Soy Candles

Soy wax is relatively a new market.  It was in 1991 that is came into being.  A man by the name of Michael Richards developed soy wax in the search for a cheaper alternative for beeswax.  Beeswax is ten times more expensive than paraffin, and there is a big demand for candles made from natural wax.  He tested a variety of different natural plant waxes and found one made from partially hydrogenated soy oil, coconut oil and palm oil.  He also made a blend of beeswax and soy wax to usher in an economical natural wax candle.

In 1995 a national chain of stores called the Body Shop offered soy candles for purchase to the general public.  The very first natural wax candles were a blend of beeswax and almond oil but later the almond oil was replaced with soy wax.  Michael was able to replace the beeswax with soy wax in 1996.  He developed soy wax mixtures for container candles as well as free standing candles.  Free standing candles need a higher melting point so their blend must be different.  Candleworks, a soy wax producer, in 1997 did a research project with UNI in Iowa: the results being a study of ” Increasing the use of soybeans in the manufacturing of candles.”  In 1998, at the Farm Progress Show a special patented soy wax was introduced by the Indiana Soybean Board.  It was called “Harvest Lights” developed by a farmer funded group.  Much research has been done since 1999 to prove the benefits of using soy wax which has resulted in two scientific publications: Hydrogenated vegetable oils as candle wax and Combustion characteristics of candles made from hydrogenated soybean oil, both by Rezaei K T Wang and L A Johnson.  Cargill, in 2001, bought the patent of soy wax from Michael Richards.  It now manufactures soybean wax and supplies it to soy wax candle producers.

These safety soy candle tips have been recommended by the National Candle Association.  While candles have been used and enjoyed for many decades in areas of romance, aromas, memories, etc. they can be dangerous.  Fires can happen if the consumer doesn’t take safety precautions when burning any type of candle.  The majority of fire incidents with candles are due to not paying attention to basic fire safety and/or misuse of candles.  This is what the national fire safety agencies are reporting.

Here are a list of fire safety measures to be aware of when burning any type of candle.

• Keep the burning candle in line of sight.  Never leave it burning if exiting the room or when going to bed.  Almost 40% of home candle fires were due to inadequate control, abandonment, or leaving them unattended.
• When burning a candle, be sure to check the environment for items that can catch fire.  Never burn a candle by any of these items!  Items like furniture, drapes, carpets, bedding, books and papers, flammable decor, etc.  Almost 20% or home candle fires were due to this situation happening.
• Be sure to keep candles away from, out of reach of, pets and children!  Check the placement of your burning candle.  Are they safely out of reach?
• Your candle-holder must be designed specifically for that candle.  It needs to be heat resistant and large enough to catch dripping wax.  Be sure the candle-holder is securely placed on a heat resistant surface that is stable.
• Drafts can cause items to blow into your burning candle and cause a fire.  Ceiling fans cause drafts.  Also drafts can cause uneven burning, smoking or excessive dripping of hot wax from your candle.
• Burn your candle in a well ventilated room and don’t burn it longer than the manufacturer recommendation.
• Keep the wax pool clear of any debris like: matches and wick trimmings.
• Each time before burning, trim the wick to 1/4 inch.  Long or crooked wicks can cause dripping of hot wax, smoking and soot, and uneven burning.
• Discontinue use of a candle when 2 inches of wax remains, 1/2 inch if the candle is in a container.  This prevents heat damage to the surface your candle is on and prevents breakage of the glass container.
• When the candle wax is in liquid form it is hot, so don’t move the votive, pillar or hot candle container.  Let it cool first!
• If using more than one candle at a time, place them at least 3 inches apart.  Then they won’t melt each other or cause their own drafts, causing them to burn improperly.
• To prevent wax from splattering, instead of blowing it out, try using a candle snuffer.  Don’t use water to put your flame out!  It can cause the hot wax to splatter and glass containers to break.
• During a power outage, candles are not the best source of safe light.  Flashlights are much safer.
• When searching a small space for items and there is no light, candles are not the best choice.  The space is small and the flame can easily ignite items.  Again a flashlight is a better choice.
• When trying to get a lantern or kerosene heater filled with fuel, never use a candle for your light source. 

These are just some of the candle safety tips to follow.  All of them are based on common sense.  When using anything that can be a potential fire hazard, think safety first and pleasure second.  Soy candles can bring much enjoyment into your life if used properly.

