Toxic Candles

Candles!

I enjoy using candles. Candles are warming, romantic, inspiring. Relaxing, comforting, symbolic. Burning them conjure different emotional responses for everyone who delights in them. Consumer reports indicate that candles are ‘in’ once again. Perhaps a 70’s revival or a nesting desire in increasingly troubled times.
Yet do we ever think about what it really is that we are burning or inhaling?
Paraffin candles are the most commonly burned candles worldwide. And are the most dangerous to our health.
Paraffin is an inexpensive sludge waste product of the petroleum industry that has been bleached then texturised with acrolyn, a known carcinogenic product. Supposedly an inert substance, if you have much faith in government/industry released information. However, once burned it releases toxins that are known carcinogens such as benzene and toluene which are inhaled and linger in the areas they are burned in. Not to mention the soot that leaves its residue on walls, eventually greying fabrics and ceilings. Soot from paraffin candles contains many of the same toxins found in diesel fuel.
Paraffin candles are as dangerous to the lungs as second-hand smoke and even more so if you are in the habit of burning many at the same time. It is also a non-renewable resource. Ever smell one? They stink.
Supposedly, paraffin for candles is ‘food grade’ – clearly a lie. The problem appears when we burn them. It is no longer recommended to be used in contact with food – remember grandmother sealing the jams with a layer of paraffin? Yes, we survived that era but life was simpler and cleaner then. Today we have to deal with cumulative factors detrimental to our health that never existed before.
Then there is the problem with lead in the wicks. Though lead has not been used since the 70’s in most of Central Europe and the USA, cheaper candles from other countries such as Asia or South America can still be seen on the market. Burning only a few with leaded wicks for 3 hours will increase levels 9 to 11 times over acceptable lead levels.
Gel candles though pretty because of the crystal clearness are likewise petroleum based or made from synthetic hydrocarbons. Think of them as petroleum turned into jelly with a few more added toxins thrown in such as butylated hydroxyl toluene. Pretty, but absolutely not a good idea.
Soy candles are relatively new on the selection palate and began appearing early 90’s. Invented in the USA and made from hydrogenated soy, palm and coconut oils, soy candles burn slower and last about 50% longer than paraffin candles. They burn cooler and have very little soot, and drips are easily cleaned up however, the flame is not considered a ‘warm’ flame. Some feel the ‘magic’ is missing with soy candles. By purchasing soy candles, you are supporting the omnipresent American soy industry which farms mostly genetically manipulated soy. Soy candles lay in price between the cheaper paraffin candles and beeswax candles. Soy tapers may bend at warm room temperatures and are often blended with stearin (stearic acid) a substance derived from animal or vegetable sources to harden them.
Beeswax candles. Ahh…my absolute favourite. Warm and sweet smelling, they symbolize for me a connection to the Earth. Beeswax is a by-product of honey and is made from the ‘caps’ of the honeycomb. These are the most expensive candles, but are price effective as they last up to three times longer than paraffin and twice as long as soy candles. Unlike paraffin, they are from a sustainable source – originating from flowers, fuelled by the sun and processed by bees.
They burn cleanly, don’t drip when properly used and give off negative ions that help concentration and clear the air. They are also non-allergenic and can help soothe the symptoms of hay fever, asthma and allergy sufferers. Natural beeswax candles are commonly golden to amber but can also be found almost black. Ivory coloured candles have gone through a special process to lighten them, which unfortunately weakens the natural honey scent. When purchasing, be certain that the label states 100% beeswax – some countries allow as little as 10% beeswax to still be labelled ‘beeswax’. A ‘blended’ beeswax candle most assuredly has paraffin or stearin.
Natural beeswax candles are a healthy, soothing comfort for us too. They feel warm to the touch, and are simply magical!

