Soy Candles

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!  

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. 

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!  

Citronella candles are a candle that is blended with essential oil from citronella.  Citronella is a grass that is native to Asia.  This essential oil is found to be useful as a natural insect repellent to mosquitoes.  However studies conducted at the University of Ontario have found only a 45% efficiency rate in their use.  With this in mind a citronella candle should be used in conjunction with other methods of repelling insects for full protection. 

It is necessary to use a large number of citronella candles to protect from insects, especially in a large area.  If the candles are spaced to far apart the insects will sneak through and if you stray to far from the candles you will find unwanted insects pestering you.  You can find citronella candles in pillars, tapers and various other shapes as well as ones that are able to float in pools and ones in containers to help reduce the risk of fire.  Another option is to pour the citronella essential oil into a diffuser and place it in a strategic place outdoors to ward off unwelcome insects. 

The essential oil of the citronella grass has a strong lemon scent and a bright yellow to brown color.  The candles give off a strong citrus odor and are usually yellow in color.  This essential oil is also used in creams that can be applied to the skin and in torches designed to cover a large area.  The oil can cause rashes, hives and itching in children and adults if coming in contact with the skin.  Test out the cream on a small section of skin first and see if a reaction occurs before using on the entire body.   

Scented soy candles come in all shapes and sizes, colors and fragrances.  You can find them in free standing like pillars or in various containers.  You can mix and match them for elegant table decorations.  They make excellent gifts for the hard to buy for.  There are even ones for romantic occasions.  Soy candles are a safe and healthy alternative to burning the standard paraffin candles.  Soy candles are non-toxic, are made from a renewable resource the soybean, produce little to no soot, burn 50% longer, burn at a lower temperature thus being safer to use and clean up with just soap and water if there is a wax spill.  You can even save the container and wash it out and reuse it for something else.  Give soy candles a try.  You will be pleased with the results.   

An LED or light emitting diode, are so close to looking like a real candle that you might not notice the difference at first.  The wick is recessed inside the candle body, looking like the candle has partially burned.  This allows the LED to be hidden from view, while the top part of the candle glows, giving the appearance of translucent wax.  They flicker to stimulate a real burning flame.  There are several models.  They can be used inside or out, are resistant to rain or wind and can be used as a night light for children.  Some are rechargeable while others are battery operated.  If you love to burn candles and want to try something different, this might be an option for you.

If you are looking for something different and want a healthier choice in burning candles, try scented soy wax candles.  They come in various sizes, shapes, scents, styles, containers and colors.  Soy candles are non-toxic, a renewable resource, burn at a lower temperature thus making them less prone in causing burns, burn 50% longer than paraffin candles and produce no black soot.  Another benefit of using soy candles is easy clean up, just soap and water on any wax spill.  There are so many positive benefits to using soy candles versus paraffin candles.  You will be glad you gave them a try! 

Frankincense is used to make incense and perfumes.  It is actually a dried tree sap or aromatic resin.  It has been associated with the story of the birth of baby Jesus as one of the gifts the wise-men brought.  It comes from trees of the “Boswellia” genus, one of which is the  deciduous tree “Boswellia Thurifera”.  These trees can be found in Somalia, Oman and Yemen.  They are known for their ability to grow in unfavorable environments, such as seemingly to grow out of solid rock.  A disk-like growth at the base of the tree somehow attaches itself to the rock, that prevents it from being torn away during the frequent violent storms in these areas.  Trees that are grown in gravel or rocky soil don’t exhibit this bulbous disk-like growth in such extreme. 

The aromatic resin or tree sap is diverse within this species of trees depending on the soil and climate it is grown in and the species of frankincense tree.  Frankincense is tapped by scraping or cutting the bark and allowing the sap to ooze or bleed out and harden.  The sap is then collected and now is called tears.  This process is done 2 -3 times per year.  Younger trees produce a higher quality resin and if opaque is of superior quality.  Resin value is determined by fragrance, color and clump size.  The lighter and larger clumps are more valuable. 

