What Kind Of Wax Does TyPark Use?

A question we get a lot is,   “What kind of wax do you use for your candles?”  More often than not it is phrased in this manner, “Are your candles soy wax?”

    

We have nothing to hide, and fear no question about our product so we don’t mind the question, but the direct and simple response, “We use a soy-paraffin blend.”, we fear is not really getting at the root of the question.   So I wanted to elaborate.

What is the root of this question?  Well as best I can tell there is a theme or idea in the general public and neo-candle making world that soy wax is somehow the best wax.  Best wax for what you might ask. 

• Most would respond it is natural, since it is made from a plant, the soybean and hence better
• Some will respond it is cleaner, as in it doesn’t smoke   
• Others may even go so far as to state it is more ecologically friendly since it doesn’t come from crude oil

The reality, of these often stated reasons for soy wax’s superiority are just plan and simply wrong.  I don’t want to turn this into a research thesis and bore you to death so here are some quick facts about candle waxes straight from the association that represents the candle industry, who don’t have any need to be biased about what kind of wax is used in a candle: http://candles.org/elements-of-a-candle/wax/

CANDLE WAX FACTS

• All waxes are primarily hydrocarbons, whether the wax is of animal, vegetable, or petroleum origin. The chemical composition of all waxes used for candle-making is similar, and all candle waxes burn in the same manner.
•  Paraffin is the most commonly used candle wax today. Beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes are also used in candle-making for the U.S. market, as are blends of waxes.
• No specific type of wax or wax blend is considered “best” for candle making. All candle waxes – when provided in high-quality format – have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner.
• No candle wax has ever been shown to be toxic or harmful to human health.
• There is no such thing as a soot-free wax. All organic compounds when burned will emit some carbon (soot) due to incomplete combustion. Sooting is primarily a factor of wick length and flame disturbance.
• Reputable candle manufacturers use only high-quality waxes in their formulations.

My two cents on the "ecologically friendly" reason.  My qualifications to speak to this point is I graduated with an Ag Econ degree. Soybeans are grown, they use a lot of chemicals and fuel in farming.  All of which come from crude oil.  Additionally, soybeans are crushed and used for a lot of things, mainly food for live stock and directly in our food.  If  you divert that which is grown from being used as food it only means you are using more deforested land, more chemicals and more fuel to replace what could of been used as foodstuff.  So I'm not quite sure there is much of  an "ecology friendly" foot to stand on when you get down to the root of the matter.

We Saw the Light – So To Speak

We used to do pure soy candles, now we use a paraffin-soy wax blend, because it is the best for our customers and what we’ve learned works the best to meet some specific needs.

Best for Retail Environment – Faster Product Turn Around

Being that we are primarily a wholesale candle company the candles we make will spend the beginning of their life on a shelf in a retailer’s store.  Although it is our dream that these candles will spend a very short period of time here the reality is we don’t know.   What we’ve seen is that over time a pure soy wax candle tends to discolor, starts to crack and generally don’t look appealing to the end consumer.  Basically, pure soy doesn’t sell as fast.

Best for Wineries - Less Shelf Smell

Scented candles have fragrance oils added to them during the pouring stage.   A well made candle has this scent evenly distributed throughout the wax and candle.    The fragrance is captured in the wax as it cools/dries and should only be released again when the wax is heated.  We have found that a paraffin-soy blend wax holds the oils better than a pure soy candle, which over time will lose its scent, a type of evaporation called cold throw, while waiting on a shelf in a store.  For the latter reason a lot of candles made with pure soy over compensate with more scent oils causing the candle to overpower a store space just sitting on the shelf and evaporating.  The paraffin-soy blend provides a really important benefit for our winery customers who don’t want the tasting room air polluted.

Best for Customers – The Scent Throw

I’ve touched on this in earlier blog post.  Candles 
really should not have an overwhelming scent ever, but especially if they are not lit.  It is the process of heating the fragrance oils that release the scent.  The throw is the ability of the candle to cast its scent broadly.   We’ve found that a paraffin-soy blend works best for this creating a favorable experience for the end user.  We are told often this is why people seek out our candles as repeat purchases.   I’m sure this again is a function of the wax’s ability to hold the fragrance oils in suspension, and paraffin does way better at this than soy.