Cruelty-free Candles

When the days grow shorter and the dark of night begins its wintry reign, you know the signal to cozy-up your living space and create a nurturing environment has been officially sounded. A key ingredient in this process is the addition of candles. They provide ambience at dinner parties, set the mood for romantic evenings at home, and even play a role in our spiritual lives, giving our personal spaces a warm, peaceful glow. They smell good, look good, and cast a snuggly light that begs for you to whip up a cup of hot cocoa and settle in for the night. Best of all, today's cruelty-free, alternative-wax candles support our desire to live compassionately while keeping the home fires burning with a cozy warmth.
The Joy of Soy (Candles)
Most candles are made with paraffin—a petroleum waste-product. When burned, paraffin releases carcinogenic toxins like benzene and soot into the air, which, in addition to being dangerous for your lungs (and your animal companion's lungs), can settle on furniture and countertops, damaging surfaces. A better bet for a soot-free home is soy. That's right: The mighty soybean that yields so many health benefits also lends itself to candles. Natural soy-wax candles are not only healthier for the environment, but more economical, too, because they burn up to 50-percent longer than their paraffin counterparts.
(Bay)Berry Good
Mother Nature has generously supplied us with another natural source of cruelty-free candle wax in the bayberry. You could call bayberry the "patriotic alternative to paraffin," since colonial Americans were the first to transform the teensy little berry into candle wax. Today, as in the past, bayberry candles enjoy extra popularity around the holidays, when they are burned to bring good luck for the coming year. When scouting for these special candles, be sure the wax consists of pure bayberry (a pleasant, delicate fragrance on its own) and not artificially scented paraffin wax.
Bee-Free
My quest for cruelty-free candles made from renewable resources brought me to an unexpected source: palm wax. Like olive oil, palm wax oil is a "virgin" oil that doesn't require refining—just a bit of filtering and deodorizing. Shaped from the fruit of the oil palm, palm wax candles also burn clean and last longer than those made with paraffin, and are a fabulous alternative to beeswax—the production of which usually involves drug and pesticide treatments, genetic tampering, wing clipping, and the use of manufactured pheromones. There's nothing natural about that.
Once you've made the choice to bring natural-wax candles into your home, be sure any added fragrance is pure, essential oil—otherwise your good intentions will go literally up in smoke as harmful by-products from artificial scents are released into the air.
There is no denying the magic of candlelight. With a little detective work, you can enjoy the beauty and comfort of candles while keeping your home cruelty- and toxin-free.

The History of Candles

Candles today are used to create warmth, scent and ambiance in our homes. There was a time quite long ago when candles were a necessity for lighting the darkness. The first mention of candles in the bible was as early as the 10th century BCE. Clay candle holders found in Egypt date back to 400 BC. The candles were then made from sticking wicks into containers filled with flammable material.
It has also been noted that the ancient Egyptians used rushlights or torches, made by soaking the core of reeds in molten tallow. This type of candle had no wick. It was the Romans who are credited with developing the first wick candle.
The Egyptians and the Roman's gathered tallow from cattle or sheep suet as their main ingredients in candles.
 

