Soy Wax

• Soy candles are made from soybean oil, which is hydrogenated after it is extracted from the beans. Candles made from 100 percent soy candle wax have a very low melting point. Because of soy wax's softness, it must be burned in a container.
  
  

Wax Additives

• Paraffin, made from crude oil and stearic acid, which is prepared from animal fat, are sometimes added to soy wax so that it can be burned as a pillar rather than in a container. Companies may sell such a mixture as "blended wax."
  
  

Fragrances and Dyes

• Fragrance oils are commonly added to give soy candles a pleasant odor. Soy candle makers can color the wax by using dyes in either flake or liquid form. A powdered UV or ultraviolet stabilizer can also be added to help retain a candle's color.