Frankincense was used in the ancient world to make incense, to perfume the homes of the ancient Greeks and Romans.  It was used in religious rituals of the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians and Babylonians, later in Jewish rites and even later in Catholic rites.  It was also know for its medicinal purposes in history: the first antidote for hemlock poisoning; cure for vomiting, diarrhea, fever and tumors; and today in China to treat leprosy and gonorrhea; in Asia used in medicine to treat digestion and for healthy skin.  Frankincense is edible.  It is chewed like gum but must be pure, no black or brown impurities.  It must be translucent, a light yellow with a slight greenish tint.

Frankincense is used today in perfumery and aromatherapy.  It can be mixed with spices or seeds to create its desired aroma.  The chunks of raw resin can also be placed directly on a heat source to create an incense quality aroma that repels mosquitoes.  The essential oil “Olibanum” is obtained through steam distillation of the dry resin.  Perfumes may contain this essential oil that evaporates slowly, thus maintaining its fragrance.  The essential oil is also used in aromatherapy and is known for its stress-reducing properties.  It has a fresh sweet fragrance that is characterized by a balsamic-spicy, slightly lemon, slight conifer-like undertone.

For a simple way to enjoy the scent of Frankincense try scented soy candles.  You can find this aroma in the scent of “Oh Holy Night”.  This fragrance comes in a variety of styles and sizes of gourmet scented soy candles, soy container candles, soy jar candles, soy candle tins, soy votive,  gourmet soy tart melts, and fragrance oils.

Eucalyptus is a broad group of trees and sometimes shrubs that grow mostly in Australia.  The word means “well covered”.  In Australia there are over 700 species of eucalyptus.  It also is found in small numbers in parts of New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, America, England, Africa, Middle East, China, the Indian Subcontinent and the Mediterranean Basin. 

Uses of the eucalyptus tree include:

1. A wood source that has made them economically important in poorer regions of the world.
2. Its oil serves as a natural insecticide and cleaner.
3. Since it sucks water from the ground it is being planted to drain swamps.  In the process it reduces the malaria risk in those areas.
4. The leaves are beneficial in that they contain compounds that are natural disinfectants. 
5. There is an essential oil that is extracted from the leaves.  In large quantities, however this compound is toxic.  Steam distillation is used to extract the eucalyptus oil from the leaves.  This oil is used for cleaning purposes, deodorizing, in small amounts in food supplements as cough drops, sweets and decongestants. 
6. It is an active ingredient in some commercial mosquito repellents as it has insect repellent properties. 
7. The nectar of some trees produce honey. 
8. The wood is used in making Australian Aboriginal wood instruments. 
9. Dyes can be made from all parts of the eucalyptus and the material left over from the processing can be used for mulch and fertilizers.

Scented soy candles uses the fragrant essential oil of eucalyptus in making a pleasing aroma for your home.  You can find this fragrance in soy candle container jars, 4oz travel tins, gourmet soy melts, soy votive, fragrance oil, and in the fragrance of “Cool Breeze” in aromatherapy and body massage soy candles. 

Candle jars are as versatile as the stars in the sky.  They come in all shapes and sizes and materials.  They are among some of most attractive holders for candles and make lovely room accessories for the home or gifts for loved ones.  In making your own candles you have a great deal of choice in choosing what container you can use.  Be creative!  Metal tins, glass jars, whimsical looking containers the list is unending.  The glass can be clear, colored, textured, apothecary jars, jelly or Mason jars, square or round jars.  Tins can be round, square, rectangular or hexagonal.  Provided the container you use is heat safe and leak proof, almost any container will work for your candle.

There are various candle molds also available for use in making and shaping your candles.  They range from metal candle molds to any container lined with wax, as an old clean milk carton.  Aluminum molds are popular due to their durability, heat resistance, and are seamless.  If you want to save money in making your candles, then use any wax lined materials you have on hand.  The great thing about them is they are recyclable.