Since tallow was cheap and easily available, Tallow candles were widely used for many centuries.
It is said that the Romans used candles during the Saturnalia festival. During the festival, tall papers of wax were offered to Saturn (an angel of God).
The Chinese made candles from whale fat. In India, they used the wax from boiling cinnamon for candles in their temples. Japanese candles were made from extracting wax from nut trees. In the first century AD, the indigenous people from the region between Oregon and Alaska used a fish called the eulachon or "candlefish", which is a type of smelt.
The oil from this fish was used, or a candle could be made by putting the dried fish on a stick and lighting it.
Tallow was still used during the first century AD, however the tallow was smoky and odorous. In the early 1500's the beeswax was introduced as an alternative, however, beeswax was more difficult to obtain. Since beeswax was difficult to obtain and costly, beeswax candles were used almost exclusively by the wealthy, upper class and the Church.
With Christianity becoming more widespread, the custom of placing candles in the window began to be popular. The Irish Christians believed that placing a candle near a window on Christmas Eve would guide the Christ Child as he wondered from house to house. The people of Europe have kept this tradition going.
Early colonial women made their first contribution to candle making by boiling the berries of the bayberry bush to produce a sweet smelling, clean burning wax. This didn't last long, as the task of extracting the wax from the bayberries was tedious and the use of the bayberry candle diminished.
In the 18th century, candle makers began to use sperm whale oil to make candles because it was clean burning and low on odor like beeswax. They also found that it was harder than beeswax and withstood the summer heat better. In the Victorian period, candles were being placed on the Christmas Tree as a symbol of the star which guided the three wise men to the dwelling of Jesus. In 1890 candle holders were used for only one year to hold the candles to the tree. Before that, melted wax was used or the candles were pinned to the tree.
In 1834, Joseph Morgan introduced a candle making machine that used a cylinder with a movable piston that ejected the candles as they hardened. In 1850, paraffin wax was made from oil and coal shales. It was processed by distilling residue after crude petroleum was refined. Paraffin was found to burn clean with no odor, and the cost was very economical. The only threat to paraffins popularity was its low melting point. By the end of the 19th century, stearic acid was being produced and most candles consisted of paraffin and stearic acid. Soon the devastation would begin in the candle industry.
The distillation of kerosene would hurt the candle industry because it made an excellent fuel for lamps. In 1879, the introduction of the light bulb caused the candle making profession to decline until the turn of the century when there was a renewed popularity for candles. Candle making was enhanced during the first half of the 20th century due to the growth of the U.S. oil and meatpacking industries. Several meat packing and oil producing companies also had candle businesses. In 1829, Price's Candles, William Wilson, made candles from coconut oil and later he tried palm oil. In 1854, Williams brother George distilled the first petroleum oil. In 1919, Price's Candles was purchased by Lever Brothers. In 1922, Candles Ltd was created. By 1991, the last remaining owner of Candles ltd was sold off by Shell Oil Company.
Today, candles have become more of a decorative item. Candles are now available in a broad variety of sizes, shapes and colors. During the 1990's a new type of candle wax was being developed due to an unusual demand for candles. Soybean wax, which was softer and slower burning than paraffin, has become popular. Candles are used today to warm our hearts with alluring scents of remembrance and romance. They are also used as symbolic in celebrations. Candles are used in weddings to define ceremony and in our homes to accent decor. Candles are even popular to light paths for outdoor parties.

Making Candles At Home

Candle making crafts are great fun as long as you steer clear of some simple pitfalls. It is very thrilling to decide what form of candle to create and acquiring your supplies. Nevertheless, some people quickly grow to be disappointed and annoyed with the hobby and give up. There are a lot of common problems that novices go through when candle making, many of them have speedy and simple solutions, for this reason it is highly recommended that all novices set out with the fundamental candle making process and stick to it. This offers you the chance to master the fundamentals, and then you can progress to creating the kinds of candles you want to.
A simple tip for making a fantastic candle is to use good quality materials and on the whole candle making materials are reasonably priced. It stands to reason that if you use poor quality wax, then it is rarely going to make high quality candles. It's very important to heat the wax to as close to the recommended temperature as possible. Too high or low temperatures will alter the characteristics of the wax depending on the kind of candle you're making. As an example, if the wax isn't hot enough it won't form correctly; similarly, wax that's too hot loses lustre and won't be as strong after it's cooled.
The length of the wick that you give the candles you make is quite important. Too long and when you lite them they burn a little and then go out, usually filling the room with smoke rather than fragrance. To rectify this simply cut the wick back a little on candles you have already made, then change the wick length for future candles.
Ever had a beautiful looking candle that when lit, the wax melted making a crater in the middle but leaving the outer edges solid,steep sided and unsightly. I have and the cause surprised me, again its because of the wick, this time however its due to the wick being too thin. To get the candle to melt evenly the simple solution is to make the candle with the width of the wick determined by the breadth of the candle. Any candles already made are a problem unless you melt them to rescue the wax and for future candles buy the right wick as described earlier or you could even braid 2 or 3 thinner wicks into a wider one.
Cooling the candles is another area of anxiety for many beginners. The cooling process must not be rushed under any circumstances or you run the risk of damaging the strength of the finished candle. Trying to make the candle cool quicker could cause bubbles to form in the middle and on top of the candle. Whilst it isn't a physical defect, as the wax melts it's able to enter the bubbles when the candle is lit causing the wick to extinguish. Candles ought to cool down in a place where they won't be moved until entirely cool. This area must be level and out of the path of direct sunlight. Its also advisable to ensure the cooling area is not in the vicinity of cooling or heating vents.
If when making jar candles you notice the wax pulling away from the jar then heating the jars in a microwave or oven for one or two minutes before filling them will help the melted wax stick to the jar correctly with a really smooth look around the jar.
Candle making for beginners is more successful when the basic rules and guidelines are followed, it also makes it more enjoyable and easier. Beginners should not be afraid to experiment with making different types of candle. Because materials can be expensive, when mistakes do happen, it is easy to melt the candle and recover the wax so that you can then simply make another. With this in mind it is always a good idea, when starting out, to make only a few candles at a time. The experience gained in this way is invaluable and enables you the confidence to working with other waxes and making better and better candles.

