Soy Candles

Patchouli was around in the sixties.  It was a symbol of peace and love.    It was a scent used in perfume oils and incense that was used to help cover up other burning odors.  It is actually a plant, originally grown in the East Indies.  It was used in flavoring as a herb for foods and was believed to repel moths.  The Asian silk and cashmere manufacturers would sprinkle it into their packages before sending them to marketplaces, to repel the moths.  The scent had done a process of permentation on the cloth and thus gained the reputation of an exotic fragrance.  It brought to Westerners the idea of romance of far-off places.  Today, patchouli is grown in hot southern climates for commercial reasons.

The essential oil from patchouli is derived from distillation of the leaves of the plant.  It is used today in perfumery.  The fragrance is rich, woody, heady,  earthy with a blend of floral sweetness and has a musky scent that reminds you of fresh-turned soil.  It is an acquired fragrance of like, either you do adore its powerful aroma or you don’t.

Patchouli is associated with love and money.  It is known for its sensual aroma.  It is an aphrodisiac and has an up-lifting effect.  It may help with cracked skin, sores, depression, fluid retention, scalp problems and apprehension.  It is used in magi-ck for passion and love.  The herb is burned in clairvoyance and divination incenses.  You can make your own perfume oil by following these steps:

1. Add 10-15 drops of patchouli oil, some cinnamon oil and vetiver to a 15 milliliter bottle.
2. Then fill the bottle with a scentless blending oil as grape-seed or apricot kernel oil.
3. Don’t apply these essential oils directly to your skin.  Some are very strong and can burn.

Or for a light perfume spray:

1. Put handfuls of the dried herb patchouli into vodka and allow it to steep for several weeks.
2. Next strain off the alcohol from the herb.
3. You now have a patchouli tincture that you can dilute with water to make a cologne spray.
4. You can blend it with other tinctures to create your own personal aroma.

Please be sure and consult a qualified aromatherapist before using internally and avoid use during pregnancy.  Don’t apply undiluted oils on the skin.  Be extremely cautious in using oils with children.  It is always best to do a skin patch test first before using an oil you are unfamiliar with.

For the easiest way to enjoy the aroma of patchouli, try burning soy candles in your home.  No mess, no fuss.  You can find this scent in the following fragrances of scented soy candles, gourmet body massage soy candles , parfum oils and fragrance oils: Egyptian Musk, Angel, Sensual Moments and of course just plain Patchouli.

Ever have a candle that won’t burn all the way down and you have wax left in the bottom of the jar?  One reason for this happening is that the wick fell over because there was not enough wax left to support it.  Once the wick is toast the candle won’t ever be able to finish its burn.  Well don’t throw that jar and wax away.  You can reuse them.  Simply fill a pan with water and sit it on the burner to get hot.  Put your candle jar into the water and let the wax get soft.  Remove the jar from the water and then you can easily pry out the wax from the jar. 

Now you have a nub of wax and an empty jar.  If your candle was made of soy wax, your jar can easily be washed out with just soap and water and reused for many creative ideas.  The nub of candle wax if scented can be used in a candle warmer to still melt and give off a pleasing aroma.  If you don’t have a candle warmer, you can place the nub of wax in a dresser drawer to give your clothes a fresh new aroma, or in your closet to freshen it up.  You can even save those nubs and make your own candle, once you have collected enough nubs. 

Not only are soy candles a renewable resource, non-toxic, produce little to no soot, burn longer than paraffin candles, and burn at a lower temperature, now your soy candle nubs are a renewable resource as well.  Who ever thought that there was life left in the candle nubs.  Be creative and see what ideas your nubs might have. 

An unscented candle is just the opposite of a scented candle.  This candle was created for the purpose of not having any fragrance, scent or aroma.  If burning candles is for the only purpose of providing light, then maybe an unscented candle is the best choice.  Unscented candles tend to be less expensive.

For anyone with allergies, unscented candles are the way to go.  Scented candles can cause headaches and breathing problems if you are sensitive to certain scents.  If storing the candles for a period of time, unscented candles will not attach their aroma to the drawer or cupboard being stored in.  Scented candles will leave behind their aroma and will even spread it onto neighboring candles in the same area, leaving a mixed fragrance. 