There are many methods availabe in making candles, depending on your mold or container being used.  Using candle containers or jars are the easiest.  You must select what type of wax you prefer to use.  The three most popular types are paraffin wax, soy wax, and beeswax.  Paraffin can get messy to work with while soy wax is easily cleaned up with soap and water.  Beeswax is produced from honeybees and comes in sheets so there is no need for melting, simply wrap it around a wick and press to seal.

Resolutions, resolutions, resolutions.  How many have you made in the past and never kept?  Plan on making some for this new year?  How about the resolution to turn over a healthier lifestyle!  Start it with soy candles.  They burn cleaner and are better for your health.  They produce very little to no soot, are easy to clean up with soap and water, create no toxins in the air, last 50% longer than paraffin candles, and are a renewable resource being made from soybeans.

Jar candles or tins make a lovely addition to any room.  These candles are easy to move from one place to another.  You won’t have to worry about the wax dripping onto a surface.  The candle holder is a part of the package, so no worrying about purchasing a holder.  When the soy candle is all burnt, you have a beautiful container for yet some other use. 

If you want a different presentation of a soy candle try a pillar soy candle.  They come in different sizes, so you can make a beautiful arrangement with them on your table.  For a truly creative option, try a chunky soy pillar candle.  They are made using richly scented chunks that are over-poured with scented wax of a complimentary fragrance and color.  These soy candles are a marriage of artistry and fragrance.  The result is a pillar soy candle that is a work of art, visually appealing and aromatically pleasing.  When lit they become even more beautiful as the flame dances behind the multi-colored translucent wax.     

Then if you are looking for a smaller version of a pillar, try a soy votive candle.  The up side of burning a votive is you will never get tried of their fragrance.  You can keep trying a new scent often, and find your favorite one.  For elegance, try putting your votive in a beautiful holder and set several around your home, and let their aroma burst forth.

Looking for a flame-less soy candle, try gourmet soy melts.  Just add them to a candle warmer dish, plug it in and let them melt down.  Soy melts come in several fragrances.  Mix and match till you find your favorites.  Remember the warmer dish will clean up with just soap and water.

Aromatherapy soy candles bring the healing power to your mind and body.  These fragrant candles are made with pure essential oils.  Their aromatic fragrance is captivating, beautiful and sensual.  Each one is designed to provide a gourmet aromatherapy soy candle experience.  The powerful scent of orange is held to be invigorating and renewing while lavender has a calming effect.

Soy wood wicks offers a level of ambiance beyond that of traditional soy wax candles that use a cotton wick. The wood wick melts the scented soy wax faster and disperses the soy candle fragrance into the air much quicker.  With a wood wick soy candle you can hear the soothing sound of the organic wood wick, softly crackling as it burns.

Gourmet body massage soy candles will heighten your senses; of touch (as the warm skin-nourishing and moisturizing massage oil is gently massaged into your skin), of sight (by setting the mood with the mesmerizing glow of candlelight) and smell (from its deliciously soft fragrance).  They will ignite your love life, helping to make those special moments even more intimate.  The candle oil is irresistible!  The nutrient rich oils contained in the soy candle will rejuvenate, soften and hydrate your skin.  Along with improving skin resiliency and texture, the massage soy oil blend will leave your skin luxurious, silky smooth and delicately scented.

Try a fragrance oil that is 100% pure and undiluted.  You can add fragrance oil to potpourri or use them in a scent burner.  They are perfect to use in a lamp ring.  Simply pour a small amount of your favorite scent into the lamp ring, set it on top of the light bulb and turn on the lamp.  The heat from the bulb will disperse the scent from the fragrance oil throughout your home. 

Whatever your choice of soy candle is, you can’t go wrong.  Mix and match styles, sizes and fragrances for a truly, enjoyable, healthy, soy candle experience.  Happy New Year!