Woodwick Candles

Scents and sounds of special memories of time spent with loved ones can evoke your feelings of love. Whether your memories are of a fabulous mountain camping trip, an exotic beach vacation, or simple evenings spent at home, these are the memories that we cherish forever.
When something reminds us of these special moments we are able to relive them in our minds. Nothing fills our hearts with a warm glow like knowing that the person we shared these special times with also remembers them as well. You can show a person you love how much you cherish these memories with a woodwick candle.
Not only can woodwick candles bring the scents of these treasured locations to your home, but they can also imitate the sound of a crackling fire. These candles can make you feel like you’re surrounded by the serenity of a romantic evening spent by a fire or take you back in time. These candles are special because of their wonderful scents and wicks.
Woodwick candles are made with a unique wood wick that sounds just like a crackling fire when it’s lit. Whether you long for the comfort of a crackling fire on a chilly winter night or want to create a perfectly romantic atmosphere, the sound woodwick candles give off create the illusion you desire. The sound can arouse wonder memories or may be just what’s needed to create new one.
There are a variety of scents available to choose from. Their Biscotti or Anjou Apple scented candles can bring back the memories of treasured holidays filled with wonderful smells coming from the kitchen and lots of love and laughter. Perhaps the Mountain Stream woodwick candle can take you back to the spectacular weekend you spent in the mountains. Choose the Tradewind scent if you want to remember the fabulous beach vacation you enjoyed.
While these candles are great for recalling cherished memories, that’s not all they’re good for. They are perfect for creating new memories of romantic evenings spent with a loved one when the kids are out of the house or to create a soothing, relaxing atmosphere to unwind in after a hard day at work.
Gifting a woodwick candle tells the recipient that you care about them and their comfort and are thinking of the memories you share. Woodwick candles are the best smelling and sounding candles available and will be loved by anyone that receives them. They are literally a gift of love in a jar.

Candle fire

Candles provide great warmth and ambiance to any home. It is easy to forget that such a calming artifact is an open flame that can reach 1,400 °C. Most candle fires begin in the bedroom – with a mattress or bedding cited as the first item to ignite – except during the holidays, when more people use candles precariously too close to decorations. Furniture and plastics are also cited as the first items in the home to catch fire from a lit candle.

Statistics reveal that the most common causes of fire are:
• Leaving candles unattended.
• Falling asleep while a candle is lit.
• Using candles for light.
• Candles located too close to burnable objects.
• Candles knocked over by children, pets or sudden drafts.

