One would be correct in saying their soy candles "contain organic ingredients", when they contain a minimum of 70% organic ingredients. When it is less than 70% a candle company could rightfully state they are "scented with organic essential oils".  Since soy wax is not organic, soy candles cannot be certified organic, a claim that a soy candle is organic is wrong, misleading and nothing more than a sales pitch -- false advertising and marketing.

Simply ask the company to email you a copy of their Organic Certification.
A company that does have Certified Organics will.

Being able to have the word "organic" on a product label is a valuable marketing advantage in today's consumer market, but does not guarantee the product is legitimately organic. With Organic Soy Candles, it is purely marketing hype and very destructive to the organic industry.

A related concern holds that certification is replacing consumer education,
and this goes against the essential, holistic nature of organic farming.
(source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17595.cfm)

When you come across companies that claim to have Organic Soy Candles, they are not selling Organic Soy Candles, it is not possible. Put them on the spot and ask them for a copy of their certification or why they feel their candles are organic, then move on to companies that honestly market their products.

We have seen where some candle companies are adding organic soy oil to organic vegetable wax, creating a ‘blend’ of organic soy oil and organic wax and advertising Organic Candles. Unless it has actually been certified it is not "Certified Organic". Merely applying for certification means nothing until it is backed by actual certification and so far we have not been able to ascertain that one soy candle company has obtained real-live certification for 'mixing' a candle wax blend, and that because a candle cannot be certified organic.  It's great marketing hype though.

You cannot mix a bunch of organic ingredients and obtain Organic Certification, there is a process that must be adhered to. Mixing, blending, or whatever they claim to do, then claiming they make candles that are Organic is erroneous – the product must be made entirely with "certified organic ingredients and methods", (methods!) to be labeled as "100% Organic". In order to have a true organic candle, you must use “approved methods” and at least 95% organic ingredients; organic wax, organic wicks, organic natural dyes when colored, and organic essential oils when scented.

Simply contact the candle company you are interested in and ask them to email you a copy of their organic certification, and see if you receive a reply.

ORGANIC GUIDELINES ----

Products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled "100% organic", and may also display the USDA organic seal. Products labeled as “100% organic” must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically produced ingredients and processing aids. Any remaining product ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances approved on the National List including specific non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form. Remember, these products labeled "100% organic" may not have been "certified" as organic. 

Products with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the word "organic", and may also display the USDA organic seal, but remember they may not have been "certified" as organic.

Products containing a minimum of 70% organic ingredients can use the phrase “made with organic ingredients” and list up to three of the organic ingredients on the principal display panel.

Products made with less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term organic anywhere on the principal display panel. However, they may identify the specific ingredients that are organically produced on the ingredients statement on the information panel. Processed products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients can list up to three of the organic ingredients.

OTHER LABELING PROVISIONS ----

Any product labeled as organic must identify each organically produced ingredient in the ingredient statement on the information panel. The name of the certifying agent of the final product must be displayed on the information panel. The address of the certifying agent of the final product may be displayed on the information panel.
Penalties for misuse of labels are:  A civil penalty of up to $11,000 can be levied on any person who knowingly sells or labels as organic a product that is not produced and handled in accordance with the National Organic Program’s regulations.

Manipulation of certification regulations as a way to mislead
or outright dupe the public is a very real concern.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/organic_certification)

One illustrative example (below) of this organic product problem is shown right below.
Some of which have been the subject of complaints lodged
with OCA by consumers, and includes the following:

The main cleansing ingredient of a leading liquid soap product labeled “Pure, Natural & Organic” is Sodium Myreth Sulfate, an ingredient made with the petrochemical ethylene oxide, resulting in the inclusion of trace amounts of the carcinogenic substance 1,4 Dioxane. Neither this nor any other cleansing ingredient in the product are actually derived from organic agricultural material, even though natural soaps made from certified organic oils are available and plentiful, and easily enough made under existing USDA NOP regulations.

Currently organic consumers, and producers of truthfully labeled organic personal care products, have no remedy under federal law with respect to these untruthful and misleading practices. They must look to state law remedies and/or efforts to shape alternative private industry standards. 
(source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17595.cfm)

If the brand name of a product includes the term “Organic,” that product should be regarded as being “sold, labeled or represented as ‘100 percent organic,’ ‘organic’ or ‘made with organic (specified ingredient)…’” for purposes of the NOP rules, 7 C.F.R. §205.102. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Certification is to protect consumers from misuse of this abused term, and intended to make buying organics easy.

 

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About OSC

Laws need to change, and the public needs to be
made aware of false advertising.

Companies that falsely label and advertise Organic products to trick customers into believing they are purchasing an actual organic product, are damaging to the integrity of true organics.