Will Soy Candles be the Leader to Light the Future?

Ahhhh, the scent and sight of a burning paraffin wax candle and the appealing ambiance that it adds to any room! One may think that this scenario is innocence in its purest sense. There is, after all, that cozy feeling which makes one give thought to everything that’s good in this world. That is until you take the time to get acquainted with the darker side of the world of paraffin wax candles.
Did you know that paraffin is a petroleum by-product which means that paraffin wax may be a risk to the well-being of your health? How is that, you ask? Well after petroleum is processed into gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, diesel and other fuels, the excess waste is then used in the production of paraffin which contains harmful toxins and carcinogens. Hmmmm.
The black soot buildup on your walls, ventilating system, furniture and so forth after burning paraffin wax candles is similar in composition to diesel soot. This dirty matter makes a deposit of unwanted and dangerous pollutants into our homes that endangers the health and welfare of family, pets, and ourselves when breathed into our collective lungs. Studies have shown that cancer-causing agents released by paraffin wax candles are just as toxic as second hand cigarette smoke and can cause damage to the heart, lungs, circulatory system and nervous system. This is not a good thing.
Why then have scented candle sales increased to over 2 billion dollars annually over the last decade according to the National Candle Association? I’m not sure but I’d hazard a guess that the mesmerizing glow and soothing fragrances are part of why seven out of every ten households burn candles regularly.
Here’s a question, though, that I’d like to pose to anyone that subscribes to the rules of common sense. It’s the one that your parents or teachers of yesteryear asked when the majority was acting in an intellectually challenged way. I’ll paraphrase it here : “If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you do the same thing?” The same thing holds for paraffin wax candles but what alternatives are there to break this dangerous habit?
I’m glad that you asked. The answer is Soy Candles. Why the joy for soy? Soy wax is 100% vegetable by-product and not a petroleum by-product. Soy is completely non-toxic and non-carcinogenic and soy candles produce little or no soot to damage the surrounding room or to those with allergies or breathing problems. Soy wax is environmentally safe, biodegradable and is easily cleaned up with just soap and water.
Hold on, I’m not finished yet….Soy candles burn cleanly and evenly leaving very little to zero excess wax on the sides of the jar to eliminate waste. They also burn cooler than most paraffin wax candles which will lessen the risk of serious burns from melted wax. These babies also burn 30 to 50 percent longer than paraffin wax candles which makes them more economical to use. They also seem to hold their fragrances extremely well compared to the naughty petroleum by-product kind.
Ok, Ok just one more reason to think soy. These candles are made from 100% soybean wax made from soybeans grown right smack here in the USA. So what? Well, this not only benefits our environment but also supports our local agricultural industry. It appears that soy candles beat those bad-boy cousins on every level.
Ya gotta get the facts before indulging in the pleasure of enjoying the world of candles. Think outside the box and do the right thing. Your life and others may very well depend on it!
About The Author
Brian F Connors is the owner of Heavenly Gel Candles and invites all to visit his website for ideas regarding gel candles and soy candles. For more information regarding soy candles go to http://www.heavenlygelcandles.com/soycandles.html today!

Seasonal Scents for Candles at Christmas

There are so many memories I have of Christmas, just from my sense of smell. The Holidays are the perfect time to fill your home with incredible fragrances that will evoke memories of old, or help to inspire new ones, by using high-quality scented soy candles.

One of my favorite fragrances are ones that have the scent of Balsam Fir, this fragrace reminds me of walking in a Pine forest.

Baking cookies has always been a tradition in not only my house, but for at least three generations. I can remember walking into my grandmother's house and just the smell of her cookies, brought such a warm feeling of comfort. Using a Sugar Cookie fragrance with a sweet vanilla sugar-snap, fresh baked cookie fragrance.

Oranges decorated with cloves not only make a lovely decorations, but the fragrance combination is simply refreshing.

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Want to have a go at making your own orange pomanders?

Whether you burn one or all of these Holiday fragrances, I hope you enjoy making some wonderful Christmas memories.

