Get Big Savings on Soy Candles for the Holidays!

I've decided to start my Black Friday sale today. Get huge savings on soy tea lights, soy votives, soy travel candles, soy pillar candles, soy jar candles, soy spa candles, and more. Sale ends November 30th.

Please note that orders received after December 9th cannot be guaranteed to arrive in time for Christmas. Feel free to contact me for availability.

Soy candles are proven less toxic than paraffin

"Researchers at South Carolina State University studied petroleum-based and vegetable-source candles to determine their emissions. They let candles from different manufacturers burn for up to six hours in a small box (8 inches x 8 inches x 26 inches), and then collected and analyzed substances released into the air.

They found that paraffin-based candles -- the most popular kind -- emitted toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene. Soybean candles did not, according to the study, which was presented this week at the American Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C. Candles made of beeswax or soybean tend to make mention of that ingredient on their label; paraffin candles may not."

source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/21/candles.air.pollution/

Wedding Color Trends 2009

Grey is the new Brown - Muted shades of gray can bring a cool, classic feel and offset brighter, more daring accents.

Viva la Pink! - Hot pink is slated to be the most popular hue in the upcoming year. Pairing this shade of pink with a dusty gray can give your color palette the perfect sense of balance.

Glittering Purple - With silver, this choice is perfect for a cool winter or early spring event, or any fantasy theme.

Sunshine Colors - Orange and peach are predicted to be a popular wedding scheme for 2009.

Buy eco-friendly colored soy candles to match your wedding decor.

From: http://completelyweddings.com/2009-wedding-trends-%E2%80%93-color/

Green Your Home - Use Natural Candles

We all know that burning the candle at both ends is bad for our health, but the toxic repercussions of burning many of the candles on the market – at either end – is not as widely publicized. Most candles are made with paraffin, a waste product from the petroleum industry, and many contain lead, as well as artificial scents and other chemicals that have unromantic side effects. But you don’t have to forgo candlelit meals or baths, just ensure the candles you use are made with natural products so they won’t release toxins into your home.

Affordability

Natural candles can be expensive, but don’t buy bargain candles. Dollar store candles are the worst offenders for chemical and lead ingredients. If you want to use candles, spend a little more and get 100% beeswax or soy candles. Some soy candle makers say that longer burn times mean soy candles actually cost less than standard paraffin ones.

Cost savings

Candles are not a cost-effective option. The cost of buying two natural candles is likely to exceed the price of energy for a dimmed CFL over the same period of time. However, they offer a way to change your lighting without increasing energy consumption for occasions where you want something different.

Health & comfort

Candlelight can make a room cozy or a meal more intimate. Ensure you always follow fire safe candle practices. Keep your wicks trimmed and never leave a burning candle unattended. Paraffin candles can release soot, formaldehyde, lead, benzene and other chemicals. These chemicals pollute the surrounding air.

Environmental considerations

Use candles made locally from products available in North America, like soy and beeswax. As well as keeping the air in your home free from toxic chemicals, using products made nearer to your home saves on the carbon of shipping overseas.

What you need to know

Lead

• The wicks of many candles contain lead, which is said to make them burn more slowly and evenly. When the candle burns, the lead is released as vapours and dust. Ingesting lead can affect behaviour, learning and memory and is particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women.
• Burning leaded candles in a home once a week can release enough lead into the indoor environment that a child’s lead levels could exceed federal health standards.
• Tea lights, pillar candles and candles that melt into puddles are the most likely to contain lead. Any candles from dollars stores, especially those made in China, are particularly suspect.
• Health Canada advises that you test candles you already own to see whether the wick contains lead: remove wax from the tip of the wick, separate the fibre strands to see if there is a metallic core, and if so, rub this metallic core on a piece of white paper. If it leaves a gray mark on the paper, then the metallic core is probably lead. Discard any candles that test positive.
• There is currently no ban on leaded candles in Canada.

