Which Candles Emit Carcinogens?

posted by Melissa Breyer Oct 15, 2009 5:01 pm
for Care2 Healthy and Green Living

As the days start their slow climb toward the winter solstice I always find myself lighting more and more candles to compensate for the diminishing sunlight. I love the warmth and flicker of light they can infuse a room with, rooms otherwise flat by the increasingly muted autumn and winter skies. Yet while candles can create a lovely mood, some types also create toxic emissions that are hardly worth the ambiance.

The candle culprits? Paraffin wax candles. These candles, which are made from petroleum, are a source of known human carcinogens and indoor pollution, researchers said in a study presented last month at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in Washington, D.C. In the study, R. Massoudi and Amid Hamidi found that candles made from beeswax or soy, although more expensive, are safer because they do not release potentially harmful pollutants.

“An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you,” Hamidi said in a news release from the American Chemical Society. “But lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an unventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems.” Hamidi also said that some people who believe they have an indoor allergy or respiratory irritation may actually be reacting to pollutants from burning candles. They noted that ventilation can help reduce the level of pollutants in closed rooms–but I say, better yet: switch to a healthier alternative!


Another part of the healthy candle discussion is centered around fragrance–synthetic fragrance, by which the majority of candles are made fragrant by. A study performed by the EPA found that numerous potentially hazardous chemicals are commonly used in synthetic fragrance, including acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, and methylene chloride.

So, your best bet? Unscented, 100 percent beeswax candles with a cotton wick are the safest option–but aren’t suitable for vegan candle-lovers who should opt for unscented soy-based candles. There are also a number of other vegetable wax based candles on the market; just make sure you are avoiding paraffin and synthetic fragrance.

June 20th Market Date Cancelled...

Circumstances will keep me from the Market this Saturday, June 6th. My next scheduled date is Saturday, June 20th. Remember, you may contact me at home if you can't wait.

Thanks.

It was a pleasure to see everyone at the market on opening day and again last Saturday--both customers and vendors. I'll be there again on June 6th, but remember, you can just contact me by e-mail, leave a comment here, or phone and arrange to drop by (I'm in the neighborhood), or I can mail something to you.

Good News and Bad News: I have already sold out of several types of soaps. But the good news is there are more on the drying rack--some of your favorites, as well as some new ones. So, have no fear, most of them will be ready by next market.

Pun: Remember, soap makes a good shower gift.

And just a little ditty to sing in the shower:

Ohhhhh, I wish I was a little bar of soap.

ohhhhh, I wish I was a little bar of soap.

I'd go slippy, sloppy, slimey,

Over everybody's hiney.

Ohhhhh, I wish I was a little bar of soap.

Tower Grove Farmers' Market Kickoff Scheduled for May 9th

Even though the groundhog saw his shadow and there are supposed to be six more weeks of winter, I believe spring is just around the corner. And, so is the Tower Grove Farmer's Market & Bazaar Kick-off. So, look for me there. I'll have my usual variety of handmade, all natural and organic soaps, and all natural pure soy candles, as well as the wonder goat milk body cream I developed last year.

See you then.

Christmas Bazaar, December 7th

Look for me at the St Margaret of Scotland Church, 3854 Flad, St Louis, on Sunday, December 7th, beginning after the 8 a.m. mass and ending at 12:30 p.m. The Bazaar will be in the social hall (the church basement). There will be many other artisans, crafts and speciality items being offered as well.

I hope to see you there.

The Gruenberg Society Kicks off the Holiday Shopping Season

I will again be attending the Gruenberg Society of St Louis University as a vendor in a Holiday Bazaar held at the John Cook School of Business http://www.slu.edu/x13227.xml, where women-owned businesses will be featured.

I will have holiday candles that offer a warmth and the wonderful smells of holiday baking and of natural pine Christmas trees--and more. Pair the candles with a luscious soaps to use as gifts and for themselves as well. Stop by and sample my new goat's milk body creams--you'll love them.

October 18th Market Appearance Cancelled

Regretably, I cannot attend the TGFM on Saturday, October 18th, as planned due to a death in my family. I will be back at the Market on Saturday, October 25th.

We're Back and We're Ready

After what seems to have been a long summer break, I'll be back at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market http://www.tgmarket.org/ this Saturday, October 11th, with a fresh supply of your favorite soaps, lotions and some soy candles. I will have even more seasonal soy candles on October 18th and 25th.

So pack a little extra cash and start getting ready for the holidays. This is the time to make special orders too.

See you there.

Summer Vacation???

It seems that I have been absent from my blog for a month. So much is going on this summer: Nice weather has permitted more outside activities; a bit of travel has come into play; my volunteer activities have kicked up a couple of notches. None-the-less, I have made a few more batches of soap. But there hasn't been time to plan the open house as hoped. Sorry to disappoint. But don't forget, you can e-mail me or call to order your soaps, body creams and soy candles.

Your orders may be shipped, and you can pay with paypal. So easy.

And, I hope you have been having a great summer too.

On The Curing Rack

Since returning from a short vacation in the Natural State of Arkansas, I've made several batches of your favorite soaps that are now on the curing rack:

• Lavender, Patchouli, & Cedarwood, AKA Romance in the Woods. This blend of essential oils combines the a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous aroma of lavender that is soothing and refreshing, Cedarwood essential oil known for its tranquilizing and soothing effects, and Patchouli, a distinct heavy, earthy, musty, sensuous scent—all this in a rich Olive Oil soap. Ingredients: saponified olive, coconut and palm oils, with added aloe vera and vitamin E, and grapefruit seed extract, plus lavender and patchouli herbals for texture.
• Sweet Orange & Ginger. This Olive Oil soap is made to go with my new Goat's Milk Body Cream. I've added essential oils of Sweet Orange and Ginger and a sprinkling of orange peel to decorate the top. Sweet Orange has an uplifting aroma that helps to relax and balance the spirit. Ginger is sought after due to its aphrodisiac and stimulant properties. Made with my favorite Olive oil recipe which includes coconut, and palm kernel oils, vitamin E , castor and grape seed oils--and the essential oils, of course.
• Avocado Soap. This is one of my most gentle soaps yet is often overlooked. Avocado oil penetrates the skin more deeply than other oils allowing it to transport nutrients through the outer epidermis of the skin and into the dermis for increased effectiveness. Avocado oil is great for all skin types, and is especially kind to mature, sensitive or troubled skin. Full of vitamins A, B, D, E, protein, and lecithin. Highly emollient with anti-wrinkle, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidants have been shown to slow the aging process. Ingredients include saponified Avocado Oil, Olive, Jojoba, Coconut, Palm, Caster Oils and vitamin E.
• Peppermint & Rosemary. Scientific evidence shows that the aromatic Peppermint herb helps stimulate the body and mind. Rosemary essential oil has an overall stimulating and invigorating effect that works on both mental and physical levels as well; it is also a great antidepressant, antiseptic, and stimulant. Ingredients: saponified olive, coconut and palm oils, with added vitamin E, and grapefruit seed extract, crushed organic rosemary herbs.
• Lavender & Rosemary Beneficial for treating blemishes, both lavender and rosemary herbs have a mild but stimulating effect on the skin. Lavender has a light sweet, captivating woodsy scent and Rosemary has a crisp, fresh aroma with a hint of a woodsy fragrance. Mix them together and you get an enchanting aura. Ingredients: Saponified oils of olive, coconut, palm, castor with essential oils of lavender and rosemary, lavender and rosemary leaves.

The above soaps should be ready for use by September 1st