If you are burning a scented candle and just want additional sizes to accent your decor but not interfere with the fragrance, then adding unscented candles is an option.  When you burn more than one scented candle at a time they can cause an unpleasant aroma as they are fighting each others fragrance.   Unscented candles come in all sizes and shapes, as well as colors.  Having a colored candle, does not mean it has to have fragrance associated with it.  For beginners in candle making, unscented wax is the easiest to use as it is very basic.  Once you have mastered this step, move on to adding dye to make colored candles and then essential oils for fragrances.

You can find unscented wax in different kinds; beeswax, paraffin wax, gel and soy wax are a few.  Soy wax candles can be found scented or unscented.  The benefits of using soy wax candles are: they are non-toxic, a renewable resource, burn 50% longer than paraffin wax, produce little to no soot and clean up with just soap and water.  The natural soy wax also burns at a lower temperature thus reducing the risk of burns from hot candle wax. 

First let’s explain what a scented candle is.  It is made with fragrant oils that are mixed into the wax.  This allows the candle to give off a pleasing aroma when  just sitting or when being burnt.  They can be used in any room of your house.  Keep in mind that you can match the fragrance to the room you want to place it in.  Scented candles can create an atmosphere of peacefulness in your home.  Something to  keep in mind is that some scented candles like incense and paraffin wax give off smoke when being burnt.  Scented soy candles do not do this, as they are made from a natural Eco friendly resource, the soybean.  There are no toxins in soy wax candles or petroleum byproducts to produce the smoke. 

Quality scented soy candles will produce a pleasing aroma when sitting or when being burnt.  A poor quality scented candle will not produce that pleasing aroma once lit.  It will only smell before it is lit.  How do you tell the quality of the scented candle you are about to purchase?  Here are some tips.

1. Look for “triple scented”.  This means the blend of wax used can hold their fragrance oils and not sweat them out.  They use a different blend of wax that can hold 1.5 oz of fragrance oil per pound.  This is 3 times the old standard.  Thus they will produce a pleasing aroma when burnt.
2. Some candle makers use a blend of wax that will hold even more fragrance oil.  They are super scented candles.
3. Look for a candle maker that guarantees their products or will give your money back if not satisfied.

Gourmet scented soy candles come in all shapes and sizes.  Certain fragrances can create a relaxing mood and enhance your well-being.  They can also help with odors in the home.  Popular scents are apple pie, bayberry, cinnamon spice, ocean mist, vanilla, coconut, chocolate, jasmine, caramel and sandalwood.  The list goes on and on for possibilities of scents to enjoy.  Your home will love you when you give it the gift of a scented soy candle!  

Most candles need some type of heat resistant container to hold it in or sit upon.  A candle holder is just that, heat resistant to hold and display your candles.  Many are made out of either glass, metal or cast iron.  They can be used only for a functional stand point, that of holding the candle, thus not being very decorative or can be used to enhance your room decor and be highly decorative in nature.  They come in all sizes and shapes to fit the candles of your choice.  You can even search for your favorite colors in a candle holder.  They can hold one or even more than one candle as a candelabra.  They can sit on the table or even mount on the wall if using a wall sconce.  Some holders have patterns on the outside that project onto the wall as the candle is burning inside it. 

When using soy candles, your candle holder is easy to clean after the candle is all burnt.  When using candle holders that come with a soy wax candle inside, save that beautiful container for some other use when done.  Don’t throw that beautiful container away.  You can use it again, as soy wax is easy to clean up with just soap and water.  Be sure and maintain candle safety when burning your soy candles so that you can truly enjoy your candle experience.

Rosemary is a woody perennial herb.  It has evergreen leaves and flowers in the winter or spring.  The colors can vary from white, pink, purple or blue.  It is native to the Mediterranean region and can tolerate mild drought conditions.  It is often used in landscaping as it is very attractive and is easy for beginners to grow, being easily pruned.  It is also pest resistant.  It is a member of the mint family.  Its name is derived from Latin meaning “dew of the sea”. 

