Candles And More

There have been questions raised to whether or not citronella candles are safe,  so I thought I would address the issue.  Citronella candles contain citronella oil which is considered a biopesticide substance.

Biopesticides are substances that are naturally occuring and control pests.  They are made out of plant extracts, both of which citronella and lemongrass are and lemongrass is also a relative to citronella.

The EPA regulates the use of biopesticides and also requires precautionary labeling for safe use.  The only concern is with skin contact since it is also used in perfuming  ie. lotions, gels, sprays, and wipes.  There is not mention of a concern with the use of citronella candles.

Studies show little or no toxicity to citronella and it  is not expected to pose health risks in people or animals.  In fact, as a side note,  citronella oil has been mentioned in the use of calming barking dogs, and is known to have strong antifungal properties.  So if you are going green, why not use the natural substances to control pests, lemongrass, and citronella candles!

Summertime is ideal for parties – bonfires, patio soirées, and campouts rage on even into the early days of autumn. Unfortunately, those pesky mosquitoes seize every opportunity to feast on the bare ankles and necks of unsuspecting revelers. Mosquitoes emerge from the shade during twilight hours, no longer oppressed by the heat of the day. But most bug sprays have a strong odor that doesn’t do much to compliment perfume or cologne.

Citronella candles provide a welcome respite from mosquitoes and other insect pests while also shedding some light on the party. Citronella oil gives off a subtle, pleasant odor when burned. These candles make a thoughtful gift that can be appreciated by every partygoer equally.

Did you know that scented candles can also be used to decorate your home?  For instance, if you want to make your home feel warm and cozy, you would use any bakery scent.

 Ever walk into someones house when they were baking and remember the scent of fresh baked cookies, or maybe cinnamon buns,  how about fresh baked apple pie?  Didn’t it make you feel warm and cozy?  Not to mention, probably hungry!  You can have that same feeling with scented candles.

Do you want to make your rooms feel larger?  You can use candles with the scent of the fresh outdoors.  Scented candles with the scent of ocean breeze or fresh cut grass can give the room an appearance of  being open and larger.

You probably don’t want an apple pie smell in your bathroom, but the scent of an ocean breeze would be nice.  You probably want to save the bakery smells for the kitchen.

It is also recommended to use scented candles when trying to sell your home using this very theory.  How simple is that?  I know that the scent of a home is the first thing I notice upon entering.

Don’t worry so much about color, the scent is what people notice.  The color will not be as noticable as you think.  When you think about everything else in a room, the color of a candle is a small factor of the decor, its the scented candle that counts.

People don’t usually put too much thought into buying candles for their homes. But they probably would if they knew how many toxic chemicals were used in making most paraffin candles. There is an alternative-100% soy candles burn far cleaner than their paraffin counterparts.
 
Using only pure soy candles can reduce the amount of air pollution in your home. Make sure that the soy candles you buy are 100% soy. You can tell by checking the label. Many candles are a mix or soy and paraffin, but manufacturers try to pass them off as pure soy.

After graduating from college, I took a month off to travel around Europe. I had been setting money aside for years, so I was sure to make the most of the experience. In addition to all the interesting people I met traveling by train in France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany, I came away with a newfound appreciation for different cultures. By the end of the trip, it came time to find some souvenir gifts for my loved ones back home. At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, I was struck with some inspiration.

As a devout Catholic, my mother lights votive candles practically every week during Mass. On Sunday afternoons you can find her kneeling inside a chapel, praying for ailing friends and family members. I sought out some decorative votive candle holders to present to her upon my return. She was blown away by the gift, and I felt a profound sense of satisfaction.