Verbena is a plant that can be grown as a perennial in frost free climates or as an annual otherwise.  They include herbs, shrubs and trees, can be wild or cultivated, and some which have fragrant showy flowers.  Some have leaves that are used in culinary methods.  The ones that grow in the U.S. are wild members called vervains.  They grow without much fuss if you do three things to help promote their growth: pick off the faded blooms called deadheading, fertilize once a year but wait till they are established and growing, and water often when first planted then only when very dry.  The plants grow in clumps and can reach heights of 6-10 inches.  The flowers can be pink, mauve, white, apricot, red, or purple and are very tiny, 5 petaled.  Verbena can be found in garden centers for purchase but are easy to grow from seeds.  It is popular in hanging baskets and in rock gardens and for edging, also in window boxes.  They do need 8-10 hours of direct sunlight and well drained soil.  A potential problem if they do not have these two things is powdery mildew.  Then the spider mites and thrips might also become a problem.  So be sure to offer plenty of sun and keep the soil well drained.  Verbena is a favorite in butterfly gardens, since it grows non-stop for several weeks. 

Verbena has a history behind it.  It has been associated with supernatural and divine forces.  In Ancient Egypt it was called “tears of Isis” and later ” Juno’s tears”.  Ancient Greece dedicated it to Eos Erigineia.  Even in the early Christian era, it was given to folk legend that Common Vervain was used on Jesus wounds after removal from the cross, then became called the “Holy Herb” or “Devil’s bane.  Then there is the legend that when mixed with a herbal tea and by keeping it near you it will protect you from vampires.  The flowers are engraved on Italian charms and is used in the preparation of a mandragora charm outlined in the ”The History and Practice of Magic” 1870 by Paul Christian.

Lemon verbena also known as citronalis has a lemony flavor and scent.  It is sometimes called verbena but is actually from a different plant.  Cultivated verbenas and lemon verbanas are used in tisanes.  These are tea like drinks in which herbs, flowers, or leaves are steeped.  You can find tea bags with verbena or vervain in them in health food stores.  Parts of these plants are distilled to create oils or used in condiments.  Verbena also has aroma-therapeutic uses.  Lemon verbena is believed to be a calming and sedative herb, and when combined with lavender and clary sage in a relaxing blend of essential oils can be used in massage. 

You can find the fragrance of verbena in soy candles and fill your home with that same aroma-therapeutic pleasure.  Verbena can bring calm and peace to your home this Christmas season in the fragrances of Verbena Berry Soy Candle, Coconut Lime Verbena Soy Candle, Soy Votive Candles in these same fragrances, Fragrance Oils in these same fragrances and Start Me Up Gourmet Body Massage Soy Candle.  Have a blessed holiday season!  

When candles are burned they release pollutants.  Combustion creates an assortment of chemical compounds.  There are worse contributors of environmental pollutants than candles however, like open fireplaces, cars, unclean power plants, dirty manufacturing processes, and many more.  Because candles release a much smaller amount of pollutants, you can put them on the bottom of your environmental awareness list.

Some candles are worse with releasing pollutants-than others and if you are thinking of going green you should give soy candles, beeswax or vegetable based candles a try.  The traditional paraffin candles do emit more pollutants.  The ways that burning candles are bad for the environment are due to the byproducts produced when they are combusted.  One byproduct is carbon dioxide.  Paraffin is a petroleum product, a nonrenewable resource, and adds to the pollution through oil spills and issues associated with the process of oil extraction.  Candles produce soot, which is a particulate material that can cause lung irritation.  However soy candles produce very little soot, making them an excellent alternative in the green awareness.  Also the wick can be an issue with burning candles.  Be sure to purchase candles with natural cotton wicks.  Some wicks have zinc and lead as additives, when burned releasing harmful gases.  Even though lead wicks are banned in some parts of the world it is hard to enforce.  Be sure and check the label before buying your candles.  Then think of the wrapping your candle is packaged in.  Is it biodegradable wrapping?  Also the container you candle comes in, is it reusable?   

Our soy candles are made with all natural cotton wicks and have no lead or zinc.  The containers are easily reusable.  The nice thing about soy wax is that it cleans up with just soap and water, making the container environmentally friendly.  Enjoy the holidays with our scented natural soy wax candles.  They come in various reusable containers and sizes, as well as pillar soy candles, soy votives, body massage soy candles, wood wick soy candles and aromatherapy soy candles.  They make great gifts for the hard to buy for person on you holiday shopping list!  