When the herb is used in culinary purposes the fresh and dried leaves are added to food, giving it a bitter, astringent taste.  When burning rosemary it gives of a mustard smell.  It is high in iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6.

Rosemary was used in the old world as a memory aid.  It has an old reputation for improving one’s memory and studies have shown improved memory where the smell of it was introduced.  It also was know to be used in wedding ceremonies in the middle ages, to attract lovers, to repel nightmares, repel witches and to attract curative vibrations for illness.  Today studies suggest that an ingredient called carnosic acid found in rosemary may help shield the brain from free radicals taking hold and lower the risk of strokes and diseases like Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s.

Rosemary is safe in culinary purposes or therapeutic doses.  Caution is needed if you display allergic reactions or are prone to seizures.  Rosemary essential oil when taken internally is toxic.  Avoid large doses in food if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Scented soy candles use rosemary to give off a woody fragrance.  You can find this fragrance in the scent of “Cool Breeze” in aromatherapy or body massage soy candles.

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. 

The purpose of a candle warmer is to heat up scented candles without using a flame.  The warmer is plugged into electricity.  There are advantages to using a candle warmer.  The scent produced by the candle when used in a warmer, is more pure and crisp since there is no burning soot to interfere with the scent.  When you are done with the candle simply unplug the warmer and avoid the after smell of the extinguished flame.  The entire candle will be utilized in your warmer.  When there is a flame the candle sometimes burns through the middle and you have wasted candle.  In a warmer the candle will last longer as it burns more slowly.  The very bottom of the candle will also be melted.  When burning with a flame the bottom portion often times can’t be burnt.  Sometimes the warmer will have a built in fan to help spread the aroma more efficiently.  They are designed to be quiet.

Using a candle warmer prevents soot making it environmentally friendly.  It is also better for the health of those in the home since there is no burning of smoke byproducts.  For this reason, aromatherapy candles are often used in a warmer.  There is no danger of fire from a flame, or worry about the candle being knocked over.  Since you are not lighting the candle but just plugging the warmer in, there is no chance of being burnt by the flame.  

Soy tart melts are a great way to introduce a pleasing aroma into your home with the use of a candle warmer.  The warmer and the soy tart melts are Eco friendly.  They are a renewable resource being made from soy wax which is made from soybeans.  You can mix your melts to create your own personal scent or simply use one scent at a time.  When your melts are gone, your warmer is easy to clean with just soap and water, and your warmer is ready for a new set of soy tart melts.    

Be sure your workspace is clear and clean.  If using essential oils or fragrances be aware of any warnings listed on them.  Candle wax when melted can burn you, even though it does not boil.  Soy wax has a lower melting point and is less likely to burn.  When candle wax becomes to hot it will start to smoke.  Turn off the burner, remove the wax from the heat source and cover it with a lid.  Do not pour water on hot candle wax!  It is a good idea to have a fire extinguisher close by, just in case.  Never leave hot wax unattended, pets or children could get into it and get burnt.  Following these simple safety tips will allow your candle making to be fun and enjoyable.

The material used for candle molds include some of the following: plastic, plaster, aluminum or silicone.  These are used to create various sizes and shapes of candles in candle making.  They allow the hot wax to set and become hard, thus preventing it from spilling onto other surfaces.  You can find molds to create most any desire and personalize your candles.

The mold will most often split in the middle to make removing the candle easier when set up.  If your mold will not detach and split, then oiling the inside of the mold will make removing the candle easier as it will slide out better for you.  Some molds allow you to thread the wick into the candle through small holes in the bottom.  If your mold doesn’t do this, then slide a heated pick, needle or wire through the middle of the candle.  The heat will allow the wax to soften just enough to create a hole in which to insert your wick.  When filling your candle mold with hot wax don’t do it over the sink.  It will clog the drain if spilt and be very difficult to remove.  However using soy wax to make your candles gives you an advantage, as it easily cleans up with soap and water.

Using speciality candle molds allows you to be very creative in your candle making.  You can find them in holiday shapes, animals, food, nature, birthday shapes, you name it, you can probably find it.  Make candles for gifts, your own home, just for fun, as an activity with your children.  Whatever the occasion be creative and have fun!