Candle Connection

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An unexpected introduction to the potency of essential oils.

I never gave aromatherapy much thought before we opened our first candle store. In an effort to offer the broadest selection of candles possible, we began stocking a sampling of aromatherapy candles. When the first shipment arrived, we set up a display of five aromatherapy candles with a blend titled Invigorating immediately adjacent to my computer desk. Soon afterward I started experiencing sensations of restlessness and agitation whenever I spent time working on my computer. This went on for about a week until my husband, in response to my bewildered grousing, deduced that I was overdosing on essential oil vapors from the nearby aromatherapy candles.

He removed all but two of the offending candles from the display and placed specially cut pieces of clear plastic over the portion of exposed wax on the ones remaining. The improvement was practically instantaneous. I was back to normal. No more jitters. Whew!

Although this experience made us both believers in the power of essential oils and aromatherapy, neither my husband nor I were predisposed to immerse ourselves in the world of aromatherapy. We didn’t feel compelled to study the beneficial aspects of particular essential oils or complementary blends. However, we did begin dabbling a bit with aromatherapy candles.

Like a great many consumers, our interest in aromatherapy is limited to influencing moods or alertness, so we rely on the descriptiveness of candles’ names. Our favorite is a palm wax aromatherapy candle called Relaxing (its intended effect couldn’t be any plainer), pleasingly scented with a blend of lavandin, tangerine and orange essential oils. We find burning one of these candles helps us ease into the Zen of computing, or to unwind after a long day. On really stressful occasions, of course, we pull out the big guns and augment our trusty aromatherapy candle with a glass of pinot noir.

Sometimes decompressing is not what is required (when working on tedious projects, for instance) and that is when Relaxing’s cousin Energizing comes in handy. It never fails to amaze me that simply smelling a blend of peppermint, spearmint and tea tree oils can clear your mind and keep you focused. I highly recommend this gentle method of cognitive stimulation.

I have virtually no metaphysical leanings, but chakra energy pillars are a type of aromatherapy candle that I find intriguing. They are designed for use during highly focused meditation and contain unusual essential oils such as frankincense, spruce and Morrocan rose as well as common ones like lavender, bergamot and cassia, all of which purportedly facilitate pinpointing energy in specific areas of the body and psyche. Many of our customers swear by them, often purchasing a full set of seven, one for each chakra. Based upon the number of reorders, I can only assume that most chakra energy candle purchasers find them beneficial in some way.

Visit WicksWorks Candle Emporium or Easy Fun Home Based Candle Business

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A glimpse behind the scenes in the candle wars.

Coinciding with the growth of the Internet was a proliferation of candle companies specializing in natural wax candles. One explanation for this is that the Web offered an accessible venue outside conventional distribution channels to reach consumers open to such products. The collective success of those online chandlers’ marketing efforts can be seen in the ever-increasing presence of natural wax candles on the shelves of small and large retailers throughout the country.

For many people the appeal of the candles these companies produce is that they are not made from paraffin, a petroleum byproduct. But a desire to reduce the world’s dependence on oil or to be an eco-friendly consumer is only part of the equation; natural wax candle fans also appreciate not having to breathe in soot and toxins while they enjoy the simple pleasure of burning a candle.

This feature particularly resonates with those who regularly use aromatherapy candles to help them relax or meditate. To them the prospect of breathing a mixture of pure essential oil and petrochemical fumes fails to please. A growing number of homeowners and rental property owners are also becoming aware of the upside of burning natural wax candles as word of the “ghosting” phenomenon, often associated with soot build-up on walls and furniture as a result of frequent paraffin candle usage, spreads.

From the outset natural wax candle makers aggressively touted the features and benefits of their wares while criticizing the shortcomings of paraffin candles. At first established candle manufacturers were either unaware of the slurs against their products or simply ignored them. But as the chorus grew and natural wax candles started to become more popular, a major candle industry association felt compelled to publish on its website a defense of paraffin candles that contained a slam against soy wax candles, which noted, among other things, that chemical solvents are used in their manufacture.

In a classic example of strange bedfellows, a large palm wax candle company now uses the same argument about soy candles to differentiate its products as the most eco-friendly available. Neither competitor has tried to suggest that soy candles aren’t good products per se, they just use this fact to diminish the public persona of soy candles to their advantage.

Whether any of this really matters to consumers is difficult to gauge. How many of the relatively few people exposed to soy candles’ “dirty” little secret will care since it doesn’t affect them directly? After all, soy candles do in fact burn virtually soot and toxin free, which is why they buy them.

Conclusion: It’s tough shopping green when there are so many shades of gray.

Visit WicksWorks Candle Emporium or Easy Fun Home Based Candle Business

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