax vs. Paraffin Wax
Paraffin is one of the most common waxes used in mass-produced candles and melts. It’s petroleum-derived, inexpensive, and widely available. If you’ve ever noticed dark residue or “black smoke” around a candle jar or warmer dish, that’s soot. All waxes can produce soot when burned as a candle. Newer paraffin wax formulations also burn cleaner than older versions, and when they’re wicked properly, you shouldn’t see noticeable soot in the jar. We aren’t against Paraffin. It for sure has it’s uses. We just prefer soy. Soy wax tends to perform cleaner when it’s wicked correctly, or burned in a waxmelt. Below is a quick look at the main differences.
Soy Wax
✔ Plant-based
✔ Cleaner melting
✔ Longer melt time = lasts longer
✔ Renewable + biodegradable
Paraffin Wax
✔ Petroleum-based
✔ Burns hotter and faster
✔ Produces more soot
✔ Not renewable
Why Soy Wax Matters to Us — and to You
Using soy wax isn’t just a manufacturing choice. It’s part of our mission.
When you warm one of our melts, sprays, or home-care blends, you’re choosing:
A product made from American-grown soybeans
Ingredients sourced from small and regional businesses
A lower-impact, more responsible type of home fragrance
A cleaner, safer way to fill your home with scent, without the flame
We handcraft every batch with intention, from the wax to the fragrances to the packaging. Your home deserves products that feel good, smell good, and do good.
