Archive for the ‘scented jar candle’ Category
Scented jar candles? What’s up with them? It seems everywhere I go I see scented jar candles for sale.
They’re in the grocery store, the convenient stores, the big chain stores; I even saw them in the barber shop the last time I got my haircut.
Maybe I notice them because we always have scented jar candles in our home. I must admit there is something special about coming home to the scent of a hot apple pie on a cool autumn day.
I find it amazing how something as simple as a scented jar candle can alter our moods and create such a relaxing atmosphere.
Being compulsive users of scented jar candles, we’ve tried many different brands, from the $5.99, 24 oz. jars to the $55, 12oz. jars. Our main criteria has always been how realistic the scent of the candle is and how long the scent lasted.
Over the years, we found two candle makers that met those criteria, one being a leading scented jar candle maker, a very well known brand and the other, a jar candle that we bought through fundraisers.
Both had realistic scents that lasted fairly well, and we were happy with them, until.
In early 2007, I was reading an article on the net about a couple that raised exotic birds. Cockatoos to be exact, and they unexpectedly lost several of their newly hatched, and seemingly healthy birds. It was determined by their Veterinarian that the birds had died from respiratory illness due to inhalation of toxins from scented candles that the couple burned in their home. (For you fellow animal lovers, I will find that article and post it here.)
Being an owner of an Umbrella Cockatoo and several Conures myself, I immediately started researching scented candles.
I found that paraffin wax, used in most candles, is petroleum based and emits toxins when burned, as well as the wicks, which contain zinc and lead. I discovered that essential oils used for scent in many candles also emit toxins and, along with the wax produce the black soot that’s very noticeable inside the jars.
Many homes that burn scented candles on a regular basis have a problem with build up of soot on their walls, ceilings, and baseboard, and throughout their air ducts.You can actually see the soot build up in the jars. Imagine what our lungs breathe in?
I know a lot of people that burn jar candles in their homes but, I was surprised to discover that candles are burned in 8 out of 10 homes in the US and over 70% of those that burn candles burn them on a regular basis.
I had to wonder, in an world that is becoming so focused on “Green Living” why hasn’t someone found a way to produce a more eco-friendly scented jar candle?
My research led me to Pennsylvania and a master candle maker and his wife that were dedicated to developing a scented jar candle that” agreed with green.”
They have developed a natural, renewable, vegetable wax that burns virtually soot free. The wax burns much cooler than paraffin wax allowing a much greater pooling of wax in the jar, resulting in a greater release of scent, as well as a burn time 50% greater than regular wax candles.
While many candle companies are turning to soy wax as their alternative wax, this candle maker found that soy wax wasn’t capable of holding the amount of fragrance he wanted his scented candles to have, so he was left to create his own wax. An eco-friendly renewable vegetable wax that doesn’t emit toxins in our homes and the environment like typical paraffin waxes.
That candle maker and his wife, who started out in their kitchen making scented candles for fundraisers, have turned their candle business into a multi million dollar a year candle business that is growing at a rate of over 10% a year, in a stressed out economy that sees companies closing their doors and millions losing their jobs.
Yes, there is something to a scented jar candle, and it’s big.
Maybe it’s the relaxing atmosphere created by the soft light of the candle that many enjoy or, perhaps it’s the scent of their favorite candle on a cool autumn day.
Whatever it is, millions enjoy the pleasure of scented jar candles everyday, and given the long history of candles, you can bet it’s not a fad.
If scented candles, and particularly scented jar candles are a part of your life, I highly suggest trying one of these scented jar candles. You will be amazed at the true to life scents and the slow clean burn you get with them.
Interested in purchasing wholesale candles or even starting a candle business of your own.
Many scented jar candle consumers are throwing away their paraffin wax candles and opting for soy or natural wax candles, and for good reasons.
People around the world are becoming ever more conscious with the overdue movement of “Going Green” Individuals and families alike are doing their part, no matter how big or small, to help ease pollution, which some say will eventually cause the destruction of our planet.
Whether it’s recycling our waste, using biodegradable products or building “Green Homes” people are showing concern not only for the health of the planet but also for personal and family health.
It’s very difficult, if not impossible for individuals to have a direct impact on big business and their manufacturing practices, which in some cases are still operating in a 19th century mode, but people are beginning to realize they can have an impact on the environment by painlessly changing their living habits.
Developing a more eco-friendly lifestyle for many, has involved a very simple and painless change that drastically improves the quality of air they breathe in their own homes. That simple and painless change is a matter of switching from paraffin wax scented jar candles to natural wax scented jar candles.
Scented jar candles and votives made from natural wax produce a negligible amount of soot when burned and do not produce the toxins found in paraffin wax candles.
Until the late ‘90s’ I worked for a wholesale supply house and we sold a tremendous amount of candles, in every size, shape, and color you can imagine. One of our candle customers was a privately owned upscale restaurant in a very artsy little town, about an hour outside NYC. Local artists would hang their paintings and drawings in the restaurant which created a unique décor, as well as giving the artists some great exposure. The restaurant was known for using candles everywhere, they were actually the main source for light, and it create a very relaxing and charming atmosphere.
One winter they closed for renovations, mainly cleaning and repainting the interior, and discovered that not only was the entire interior, from ceiling to floor and everything in between, covered with soot from the candles over the years, but also that the paintings and drawings on the walls would have to go through a very expensive procedure to clean the soot from them.
An expensive lesson learned, but the interior and the art work can be cleaned, I have to wonder about the health of the patrons breathing the toxins and soot from the candles.
I moved south just after that, so I’m not sure if they burn candles anymore, however the ambiance of the restaurant wouldn’t be the same without them so I would guess and hope they found an alternative with natural wax candles.
Although most of the major candle companies continue to use paraffin wax for their candles, as well as the huge number of candles imported from other countries, smaller less known companies are popping up all over, producing eco-friendly natural wax candles and capitalizing on the steady growth in the candle industry.
So finding quality natural wax scented jar candles and votives is not hard and it is definitely one of those simple, painless changes we can make in our lives that will contribute to the health of our family and our planet.