Other Toxins

• Paraffin candles can also release formaldehyde, benzene and soot as they burn.
• Scented candles and soft candles are more likely to release oily black soot than other candles.
• To see if your candles are polluting the indoor environment, check for oily deposits on your walls, window coverings and light switches or electrical sockets in areas near to where you burn candles.
• Avoid scented candles and petroleum based gel candles as these are likely to produce soot.
• Cutting your wicks and keeping candles out of drafts will reduce soot production and make your candles more fire safe.

Alternatives

• 100% beeswax candles are non-toxic and are said to actually clean the air of dust. Watch out for imitations that use only a percentage of beeswax.
• Soy is another option for longer burning candles that don’t pollute the air.
• Most North American-made candles don’t contain lead and candles from IKEA are all lead-free.

Fire Safety

• Never leave a lit candle unattended.
• Candles with long or multiple wicks are an increased fire risk because the candles burn hotter and a taller flame may be blown by breezes. Keep your wicks trimmed to make them safer.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
• Across Canada the number of fires caused by candles has increased in recent years. Don’t add to the statistics. Be fire safe.

From: http://www.bchydro.com/guides_tips/green-your-home/lighting_guide/natural_candles.html

Buy Pink Soy Candles to Support Breast Cancer Research

Help make a difference in the fight against Breast Cancer this October - Give pink soy candles from LuminessentCandles.com to your mothers, daughters, sisters and co-workers. 10% of sales of all pink soy candles in all shades, shapes and sizes will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Brightly Colored Soy Candles Are Hot for Eco Friendly Weddings

Best Selling Colors for Eco Friendly Weddings Soy Candles - Summer 2008

• natural/dye-free
• magenta
• baby pink
• apricot
• tangerine
• lemon yellow
• lemon chiffon

Check out the Luminessent Candles Color Chart for Soy Candles.


Wedding Color Trends Forcast:

Summer 2008:

• lemon yellows, zesty oranges and lime greens
• aqua, turquoise, and gray
• lavender, lilac and all shades of pink
  

Autumn 2008:

Trend Predictions From Pantone:

Blue Iris - Choose our Powder Blue Royal Lilac - Choose our Hyacinth Shady Glade - Choose our Sea Green Caribbean Sea - Choose our Turquoise Aurora Red - Choose our Scarlet Red Shitake - Choose our Light Olive Green Withered Rose - Choose our Mauve Twilight Blue - Choose our Blueberry Burnt Orange - Choose our Pumpkin Ochre - Choose our Golden Honey

Trend Predictions from The Knot:

• Steel gray (choose our Charcoal) will replace chocolate brown as the accent color. We absolutely love this soft yet deep hue teamed with butter yellow (choose our Sunlight Yellow), bright aqua (choose our Glacial Green), rich eggplant (choose our Amethyst), or pale pink (choose our Baby Pink). It's so versatile!

• In recent years, white has taken a backseat to bold hues like hot pink, orange, and purple. The classic color (or lack thereof) is poised to make a huge comeback in a fresh, modern way. Palette partner: Rose-colored metallics will add a big dose of sophisticated glamour.

• More hot wedding color combos from The Knot

Aromatherapy Benefits: Scents of Childhood

While certain essential oils should be avoided with children and pets, or if you have health conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure, pregnancy, or sensitive skin, there are many essential oils that are safe and effective for your family's everyday needs. Be aware that the healing benefits are only attained by using 100 percent pure essential oils, not chemical fragrance oils.

Before applying any essential oil mixture to the skin, perform a patch test by applying a small quantity with a cotton swab to the on the back of your wrist or inside forearm, cover with a bandage and leave on for up to a day to test for a reaction. If irritation, itching or redness occur, bathe the area with cold water. Discontinue use or reduce the concentration level used.

For kid-friendly aromatherapy techniques like "kid soothers", "tummy troubles", and "colds and coughs", check out Aromatherapy Benefits: Scents of Childhood on mothering.com

Scented Soy Candles and 100 percent pure essential oils are 10% off at LuminEssent Candles for the rest of July.

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