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Two months ago, after a long discourse at the breakfast table on the many wonderful aspects of soy candles, my 13-year-old son accused me of being a soy candle head, as in dead head. What had got me started was the soy milk e had been drinking for breakfast, and having recently discovered soy candles in a big way, my mind was understandably full of how this wonderful material was so much a part of our lives - food, drink, and now candles!

Whatever my son might say, however, I can’t stop gushing about soy candles and their unique properties, and you, dear reader, are now in my line of fire. Not only are soy candles longer lasting, they also hold a fragrance better and do not produce unsightly deposits of soot. And when I say long lasting, I mean it, because the average 14 oz wax candle will last you about 70 hours, give or take five, while a soy candle will last all of 100, if not more. That’s almost 50 hours more, and not at significantly higher prices either.

If you’ve been following these articles, you’ll know about my friend Charlene Dewitt, the one who is an aromatherapy expert. Well, inevitably, it was Charlene who introduced me to soy candles, and one of the first things I noticed was the absence of soot. All those who have spent time cleaning blackened and grimy candle jars, walls and even ceilings know what a menace soot can be. With soy candles, because they are natural, the jar remains pristine, and the walls and ceilings unsullied.

Now I come to the most important reason for using soy candles. Various studies have revealed that traditional wax candles emit carcinogens into the air. Now, as we all know, carcinogens are cancer-causing toxins that also cause other health problems. Mostly, researchers are trying to prove that anything that emits carbon dioxide when burnt, such as wax candles and charcoal, will release carcinogens. Though it is too early to comment on this issue, soy candles certainly do not produce carcinogens, which means they are healthy, too!

All in all, it is no surprise that soy candles are gaining in popularity, considering they were only launched in 1991, and their discovery is credited to a certain Michael Richards, who found out by trial and error that mixing soybean oil with palm and coconut oils produced a perfect wax. He added a small amount of beeswax to the mixture to improve it even further.

Today, it has been conclusively proved that 100% natural soy wax does not contain petroleum or other environmentally unsafe ingredients. And it is much less expensive than other natural waxes like beeswax.

So I end my rave. Go ahead, call me a soy candle head, but remember what I’ve told you the next time you buy your candle supplies!

***You may reprint this article as long as the three URL’s are hyperlinked.***

Tania Penwell is a successful author who provides information on soy candles and candle fragrance oil for Candles 4U - your guide to candles and candlemaking.

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A friend of mine named Charlene, who runs an aromatherapy course in Lincoln, Nebraska, told me a story about a young man who had just joined the course and was raring to go because he had read so much about aromatherapy. It was Charlene’s practice to light an aromatherapy candle at the beginning of every session and ask the participants what the fragrance reminded them of. As it happened, she was using a lavender candle and asked the young man what he could smell. He took a deep breath, and with a look of great disappointment on his face, said, “Room freshener!”

“I never found out what he was expecting,” Charlene later told me. With apologies for this initial digression, I think the young man got it at least partially right. Aromatherapy candles are a room freshener par excellence, because they keep a room smelling exquisite for hours together. However, what makes them even better is that they have therapeutic effects on the mind and body.

Why is that? Well, aromatherapy candles are made of wax laced with essential oils from certain aromatic plants, so that as the wax melts, the molecules of the plant extract are diffused into the environment, thus creating a heavenly fragrance.

So which are the plants from which aromatherapy candles draw their fragrances? The answer is not exactly straightforward, since any or more than one part of a particular plant may be the source of the fragrance. But that minor complication apart, lavender is the most popular oil when it comes to aromatherapy candles. That does not mean you don’t have a wide enough choice, given the speed with which the popularity of aromatherapy is increasing.

According to aromatherapy practitioners like Charlene, there are candles to suit all moods. So if you are suffering from insomnia, light sage, chamomile, and ylang ylang candles next to your bath. Those suffering from depression should try rosemary and grapefruit aromatherapy candles, while all-purpose aromatherapy candles contain extracts of sandalwood, eucalyptus, geranium, peppermint, and many other plants. However, you may very well find that reactions vary from person to person, so it is best not to generalize if you are using a candle for therapy. Consult an expert first.

In addition to aromas, these candles are also available in a vast array of shapes and sizes. So you can go for a floating, pillar, gel, votive or jar candle. In addition, if you feel up to it, you can prepare a personalized aromatherapy candle at home by mixing and matching several aromas. To get you started, try a blend of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. An alternative could be a refreshing and stimulating mix of peppermint, lemon, and rosemary. Don’t forget to write in with the results!

Tania Penwell is a professional author who provides information on aromatherapy candles and aromatherapy products for Candles-4-U.com.

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When we talk about scents it could refer to a variety
of applications. From the choice of perfume we wear,
to lotions we use, candles we choose, oils, potpourris,
etc. It is known that certain scents seem to effect people
in different ways.

Some scents are tied to certain memories, and if those
memories were good or bad, will probably have a huge
influence on whether the scent is liked or not. For
instance, if mom made a great apple pie and there were
lots of good memories of that apple pie, odds are you
would find the scent of apple pie comforting and homey.

Many people have fond memories of a lilac bush in
grandma’s yard. The list goes on and on. You may want
to ask yourself what scents you typically tie to good
memories, those could be a good place to start.

There are categories of scents that are
commonly known to have certain affects on people’s
moods. These are listed below:

1. Romantic scents: jasmine, patchouli, freesia,
gardenia, rose, sandalwood, cinnamon.

2. Energizers: tangerine, eucalyptus, mint, lemon,
bergamot, ginger.

3. Calming: lavender, frankincense & myrrh, cedar,
almond, heliotrope, marjoram, hyacinth, vanilla.

4. Refreshing: eucalyptus, grapefruit, lemon, lime,
orange, mint, tangerine, rosemary.

This also helps to explain why we tend to prefer
different scents based on our moods. I know mine vary
quite a lot, as does my taste in candle scents. I
think that’s true with most of us. Perhaps it’s time
to try another type of scent that you wouldn’t
naturally gravitate to, you may find you discover a new
favorite when the “mood” hits you.

By Valerie Garner-Mother, grandmother and candlemaker /
owner of Joyful Designs in Soy (Candles). She loves to
write on a variety of topics with a warm, and engaging style.
http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com

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