Behind the Scenes · 6 min read
If you've ever compared candle prices, you've probably noticed soy wax candles usually cost more than paraffin ones. That's not an accident, and it's not us padding the price for the sake of it. Paraffin is cheaper, easier to work with, and it's what most mass-produced candles are made from. We just don't use it, and we think it's worth explaining why.
What paraffin actually is
Paraffin wax is a by-product of petroleum refining. It's been the standard in candle-making for decades because it's inexpensive, holds fragrance well, and is simple to mould at scale. None of that is a secret, and plenty of candles made from it burn perfectly well.
But paraffin comes from a non-renewable source, and when it burns, it can release more soot than plant-based waxes — which over time can leave a fine black residue on walls, ceilings, and the inside of your favourite mug if you're not careful where you put it.
Why we chose soy instead
Soy wax is made from soybean oil, a renewable crop. It burns cooler and cleaner than paraffin, which means less soot and a more even melt pool — that's the pool of liquid wax that forms around the wick as it burns, and it's what actually releases the fragrance into your room.
A cleaner, more even burn also means our candles tend to last longer for their size. We can't promise an exact number down to the minute (that depends on things like the room, drafts, and how long you burn it each time), but soy's slower burn is one of the reasons our candles are built to be a lingering presence in a room, not a quick hour of scent.
It costs us more, on purpose
Soy wax costs more to buy than paraffin, and it behaves differently when you're hand-pouring in small batches — it's fussier about temperature, and it takes more attention to get a clean, even finish every time. That's exactly why a lot of larger manufacturers skip it.
For us, that trade-off was never really a question. We wanted to make candles we'd be genuinely happy to burn in our own homes, around our own families. Soy wax was simply the only honest choice once we'd decided that.
What this means for you
Practically, it means a few things when you light a Mimari candle:
- A cleaner burn. Less soot means less cleanup, and a candle that doesn't leave a mark on the room it's meant to be filling with something nice.
- A cotton wick, chosen to work properly with soy wax's slower melt, rather than a wick built for paraffin's different burn profile.
- A slower, steadier release of fragrance, rather than a burst that fades fast.
- A renewable source, so the wax itself isn't something we need to feel uneasy about.
None of this is about being precious. It's a genuinely small decision that adds real cost and real effort to every batch we make — and we think it's the kind of thing worth being upfront about, rather than a quiet footnote on an ingredients list.
If you've got a Mimari candle at home, that's the wax you're burning. We hope it's doing its job quietly, the way it's meant to.
Handmade in England, in small batches, by Sharon & Jade.
