Scented Soy Candles

WOW, another decade….seems like only yesterday, well, at least to some of us, it was the year 2000 and so many not so nice things were going to occur.  Don’t get us wrong, since 2000 a number of life altering events have left an impact on our lives however 2000 was to have been computer Armageddon!!  Yet, here we are on the computer!

Since last Spring The Beaufort Candle Company has increased efforts to optimize our web site/on-line store in an effort to increase our scented soy candles earth friendly, clean burning. natural fragrances through internet activity.  Over the Holidays Google notified us that from July 1 & September 30, 2009 The Beaufort Candle Companies web site was a Favorite Place on Google.  We thank all visitors, shoppers & new clients that have visited The Beaufort Candle Company through Google.

Additionally, this week The Beaufort Candle Company was notified by the United States Patent & Trademark Office that a trademark has been issued in the name of the Company.

We are very proud of both designations look forward to 2010 and the scented soy candle business the New Year will bring.

Have a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous 2010

Today, candles are used mainly for their aesthetic value and scent, to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambiance, and for emergency lighting during electrical power failures.  Scented soy candles are often used as a vehicle for aromatherapy, our Aromatherapy Collection is located in the Ardore section of our on-line store, www.beaufortcandles.con

The prevalence of candles in our homes is evident. The real question is how much do you know about the type of candles you’re buying and their potential impact on the quality of indoor air in your home?

Lead Wicks Can Lead to Trouble

A candle with a lead-core wick has been shown to release five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children. 

Lead, along with other metals like Zinc, is used to stiffen the wicks of candles so they remain straight when the surrounding wax begins to melt. The metal prevents the wick from falling over and extinguishing itself as soon as the wax no longer supports it.  Although Zinc is considered to be far less toxic than lead, very little is known about the long-term effects of breathing zinc in the form of dust or fumes released from burning it.

The Soot That’s All Around

Another problem inherent in burning candles with lead wicks (especially those made with paraffin wax -a petroleum by-product) is a phenomenon called Black Soot Deposition. It’s now believed that frequent candle-burning is one of the sources of black soot in the home.   

Synthetically scented candles are believed to be a major source of soot because the chemicals used in “fragrance” oils tend to soften the wax, increasing the need to add metals to the wicks to stiffen them. They are also likely the main source of phthalates in soot.

The Good News …

There are ways to enjoy burning candles without routinely exposing yourself to harmful toxins. Here’s how you can avoid the problem:

1. For aromatherapy candles, buy soy candles scented with only pure essential oils. Scented soy candles are best for this purpose as they are clean, slow-burning, and long-lasting with superior scent throw (dispersion). Our Scented soy candle Buds/Accents can also be melted if placed on an electric warming plate or used as Potpourri without heat. This eliminates the soot generating combustion that comes from directly burning wicks and enables sufficient release of the aromas  

2. Buy candles made with 100% Beeswax or 100% Vegetable Wax. Because these waxes are more expensive, a lot of manufacturers tend to blend them with paraffin. Avoid blended wax candles. Look for labels indicating they are 100% pure

3. To reduce soot no matter what kind of candles you burn, keep wicks trimmed and don’t burn candles near a draft

4. Ensure any new candles you buy don’t have lead in the wicks. Look for “lead-free” or “coreless clean-burning” labels on them.  If you’re not sure, you can perform a simple test by rubbing the tip of the wick on a piece of paper. If it leaves a gray mark like a pencil, the wick contains lead.

 Our scented Soy candles are biodegradable since they are made from hydrogenated soybean oil. When compared to paraffin wax candles they project less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because they produce very low amounts of soot. The soybean oil assists in lowering the melting point that results in more even burning. As a result this low heating wax is ideal for making our scented soy candles since the lower heat helps to distribute more fragrance. Our pure soy candles are a natural clean burning product that became available to consumers in 1996 following the soy candles launched earlier by The Body Shop a company that provided candles made from a mixture of beeswax and almond oil. However because beeswax was much more expensive than commonly used paraffin, research was conducted into the use of plant waxes as an alternative to beeswax. This shift to a biodegradable environmentally friendly product gained universal approval and was a very popular choice particularly in the United States as it provided another market for Iowa soy bean farmers, their soybeans and marketers who realized that by reducing the use of paraffin it reduced the need for importing petroleum additives for candle making. Soy wax is mixed with different fragrance oils to produce our scented soy candles. This type of candle can be incredibly fragrant and when you consider that there are well over a hundred different fragrances available it is mind boggling trying to pick out that special aroma that would remind you of times gone by.  Our scented soy candles can have a positive effect on both your mind and body which helps you to relax. Remembering those rich fragrances you experienced in childhood from a clean burning candle can also provoke delightful memories of the special times you had with family members in days gone by. Our scented soy candles are made in a variety of fragrances that can be purchased in our online outlet, www.beaufortcandles.com  Our scented soy candles are made purely from all-natural, made in America (in fact better than made in America soybeans are grown in America) soybeans that burn longer, cleaner and emit no toxins or soot into the air. Our jars are even made in America.   Naturally produced from vegetable-based materials our scented soy candles are totally biodegradable.