More than a decade ago, whilst living in the depths of the jungles in Hawaii, I came across an article describing how soybean oil was being harvested to make soybean oil candles in the USA. The article trumpeted their longer burning qualities and the renewable and ‘green’ friendly advantages of soy candles. As a by-product of soybean agriculture, the article noted, soy candles are completely natural without any synthetic additives or petroleum materials such as paraffin wax. Of course this information immediately caught my attention, particularly because my father, Rob, and his wife, Ann, owned and ran a candle manufacturing company on the east coast of the USA, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, called Candle Creations.

The humble soybean, source of the oil for our candles

I called my father and told him about the article. And so he began extensive research into the new and emerging soy-candle industry in the USA, with an interest in possibly adding soycandles to his already extensive range of candles. Rob and Ann visited many sites around the country searching for a soybean oil manufacturer with integrity that produced the perfect soybean oil of the highest quality. They sampled every type and grade of soy wax they could get their hands on. Through months of testing and experimentations in their factory, they discovered a significant discrepancy in the qualities of the many samples of soybean oil collected. Many were from Genetically Modified crops, and often some suppliers would blend the soy with other ‘additives’ to influence the burn. But this was then no longer pure soy. Rob and Ann continued to search for, and to test the best samples they found with various wicks and containers until they were finally satisfied that they had created a high quality product that burned beautifully and  optimally. What happened next was that their company boomed amid the launch of their soy candles and their factory could barely keep up with demand!

But there was an extra ‘facet’, a unique quality to their soy candles that have set them apart from others ever since. During the research phase, Rob formed an experimental collaboration with his soy supplier. Given the naturally high content of Vitamin E and Lecithin in soybean oil, the intention of this collaboration was to formulate a pure and clean soy oil wax that was able to be applied to a person’s skin without being excessively oil. The success of this collaboration resulted in a soy candle that not only burned beautifully, but one that felt warm, smooth and creamy and was easily absorbed when applied to the skin, without any ‘waxy’ residue. It took years before any other soy candle manufactures tried to emulate this concept, none with any significant success. In my fathers’ office lies a file full of letters and responses from satisfied customers explaining how their soy candles have helped them treat all kinds of skin ailments by applying the warm, melted soy oil onto affected areas. There is even one letter written on behalf of a dog, ‘Teddy’, who’s cracked paws were healed by the soy candles after trying everything else in vain.

And so it was, upon returning to South Africa more that two years ago, that I decided to pick up on the momentum created by Rob and Ann in the USA and start a soy candle manufacturing company here in South Africa with my partner, Nicole. Soylights was born in 2007. We access the best quality raw soy materials and the latest information in developments in the natural candle industry from the USA through Rob and Ann. However, our commitment is to craft a soy candle that is influenced by our African roots. All our packaging materials, glass and metal containers, essential oils and other related extras are locally sourced where possible.

We intend to continue producing and developing the best quality, locally influenced natural candles and products for many years to come.

 Regards

Colin and Nicole