Safety Tips:
• Extinguish candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep lit candles away from items that can catch fire such as toys,clothing, books, curtains, Christmas trees and paper decorations.
• Place candles in sturdy, burn-resistant containers that won’t tip over and are big enough to collect dripping wax.
• Don’t place lit candles near windows, where blinds or curtains may close or blow over them.
• Don’t use candles in high traffic areas where children or pets could knock them over.
• Never let candles burn out completely. Extinguish them when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material.
• Never leave children or pets alone in a room with lit candles.
• Do not allow older children to light candles in their bedrooms. A forgotten candle or an accident is all it takes to start a fire.
• During power outages, exercise caution when using candles as a light source. Many destructive fires start when potential fire hazards go unnoticed in the dark.
• Never use a candle for light when fuelling equipment such as a camp fuel heater or lantern.
• Keep candle wicks short at all times. Trim the wick to one-quarter inch (6.4 mm).
• Be wary of buying novelty candles.
Avoid candles surrounded by flammable paint, paper, dried flowers, or breakable/meltable containers.
• Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they burn to within two inches of the holder, and container candles before the last half-inch of wax begins to melt.
• When buying or using novelty candles, try to determine if they pose a potential fire hazard (if they contain a combustible component for instance). If they do, or if you suspect that they might, inform your local fire department.
• Use extreme caution when carrying a lit candle, holding it well away from your clothes and any
combustibles that may be along your path.

The Law:
• There are no legal standards or regulations for candles, including their make, design, safety features, location or use.
• Candles are not tested by a testing agency for safety before they are put on the market for you to buy

Beeswax candles

Beeswax is healthy stuff. It's an all natural substance with some amazing properties, and it smells divine. By contrast, paraffin candles are petroleum products burning a paraffin candle to set the mood for a romantic dinner is like running a small diesel engine on your dining room table. The fumes are noxious, and the chemical perfumes that manufacturers use to mask the smell of the exhaust can be downright toxic.
Honeybees make and use beeswax to construct their hive's honeycombs in each cell they raise their young and store nectar, honey and pollen. Secreted from a number of abdominal glands on the underside of a worker bee, beeswax has a natural sweet smell and is both smokeless and dripless two qualities not found together in any other animal or mineral wax.
Beeswax also has a much higher melting point (approx. 145 degrees Fahrenheit) than any other wax, which means that 100% pure beeswax candles burn slower and last a lot longer than ordinary candles. An eight inch tall, four inch wide single wick pillar, which weighs just over two pounds, will burn for almost three days straight. No other commercially available wax even comes close to that burn time.
And here's why it's so healthy - Beeswax actually cleans the air as it burns. Candles made of pure beeswax have well documented anti-allergic properties. Are you bothered by tree pollen or weed pollen, or mold spores, or dust? These nefarious particles are positively charged and conduct static electricity. Allergy sufferers are encouraged to close the windows of their house and light a pure beeswax candle. The all-natural wax emits negatively charged vapors that will IONIZE the air. Burning beeswax candles liberates the air of positively charged allergens as it emits negatively charged vapors into the atmosphere. Try it it works!
Beeswax candles are preferred in most Eastern Orthodox churches because they burn cleanly, with little or no wax dripping down the sides and little visible smoke. Beeswax is also prescribed as the primary material for the Paschal candle (the Easter Candle) and is recommended for other candles used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Beeswax may cost a little more, but these candles are healthy and worth the extra money.