Soy is not a magic ingredient and soy candles if not handled properly can still pose a fire hazard.  If you are looking for an environmentally sound candle, a soy candle is an excellent choice.  Soy candles are made from natural soy wax which is a derivative of soy, developed in the early 1990’s.  Soy has an advantage over paraffin, a petroleum product, as soy is a renewable resource.  Soy wax is also cheaper than beeswax.  Beeswax is another all-natural wax alternative.  Soy doesn’t have a rich natural fragrance but it can be used as a carrier medium for essential oils.  By using soy with essential oils you can create scented soy candles.

Soy candles are non-toxic and produce much less soot than many other candles.  If you have pets or children then soy candles are a good choice for the above reasons.  Soy candle wax is easier to clean up than other waxes, just use soap and water.  Soy candles are more expensive than paraffin, but they have a longer burn life thus out weighing their cost.  Soy candles are however cheaper than beeswax candles, since soy is easy to produce to meet the demand.  You can enhance the ecological advantages of soy candles by using recycled packaging and eco-friendly wicks made from recycled materials.

If you are making your own candles, soy wax has a lower melting point thus making it easier to work with.  You can also suspend dried leaves or flowers in your creation soy candle.  Soy wax when used with essential oils is a great medium.  The slower burn time of soy wax allows a slower release of the essential oils, allowing a gradual build up of the fragrance, rather than an overwhelming odor like that produced with paraffin candles.  Soy candles are durable and longer burning that come in a variety of colors, styles, and scents to meet the needs of your home and office.  Store soy candles in a cool dry place to prevent melting or destabilization of the soy wax, until you are ready to burn them.

Bayberry comes from a species of small trees and shrubs belonging to the family Myricaceae.  They are found in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America.  Australasia seems to be lacking in its ability to grow Bayberry.  The proper name is Myrica and common names include Bayberry, Bay-rum tree, Candleberry, Sweet Gale and Wax-myrtle.  They grow from 1 meter shrubs to 20 meter trees.  The majority are evergreen with a few deciduous mixed in.  They are able to grow in soil that is poor in nitrogen content.  The fruit is small and has a wax coating.  Most birds can’t digest the wax coating but the Yellow-rumped Warbler of North America have adapted to eating it.  The wax is energy rich and allows the bird to winter further north in colder climate.

The foliage is a traditional insect repellent, used in camping to keep biting insects out of campers tents.  Gardeners like to grow ornamental plants of bayberry in their gardens.  China harvests the fruit of the Myrica rubra being an economically important crop.  Myrica is used to spice beer and snaps in Denmark. The bayberry wax coating has been traditionally used to make candles.  In a most famous novel, “The Swiss Family Robinson”,  the bayberry wax was used to make their candles.

You can find the bayberry fragrance in these size soy candles: 18 oz, 10 oz, 6.5 oz and 4 oz soy candle containers.  Also bayberry comes in soy votives of a single 2 oz or in a 12-pack.  Soy tart melts in a 6-pack will spice up any room with bayberry fragrance.  And also bayberry fragrance oil applied to a lamp ring will be a delightful addition to any home.  If you like berry scented soy candles and want to try a more exotic twist give bayberry a try this summer. 

Natural healing uses an alternative method known as aromatherapy.  Aromatherapy can be used to relax and soothe the body and mind and to energize and to arouse.  Essential oils are used in this method of natural healing.  They are the aromatic compounds of plants that have been extracted by steam distillation or other methods.  Your feelings and moods are affected by the aromas of essential oils through your sense of smell.  Certain scents can bring about a state of relaxation, romance, healing or comfort.   Ways this might be accomplished is by the use of oils, inhalers, diffusers and scented soy candles.  Since aromatherapy has the ability to affect your mood, it can be used to enhance your romantic life.

Jasmine, Gardenia, Rose and Geranium are associated with love and romance.  Oils from these herbs can excite your romantic life.  You can find scented soy candles with these fragrant aromas in many different sizes and styles.  A great way to experience aromatherapy is by using body massage soy candles.  These candles are made with natural soy wax.  They leave behind no soot and are non-toxic, meaning they have no pollution type materials in them.  Spice up your life with romance and try aromatherapy soy candles today.

Essential oils are contained in your skin naturally.  They help to lubricate your skin and make it more elastic.  They are important to firm healthy skin, are not greasy and are not bad for you. 

