Saturday 30 January 2016

A Potpourri-esque Candle Scent -French Flower Garden

We all love the scent of potpourri!  A collection of dried fragrant herbs or plants basking in a bowl, vase or other decorative vessel.  The French are credited with the coinage and popularization of the aromatic plant mixture.  Centuries ago, people would gather gorgeous herbs and flowers in the springtime, let them wilt for a day or two and then mix them amongst each other to provide a unique aroma, unachievable by a single flower itself.


Early candle makers saw this great bowl of scent and wondered how they could take this great nuance and instill it in the candle realm.  At the time, scented candles were much less popular than they are today, and the ones that did exist typical derived from a single scent.  Candle makers began experimenting with multiple fragrance oils to see if they could produce a more potent, full-bodied potpourri-style scent.

Mason jar candles today come in a variety of colors, wax types, scents, shapes andqualities.  Scented candles are most commonly single-scent (ex. Cinnamon, Lavender, Jasmine, Strawberry).  While these candles can smell great, they are typically much less potent and full-bodied than multi-scent candles.  Full-bodied candles have a slightly different process than a single scented candle and typically have much more fragrance oil. 


Potpourri-styled candles contain scents such as cinnamon, cypress, jasmine, juniper, lavender, orange, pinyon, rose, lily rosemary, and mint, among many others.  French Flower Garden, a new potpourri styled candle comprised of rose, violet, penoy, gardenia and lily has just made its debut.  This eclectic batch of aromatics yields a unique blend that’ll fill up any room.  Rose and violet complement each other very nicely, whereas gardenia and lily blend together as well.  Together this amalgam is one of a kind and a must have this spring to have in your bathroom or living room.  Try a French flower garden Mason jar candle for your home.  These Mason jar candles also make terrific gifts. 

Sunday 24 January 2016

Soy Wax vs. Paraffin Wax ( Which candles do you buy? )

These days there’s so much attention being paid to the environment and the well-being of our planet. In recent years, we've been taught about major issues such as climate change and how its affecting our oceans, rivers, land and atmosphere in potentially catastrophic proportion.

Scientists have identified that carbon and other toxic emissions released into our atmosphere on a daily basis can have a very negative yielding affect.  When it comes to candles, researchers have found toxins such as toluene and benzene are emitted from paraffin wax candles when burnt, whereas soy wax candles do not release harmful chemicals.

In addition to harm in our atmosphere paraffin can also have direct effects on our health.  It’s said that frequently lighting paraffin wax candles in non-ventilated spaces can lead to health problems such as aggravated asthma, irritate the respiratory tract and cause other allergy-like symptoms.


Paraffin wax candles are by far the most popular candle available on the shelf.  Luckily with awareness, there has been a shift from paraffin to soy wax candles and its happening more and more.  When purchasing candles from say Walmart or Target most of the candles they sell contain paraffin wax.  Other than the candle label itself showing “soy wax candle” or “beeswax candle” it’ll be hard to determine prior to purchase.  Most candle companies that produce paraffin wax know that consumers are getting more educated and are not labeling their candles as containing paraffin.  So as a consumer, you really want to read the label and look for the markings of soy wax in order to be sure.  

If you’ve already purchased candles, a good way to tell what type of wax your candle is, is by the side of the jar.  If you purchase a jar candle, you’ll notice the side of the jar had a thick black soot if it is in fact a paraffin wax candle.  Soy wax candles burn cleanly, leaving no black residue on the jar itself.


Some candle companies that manufacture 100% soy wax candles are Mason Jar Candles Inc. a San Francisco based company.  Paddy-wax, based out of Franklin, TN also makes soy wax candles.  Fragrant Elegance is a Massachusetts based company that also makes soy wax candles that are healthy for the environment.

So the next time you walk into a boutique shop, candle shop or big box store in search for a great candle… Do yourself, community and planet a solid and purchase soy wax candles, not paraffin!  These small changes can make a big difference.