Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. Lately I've been thinking a lot about air quality and how it affects us --especially the air quality inside your home or workplace, and how you may be unintentionally undermining your health by routinely doing things that seem pretty harmless but could be having a negative effect that may not be so obvious. I'm talking about the myriad of scented products on the market that you can buy to eliminate odors, or fragrance your home. Everything from commercial aerosol or plug-in air fresheners that mask odors to synthetically scented candles you light to create a mood or ambiance.
I've talked about using diffusers in your home as a safe, non-toxic way to eliminate odors and bacteria while "fragrancing" your environment, and I still think essential oil diffusion is the best way to go. But I have to admit, nothing creates an ambiance quite like lighting candles, so in this issue I want to share some important information with you about the dangers of burning certain types of candles, and how you can still enjoy the ambiance and aromatherapy benefits of candles while minimizing your exposure to toxins and avoiding damage to your home and belongings that can come from the soot released into the air by some candles.
Our celebration of moms continues with our current special on, you guessed it ... Aromatherapy Soy Candle. And this month we're also offering F*REE Shipping on all orders over $50. Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!
Yours in health and prosperity,
Donya
p.s. If you like our products then help us spread the word! Follow us on Twitter or become a fan of Dropwise on Facebook.
Keeping the Air Clean: Are Your Candles Doing More Harm Than Good?
Before the advent of electricity, candles were used primarily for illumination. Light served as a symbol of the good and the beautiful --especially in times of emotional and spiritual darkness-- and the way in which human beings relate to light is emotional, almost sensual.
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 candles are often used as a vehicle for aromatherapy.
No matter how you slice it, candles are BIG business. Here are some interesting and "illuminating" statistics:
- Candles are used in 7 out of 10 U.S. households
- A majority of consumers burn candles 1-3 times per week with half of these consumers burning 1-2 candles at a time
- In 2006, the U.S. market for candles was estimated at $2.3 billion
- 96% of all candles purchased are bought by women
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
According to a study conducted about 8 years ago by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 40% of candles on the market still contained lead wires inside their wicks. This is a startling statistic in light of the fact that the U.S. candle manufacturing industry voluntarily agreed to cease production of lead-containing candles in 1974, once it was shown that burning lead-wick candles resulted in increased lead concentration in indoor air.
A candle with a lead-core wick has been shown to release five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air.
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. The amount of soot produced can vary greatly from candle to candle. One type of candle can produce as much as 100 times more soot than another type. The type of soot may also vary. Though primarily composed of elemental carbon, candle soot may include phthalates, lead, and other toxic ingredients such as benzene and tuolene.
When soot is airborne, it can be inhaled. The particles can potentially penetrate the deepest areas of the lungs and the lower respiratory tract causing respiratory problems and aggravating existing asthma, lung, or heart conditions.
If left unchecked, soot from regular burning of paraffin candles can also cause significant damage to the inside of your house, your computers, electrical appliances, and ductwork.
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 ...
The good news is there are ways to enjoy burning candles without routinely exposing yourself to harmful toxins. Here's how you can avoid the problem:
1. 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.
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. For aromatherapy candles, buy candles scented with only pure essential oils. Soy candles are best for this purpose as they are clean, slow-burning, and long-lasting with superior scent throw (dispersion). Soy candles in containers can also be melted if placed on an electric warming plate. This eliminates the soot generating combustion that comes from directly burning wicks and enables sufficient release of the aromas.
Copyright 2010 Dropwise Essentials
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.
Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:
- Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
- Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
- Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
- Hand-made locally in northern California
Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.
Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics - which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.
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