Soy Candle Making Tips

A year ago, I never would have thought that I would be so involved in the soy wax candle making business. Just to type this article, I had to finish pouring soy wax into some jars, and wash the wax and scent from my hands. Trust me, soy wax is great, but not so great for keyboards.
I have learned a lot about candle making – shortcuts, dos, don’ts and other guidelines. Here are some tips for making soy candles that should help you get better results. Please note that each manufacturer of soy wax has different temperature requirements. All soy wax is NOT the same.
1 – Get all of your electronic devices – computers, iPods, etc out of the kitchen. Wax and electronics to not mix! Go ahead, do it now – I’ll wait.
2 - 1 pound of soy wax melts to 16 ounces of liquid wax. How many candles you make from a pound of wax will depend on the size of the jars you use.
3 - Measure how much your jars hold with water and write down the ounces on the bottom of the jar. This will help you plan how much wax you will need for a batch of candles. Make sure there is room at the top of your candle for any lids you may have for the jars.
4 - Melt your wax but don't let it heat above the suggested temperature. Overheating the wax may cause it to not set correctly – it may turn white, the top of the wax won’t be smooth, or it will sink slightly.
5 - Once the wax cools to the specified temperature, add your fragrance. Once your fragrance has been added you should stir the mixture often. Stir well before pouring your candles.
6 - Pour your candles when the wax cools to the suggested pouring temperature or once it starts changing consistency. You will notice that it will cloud up slightly.
7 - You can layer and marble your candles as well. If you layer your candles wait at least 15 minutes for the first layer to set before pouring the next layer. If you want a marble look pour the container ½ way with the first color and then wait a couple of minutes before pouring the second color. These times may vary depending on the wax you are using.
8 - Decorate your containers if you wish with labels, ribbon, stickers, craft paper, charms, or any other decorative items. Your candles can be as creative as you are.
Once again, all soy wax is not the same, so check the temperature recommendations from your manufacturer. Also, make sure that your wick is centered as much as possible before pouring. And, center the wick after pouring. As the candle burns, the melting area should progress toward the outside edges equally on all sides. This ensures that the candle will burn completely and evenly.
Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to see if my iPod still works after it took a dive into the pitcher of hot wax.
Andrea Rousseau and Dave Krigger are a husband and wife team who own www.keystonesoycandles.com and www.coolcraftedcandles.com Go Here for information on Candle Making.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Krigger

My Favorite CandleMaking Books

This is an ongoing list of just a few candlemaking books that I own and am currently using.

Health Benefits of Soy Candles

by Clark Covington

Soy is everywhere these days, including in your milk, chips, nuts, and even burgers adding health benefits through and through, now it seems soy is also in your candles. Soy candles are a new and emerging type of candle the offers great benefits to those candle heads in the world that can’t live without fresh aroma burning each and every day in their homes.

“If it lasts longer it’s okay with me” said a friend of mine once during a casual dinner. Take that comment for what you will, my friend could’ve meant a variety of things by it, but in general consumers prefer long lasting items to those that are short in life span. Soy candles last 30 to 50 percent longer then traditional candles. Your average 14 oz candle, similar to a Yankee candle large size, will last about 75 hours. If you were to have that candle be a soy candle, it would last over 100 hours and smell just as sweet as the traditional candles do.

Traditional candles are known to cause soot in and around the general area they are burning. For those that aren’t familiar with our friend soot, think grayish black smoky smelling fog that clouds the top of your candle jar, on your walls, and even on ones ceiling. Soot is caused by the toxic elements in the traditional candles that are released when ignited. Soy candles are all natural and do not contain any toxins, thus no soot will come of them.

Carcinogens are released into the air when a traditional candle is burning. Carcinogens can cause cancer, and other health related problems. New research is showing links between candles, charcoal, and other burning devices we use in our home lives as cancer causing. Research is just beginning on this issue; however it is a fact that soy candles do not produce carcinogens. When thinking about buying soy candles think of the old cliché, better safe than sorry.