About Candles

A candle is a light source usually consisting of an internal wick which rises through the center of a column of solid fuel. Typically the fuel is some form of wax with paraffin wax being the most common. Prior to the candle being ignited, the wick is saturated with the fuel in its solid form. The heat of the match or other flame being used to light the candle first melts and then vaporizes a small amount of the fuel. Once vaporized, the fuel combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to form a flame. This flame then provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning via a self-sustaining chain of events: the heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel, the liquefied fuel then moves upward through the wick via capillary action, and the liquefied fuel is then vaporized to burn within the candle's flame. The burning of the fuel takes place in several distinct regions (as evidenced by the various colors that can be seen within the candle's flame). Within the bluer, hotter regions, hydrogen is being separated from the fuel and burned to form water vapor. The brighter, yellower part of the flame is the remaining carbon soot being oxidized to form carbon dioxide.
As the mass of the solid fuel is melted and consumed, the candle grows shorter. Portions of the wick that are not evaporating the liquid fuel are themselves consumed in the flame, limiting the exposed length of the wick.
Usage Prior to the domestication of electricity, candles were a common source of lighting, before, and later in addition to, the oil lamp. Due to local availability and the cost of resources, for several centuries up to the 19th century candles were more common in northern Europe, and olive oil lamps more common in southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. Makers of candles were known as chandlers.
Today, candles are usually used for their aesthetic value, particularly to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambience, and for emergency lighting during electrical power failures. Scented candles are common in aromatherapy. Small candles are often placed on birthday cakes.
Religion Candles are used in religious ceremonies.
Christianity In Christianity, they typically represent the light of Jesus, and are often placed on the altar. Votive candles may be lit as an accompaniment to prayer. Candles are lit by worshippers in front of icons in Orthodox and other churches.
Candlemas marks the end of the season of Epiphany. Candles were traditionally used to light up Christmas trees before the advent of electric lights. They are still, even today, commonly used to decorate Christmas trees in Denmark and other European countries. They are also used in Advent wreaths.
In Sweden (and other Scandinavian countries), St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13 with the crowning of a young girl with a ring of candles.
Judaism In Judaism, candles are traditionally lit on Friday evening at the start of the weekly Sabbath celebration. The Jewish holiday of Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by lighting a candle in a special candelabrum (menorah) each night during the eight-day holiday to commemorate the dedication of the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. Candles are also used in remembering a deceased loved one, especially on Yom HaShoah, The Day of the Holocaust.
Kwanzaa Candles are also used in celebrations of Kwanzaa, which is an African American holiday, which runs from December 26 to January 1.

Canning Jar Candles

Canning jar candles are very easy to make, make great gifts, and are only limited by your imagination!
To start all you need are some narrow-mouth canning jars, wire ribbon, potpourri, votive candles, small glass votive candle holders, and craft glue or a hot glue gun.
If you don't have any old canning jars, you can find some very inexpensively at thrift stores and yard sales. Wire ribbon can be a little expensive. Look for it at yard sales and at craft store clearance sales. The after-Christmas sales a great time to stock up. One roll of ribbon will make several canning jar candles. Potpourri you can make yourself or buy on sale. Votive candles are inexpensive at stores like Target or Walmart, and you can also find glass votive candle holders very inexpensively at Walmart. You want one that will set in the rim of the canning jar.


You can fill the canning jar with whatever you wish. Potpourri is one of the easiest fillers. I bought a nice autumn-scented potpourri and added some orange slices I'd dried in my food dehydrator. You can also add dried cranberries, apple slices, or cinnamon sticks.
After you fill the jar, you set the candle holder inside the mouth of the jar. The top of the candle holder should be even with the top of the jar. You might have a little trial and error before you find just the right candle holder. Place the candle in the holder and then use the ribbon to tie a big bow around the neck of the jar. That's it! (You might want to use a little craft glue or your glue gun to tack the ribbon in place).
You can glue some dried fruit, flowers, or other decorations on the bow for a more decorative look. You can also put other things in the jar besides potpourri. I've seen one half filled with white sugar with a short white taper candle set down in the sugar. Very pretty! And that one doesn't require the candle holder.
At Christmas you can purchase small ornaments and place them in the jar instead of the potpourri. Any small figurine would doin the spring you could use little bunnies.
Maybe fill a jar with marbles or layers of colored sand. Even pennies! Use your imagination. These candles make great gifts and are also fun to make for yourself. If you get tired of one just empty it out and start again!

Soy Candles

With the much unpolluted and natural eco era well underway it’s important to become conscious of the many eco friendly alternatives that we can benefit from. In fact there are various applications ranging from solar panels to soy candles.