Don't Judge A Candle By Its Wax

Yes, this was long, but I hope you got to this point and recognize you should not judge our candles off misinformation and assumptions.  If we thought pure soy was better we'd be using it.  We are not in the business to cater to fades or gimmicks, we are in the business to help you make money and for people to have an enjoyable experience with our candles.

If you would like to offer Good Looking, Awesome Smelling and Great Selling candles to your customers please call us at 404.538.4907 or email David@TyParkCandles.com.  We offer many scents, seasonal and regular.

No One Recognizes My Husband. Don't Let That Be Your Wine's Fate

I'd like to be recognized, but the reality of it is, it doesn't happen very often.  The running joke around here is I'm Stephanie's husband.  Why?  Well because more often than not at most social gatherings I wind up getting introduced, or more aptly stated, re-introduced, and the reference is always, "OH, yea! Your Stephanie's husband!"   Later I'll grumble to my lovely, recognized wife, "Really, I've met that person easily a dozen times over the years.  What is the deal?"

"Your brand has to be focused on delivering an emotional image to your consumer"- See more at: SVB Wine Blog

I'm analytical, some call me anal, I prefer to think of myself as deep.  Regardless I'm prone to pull things apart to try to understand the pieces and how they fit together in an effort to understand the whole.  When it comes to not being recognized my assessment of the situation is that I just don't stand out. If a description of me were broadcast on the local news as a guy the police were looking for you'd never find me. Even if a picture of me were displayed briefly I'd still go unnoticed in public, except for those few in my small social group.  I just don't stand out.

Typical wine display.  How do I stand out in the crowd?
How will your wine be recognized? 

My wife, would quickly point out, "Honey, you are recognized by the people that know you.  You just don't know that many people and you don't get out as much as I do.  That's why people know me and not you."  Yea, says her.  The cute brown eyed, red head with a bubbly personality.

Stephanie is right (There ya go honey, it's in writing for all eternity) and this got me to thinking about brand recognition relative to wineries and wines since we work with a lot of wineries but not all yet.  Specifically how can a wine, as my wife would say, "get out and meet more people"?  Actually, pretty much the same as just about any individual, two main ways...One, get introduced by a friend, Two, put yourself in a different social circle.  TyPark Candles help wines maximize both these opportunities.

First, get introduce by your wine's current loyal customers, advocates, disciples, and cheerleaders.  Those are your wine club members, individuals that frequent your tasting room and winery events. So how do you leverage these current "friends" to provide an introduction.  Obviously, it could be simply the sharing of a glass or gifting a bottle of your wine.  Let's assume this is already being done and perhaps exhausted, and are both brief and fleeting.  You want more, so we suggest getting your label in front of your "friend's" friends with a TyPark recycled wine bottle candle.   Your wine bottle converted into a good looking, awesome smelling candle that can be purchased in your gift shop, or given as a sign up or member gratitude gift for your wine club members provides a way for your wine "friends" to display your label in their homes for all to see or gift to their friends, forever placing your label in their homes for more to see. (Like that old commercial, and they tell two friends and so on and so on).  Simple, easy, friendly introductions.

Wine Bottle Candle by +TyPark Candles
featuring G.D. Vajra Rosso

Second, getting your wine into different social circles.  TyPark Candles accomplishes this for you.  Since we sell candles wholesale to home decor and gift boutiques, and various other retail establishments, having your wine bottle in our rotation provides the opportunity to be displayed and sold in local and distant markets.  Now you are getting the exposure that benefits your wine the next time these individuals, from a new social circle, go buy wine.  They will recognize your wine.  Straight forward this is no different than any number of other companies slapping their logo on anything it will fit on.  The more you see it the greater the chance of being remembered.

Having a whole lot of friends might not be your thing, maybe you only need the few you have, but if you are in business you surely want a whole lot more customers.  Your label is the face that people need to remember when they encounter it in a crowd.  Not your name, not your email address or even your logo.  It is your wine's label.  Let TyPark Candles help you get your label out there so more people can see it.

If you would like to offer Good Looking, Awesome Smelling and Great Selling candles to your customers please call us at 404.538.4907 or email David@TyParkCandles.com.  We offer many scents, seasonal and regular.