Aromatherapy essential oils are obtained from the leaf, root, stem or heart of a plant.  The oils are distilled and concentrated to preserve the natural occurring properties of the plant.  It takes 10 pounds of plant materials to get one ounce of extracted essential oil.  The natural occurring properties are thought to boost the immune and metabolic systems.

The essential part of the oil indicates it has a distinctive scent or taste of the plant.  They are used in perfumes or cosmetics, to flavor foods and drinks or used in the manufacturing process of candles.  Scented aromatherapy soy candles can be an excellent source to begin to experience the joy of using essential oils.  Aromatherapy makes use of the oils in a branch of alternative medicine, that claims the highly specific aromas of the oils of individual plants have specific curative effects.  The oils have been diluted further by distillation over water to make them less concentrated and widen their use. 

Essential oils are lipophilic or oil loving, meaning they don’t mix with water.  To dilute them you must use other oils, called carrier oils.  Essential oils are diluted to prevent allergic reactions.  The carrier oils hold the essence of the essential oils, becoming the base for the fragrance.  Popular carrier oils are olive oil, sunflower oil, apricot kernel oil, hazelnut and almond oil.  Jojoba oil is the most natural carrier oil but due to the way it is distilled it is more expensive.  The price of essential oils vary with the rarity of the plant and where it was grown.  Some plants produce more than others and some are organically grown.

The theory behind using essential oils is they help to preserve the cells in your body and prevent disease.  Some have natural antiseptic properties as rosemary oil and used to treat acne.  Some can be used internally but never without the supervision of an experienced practitioner as some like eucalyptus are toxic if ingested.  Essential oils are believed to be able to affect our mental status and bring about calm.  Some of the oils are inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs.

Most practicing Jews begin their celebration of Sabbath with the lighting of the Sabbath candles.  It begins on Friday night and is a time of rest, no work and inner reflection.  It begins precisely 18 minutes prior to sundown and is started with a prayer, usually spoken in Hebrew.  The oldest woman in the house is responsible for the lighting of the candles.  When there is not a woman present then the oldest man will light the candles and say the prayer.  It is then customary to cover their eyes, so not to see the light.  Two is the traditional minimum number of candles used, but more is OK.  The two candles represent two important texts in the Old Testament or the Torah.  During the Sabbath the candles are also an important source of light, as even electricity is shunned. 

Soy candles can be used as a source of light in areas where there is no electricity.  It is always a good idea to have a few on hand, especially during the stormy weather ahead.  Scented soy candles come in pillars, votives, containers, tart melts, aromatherapy, body massage and wood wicks.  Pick your favorite fragrance, color and size.  Soy candles are made from natural soy wax and are non-toxic, biodegradable, affordable, a renewable resource, and are a healthy choice.

Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka (Ceylon).  The leaves are ovate-oblong and its flowers have a greenish color with a distinct odor.  The fruit is a purple berry containing a single seed.  Its flavor is due to an aromatic essential oil that makes up 0.5-1% of its composition.  This oil is made by pounding the bark, macerating it in seawater and then quickly distilling it.  The oil has a golden-yellow color with the characteristic odor of cinnamon and a hot aromatic taste. 

Cinnamon has been known down through history and was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and great leaders.  It was imported to Egypt and China from Sri Lanka in the early 2000 BC.  You can find it mentioned several times in the Bible.  Up to the Middle Ages the source of cinnamon was a mystery to the Western world.  Eventually it became known to the world and is now grown and cultivated in other areas of the world.  In 2006 Sri Lanka produced 90% of the world’s cinnamon, followed by China, India and Vietnam.

Uses of cinnamon include a spice, used in pickling and when mixed with rosewater to make a curry powder for stews.  In medicine it acts like other volatile oils and once had a reputation for curing colds and treating diarrhea and other digestive disorders.  It is high in antioxidant activity.  The essential oil of cinnamon has antimicrobial properties which can aid in the preservation of certain foods.  It has been proposed as an insect repellent but remains untested of this date.  Cinnamon leaf oil has been found effective in killing mosquito larvae. 

If you enjoy the fragrance of cinnamon a new idea would be the enjoyment of burning scented soy candles in your home or office.  You can find the cinnamon scent in these fragrances: Cinnamon, Apple Cinnamon, Hot apple Pie, Noel and Yuletide.  They come in soy votives, soy container candles in all sizes and fragrance oils.  Why not try one today!