We as a people hold possession of the influence to revolutionize the future by being a positive influence and setting examples for individuals not aware of Eco Friendly benefits. It simply takes one decision at this time to alter generations. With exceptional utilization of Eco Friendly benefits which are here and available at this time if we desire to acknowledge them we are very much capable of achieving our green planet one step at a time.One in particular trend becoming more accepted and well-liked by candle enthusiasts all over the globe is soy wax Candles.
Soy Wax is prepared right here in the U.S.A. In the beginning soy beans are harvested, after that they are pressed and the oil is separated from the soy bean. Finally the oil is heated to 140-220 degrees C. This will cause hydrogenation to take place resulting in soy wax.
Only a handful of people know the benefits of soy candles considering that they were only invented in 1992. They make up a small percentage of sales compared to paraffin wax. Only a few people know what is in the candles they burn. For instance Paraffin candles are proven to emit toxins into the air and are made from oil byproducts. Soy candles are made from an all natural renewable energy source created. Thus it is fair to say the majority of us don’t glance at the ingredients in the foods we eat on a daily basis. Simply put if we are educated about how our everyday choices affect our health and our planet we can as a result make superior educated choices.
Soy wax candles have other enormous benefits too including easy clean up with soap and water due to the creamy consistency of the soy wax, plus it can be rubbed into your skin as lotion. Soy candles also burn cooler and can last 50 percent longer than paraffin. Soy also supports U.S. farmers seeing that practically all soy is produced right here on our farmland, in addition aiding our economy.
In summary of this article I hope you have a new perspective on soy candles and the better-quality eco friendly qualities and health benefits soy wax candles offer us. I hope this article has inspired some of you to strive for better alternatives to perk up our planet and living situations. From burning natural soy candles to using solar panels to run your appliances, it all equals progress. It’s imperative to realize we all need to look to the future and start setting examples just like our American farmers who produce our world’s soy beans and changed the way we look at soy candles and the hundreds of other products that come from all natural soy. So as a goal make an effort to seek out a new eco friendly substitute for one of your old traditional ways of life. As a result you will have helped yourself, helped the eco system, feel great, maybe even impress yourself or your neighbors, but most importantly, you made the right choice.

Scented Candles

When buying scented candles you are more then likely searching for a candle that has a noticeable aroma. Richly scented candles provide that aroma and in most cases can be used indoors as well as out. This is why richly scented candles have become so popular. Consumers are looking for a candle that can be used no matter what environment they are in. Whatever your scent preference is, you will want to purchase a richly scented candle to permeate an area.
Richly scented candles can be found in a variety of different scents. The different scents are plentiful and can range from home baked fragrances to the outdoor fragrances. These wonderful fragrances can change the mood or tone of any room or environment. Another great benefit about richly scented candles is that they do not have to be lit to give off an aroma. They have a strong scent the minute you open them, therefore leaving them out even when not lit can bring a great scent to any environment.
Not only can richly scented candles enhance a room with a great aroma, but they also serve as an odor eliminator. Richly scented candles are top picks for anyone who smokes, has pets, or just has a general need to remove odors in any environment. With richly scented candles many times they will remove the odor instead of masking it. Also, the aroma will stay within a room long after the candle is put out.
Richly scented candles are made from paraffin wax while others can be made from soy or other candle making products. There are many arguments about the quality of burning of richly scented candles verses others. The arguments range from safety to quality.
As far as safety goes there may be some candles out there that may provide an element of safety. However arguments regarding candle safety at times go too far because with any candle you are dealing with scents and fire. In regards to quality, candles that burn evenly, and leave little residue are good quality and can be found when seeking out richly scented candles.
A final great benefit of some richly scented candles is that you can find some great ones and they are reasonably priced. In todays world finding quality for the money you spend is always a priority. When candle shopping, you can run into cheap candles that, although light up a room, may not be pleasing to the senses or burn long enough to justify their price. Being able to purchase a candle that burns cleaner and last longer at an equal to or similar price as others on the market is one huge reason to go with richly scented candles over any other.

A romantic evening by candle light

These are essential in setting the mood, go through your pantry and pull out all the candles you can find. If you're all out, a cheap and effective solution can found at your local dollar store. The quality is nearly the same as you'd find anywhere else, at a tenth of the price. Tea lamps in bulk can be an amazing effect, although they tend to burn out fast. I suggest a mix, a few tall candles at the dining table and tea lamps spread out throughout the room. Avoid scented candles as they interfere with the aroma of your meal.

