You don’t have to sacrifice style to live a sustainable life and create the perfect ambiance
Sógia Candles are about refined design coupled with a passion for the planet. Their motto is you don’t have to sacrifice style to live a sustainable life and to create the perfect ambiance.
Each candle is handcrafted locally in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Sógia’s tasteful eco-friendly candles are made from reclaimed glass bottles filled with all-natural soy wax and organic hemp wicks, and come with a sustainable cork coaster. They are made in small batches and each candle is truly unique.
Sógia partners with local restaurants and bars like Sfizi in Falls Church, Nostos and Bonaroti in Vienna to collect bottles that would otherwise be discarded, which are transformed into something naturally beautiful.
We sat down with the founder of Sógia Candles to find out more about the business.
Why did you start Sógia Candles?
After realizing that Fairfax County doesn’t recycle glass any longer I felt bad about just trashing used glass items. Since the majority of the glass was wine and beer bottles I thought of a way to reuse them by making soy candles.
As it turns out, every year, more than 28 billion glass bottles and jars end up in landfills. It can take a glass bottle one million years to decompose in the environment, possibly even more if it’s in a landfill. We know we’re not going to make a significant dent but every little bit counts and a greener home-ware choice seemed like a good idea.
The great thing about our candles is they can be recycled even further. Soy wax is easily cleaned out with warm soapy water and our glass containers can be reused for all sorts of things…plant pots, pen holders, or we can refill it for another candle.
We also have an endless supply of containers—everyone is so kind to provide their empties.
Why are Sógia Candles Unscented?
Our candles are purposely unscented because they’re intended for use while dining and in the kitchen. We want the aromas of your food to be the focus of your enjoyment and the candles to provide the ambiance and atmosphere. There are so many candles out there but we didn’t find many sustainable ones that were fragrance free.
Another, more personal reason, is an allergic reaction to fragrance. I really enjoy candles but the severe headaches I get from scented candles is unbearable. I also thought it’s the safest bet when buying a gift, you don’t have to guess at someone’s preference when you give an unscented candle.
Why did you choose 100% soy wax for your candles?
There are several reasons why we chose soy wax for our candle—primarily because it’s an eco-friendly, renewable resource that’s totally sustainable. After looking into the various wax types it’s the best environmental choice. We all have to do our part to save the earth one day at a time and this seemed like a small way to start.
Also, soy candles burn cleanly with no petro-carbon soot. The ‘black film’ on jar candles is the soot emitted by paraffin wax which is a petroleum by-product. Toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes and are linked to asthma and lung cancer.
Environmentally, the impact of paraffin should also be mentioned—crude oil, the origin of paraffin wax, is highly unsustainable and a non-renewable resource. It’s been the cause of many environmental issues as in oil spills, damage of natural habitats, and climate change.
What are The Benefits of Soy Wax?
After looking into the various types of wax we decided on soy for the following reasons:
Sustainable/Eco-Friendly—Soy wax is derived from soy beans which are a natural, renewable resource. Our soy wax comes from US farms.
Biodegradable—Soy wax is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It also cleans easily with soap and water.
Non-Toxic—Soy wax is a bright clean burning wax where paraffin wax candles are derived from petroleum, a refined gasoline product that emits cancerous toxins. Paraffin is also an unsustainable and nonrenewable resource.
Longer Burning—Because soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin wax, soy candles burn slower and longer than paraffin candles.
What’s next for Sógia Candles?
We currently sell our candles online at www.SogiaCandles.com but we’re looking into partnering with local shops and restaurants to carry/use our candles. We’re also looking at local wineries for private labeling opportunities – making it easy for customers to remember their great wines.
Each Sógia Candle comes in an elegant recycled kraft box with a sustainable cork coaster—ready for gift giving. Plus, you’ll not only be supporting a small local business but more importantly supporting a sustainable and renewable environment.
