MAKING LIGHT
Earth-conscious candles fit for your oasis.
Your home is your sanctuary and should be a place of laughter, rest and relaxation. The world is going at a faster pace every day, making it essential for us to stop and find balance. Just as important as the need to unwind, it is imperative that the environment you create is chemical-free. Enter clean candles. One of my favorite times of the day is when I come home and light my beautiful, natural candles. It calms my mind, offers a touch of light to the room and is a great way to conserve energy.
Now, there are certain types of candles that can be toxic to your home and hazardous to your health. Many environmental groups have warned consumers and retailers to destroy candles with metallic cores in their wicks because of lead poisoning emitted when these products are burned. There are still candles on the market today which contain this type of wick, so it’s important to always read the labels.
Shoppers should also avoid candles made of petroleum-based paraffin wax, as petroleum is a byproduct of gasoline. Paraffin wax candles are still popular due to the low cost of these materials. When burned, the wax is toxic and contributes to the decline of indoor air quality in the home. The Environmental Protection Agency released a report in 2001 informing that paraffin candles release a number of pollutants when burned, including carcinogens such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde and acrolein. Does this sound like something you would want to breathe into your lungs? But petroleum is becoming a limited resource and the hope is these items will soon dissipate.
There are plenty of alternatives. Soy candles or candles made from beeswax offer a clean burn, safe for your sanctuary. Beeswax is made by our friends, the honeybees, and is all natural and nontoxic when burned. Plus, ions released from beeswax could actually improve the air quality in your home. Beeswax is also non-allergenic so these candles are great for folks with allergies. They are a bit more expensive than traditional candles, but your health is worth it. Read the label to make sure it is 100 percent beeswax. Some companies will try and trick consumers by putting dyes and paraffins in to cut costs.
Soy candles are the other earth-friendly alternative. They are nontoxic, biodegradable and a renewable resource. What more could the environmentally friendly consumer ask for? Soy candles also encourage consumers to support the American soybean farmers rather than the petroleum industry. As always, make sure the candles are made from 100 percent soy and contain no synthetic additives. Now you can have a soothing light at the end of the day, the natural way!
Candle Tips:
Always trim the wick. This will provide longer candle life and reduce soot. There is no such thing as a soot-free candle, but those which are made from soy or beeswax do not release toxic chemicals.
Make sure you buy soy or beeswax candles. Both should contain only pure essential oils, not synthetic fragrance oils which release toxic chemicals into your environment.
Let your candle burn for at least one hour each time you use it.
Do not set soy candles in direct sunlight. It can change the color and appearance.
Other Trusted Sources:
Epicurean Table