Floating candles

Floating candles are candles which are designed to float in water. They are molded with oversized tops and small bottoms so that they will remain stable as they burn, rather than tipping, listing, or inverting themselves. Many candle stores sell floating candles, and they can also be ordered directly from candle manufacturers or made at home, by purchasing block wax, melting it, and pouring it into molds which are suitable for floating candles.
There are a number of uses for these decorative candles. At outdoor parties with pools, floating candles can be scattered across the pool to create an interesting visual effect, and to alert guests to the presence of the water. A floating candle centerpiece can be used at the dinner table, with the candles suspended in a large dish of water, and floating candles can also be added to water features in the garden, large bowls outdoors and around the house, and any other environment where there is water.
One major advantage to floating candles is that they carry few safety risks, as long as flammable materials are kept away from the sides of the water so that the candles do not accidentally set something alight if they drift against the edges. When floating candles burn down, they eventually sink and extinguish themselves. When materials like flowers are floated along with the candles, these materials are usually too waterlogged to catch fire, making a floating candle arrangement reasonably safe when compared to ordinary displays of candles.
Many floating candles are very small, like tealight candles or small votive candles. It is also possible to purchase floating candle holders which can be used to display tealights or small tapers, along with other types of candles. One issue with floating candles is that they can burn out within a few hours, so it is important to keep an eye on the display and refresh it as candles go out.
A variety of wax colors can be used for floating candles. White is classic, and very common, but for themed centerpieces or visual variation, dyed wax candles can be used, and it is also possible to find dipped candles which display a rainbow of colors as they burn down. Scented candles can also be utilized, although they are not recommended for pools or garden water features, since the oils used to create the scent will leach out and make a mess in the water.

Aromatherapy Soy Candles

Aromatherapy is therapy that uses scents to relieve physical and mental stress. There are a multitude of ways to practice aromatherapy. Burning incense is one method, but your scents can be limited with them. One of the best methods is aromatherapy candles. But what brand of candles is the best overall? The best bang for your buck, health and environment are aromatherapy soy candles. To understand why, it is necessary to go over the three major types of candle wax and compare their positive and negative attributes.
The three types of candle wax are paraffin, beeswax and soy. Paraffin is actually the worst wax for your health. While it is cheaper than beeswax, it is petroleum-based and is conducive towards indoor air pollution. Burning these for health can actually be quite oxymoronic in that the pollutants they release when burned, such as benzene and toluene, can be harmful to your health. Aromatherapy soy candles have no toxic output at all. Another downfall of paraffin compared to other waxes is that it has very little biodegradable capability. This can mean more to go in the landfills and less benefit for the earth.
Beeswax is a much better health alternative. It is generally all natural and releases no toxic byproducts into the air. However, there is one disadvantage; these candles may not harm your health but they can empty your pocket. Being all natural candles made from beeswax, which must be farmed from bees, it makes the price the highest of all three waxes. If you were to buy a pound of beeswax, it would be around 12 dollars. On the other hand, a pound of soy wax chips is around 2 dollars. This means you are paying approximately 10 dollars more for a scented beeswax candle when you could simply buy an aromatherapy soy candle with the same health benefits.
Aromatherapy soy candles are the best brands on the market for many reasons. For one, soy is a completely renewable resource. Also used for many other purposes, soy is one of the most innovative natural resources we have and even adds nitrogen to the soil while growing. For this reason, the Chinese have used it in crop rotation for the past 5000 years. This also attributes to how it is so plentiful and easy to grow. However in 1992 Michael Richards created yet another use for this incredible bean; soy wax, which is now used to make aromatherapy soy candles.
Burning these candles not only gives off no pollutants, but also creates 90 percent less soot than a candle made of paraffin wax. Aromatherapy soy candles are not only cheaper than - and just as healthy as - beeswax, they also last 50 percent longer than a paraffin candle. This is due to the fact that soy wax has a lower melting point than most. The essential oils evaporate their scent into the air when the wax is in a liquid state. Due to the fact that the wax liquidates much faster, it can emit more scent with less burning time.
With all of the great advantages of soy wax compared to other waxes, it seems crazy to buy anything else. Aromatherapy soy candles are a great way to take away the physical and mental stress from your life.