by Michael Smith
Many of us sure like candles. The flickering flame and the ambient light a candle throws gives us some kind of good feeling and affects the mood. The flickering orange light of the flame of the candle, in the same way as the light from fire, seems to connect the human spirit and soul with the primordial. Something probably that is linked to the ancient past of humanity, to the fires and the flickering torches in the homes of ancient man. A closer link maybe even more so to the way fire and flame was seen as a representation of the God of Fire, and when fire and flame were venerated. A belief that many people still have, including the Romani People.
Candles of all kinds can create a relaxing and calming atmosphere in a home and scented candles even more so and the latter are much beloved by many of us.
However, many of us who have an environmental conscience are concerned as to the fact that the majority of candles we could use, and especially here the scented variety, are made from petroleum-based oils, namely so-called paraffin wax. While there are other ways of producing candles, such as from tallow, that is to say the fat from animals such as beef or deer, which would make them, more or less unsuitable for any vegetarian or vegan, or from beeswax. The truth is that tallow candles are more or less no longer on the market (unless one would specifically would want a candle maker to make some, I guess) and would hence be very expensive and the same is true for beeswax candles.
There is another alternative, aside from the above mentioned, and one that is in price between paraffin wax candles and those of beeswax, and that are soy candles made with oils from the humble soy bean.
The common soy bean is gaining ground against popular petroleum based candle wax. Bio-degradable and already accepted as a reusable energy source, this humble legume is growing in acceptance among candle lovers.
Candles always are a top gift items, whether during the soon upon us holiday season or at other times, and Caterpillars Candles' new Create-A-Candle candle making kit will sure appeal to those searching for a creative holiday gift. Making one's own candles by, for instance, reusing and thus recycling, small glass jars and the like, is fun and also useful.
Caterpillars' natural soy candles feature top-shelf fragrances based in all natural vegetable oil, not traditional liquid petroleum based fragrance and the soy candles from Caterpillars are said to last three times longer than petroleum-based candles, have an incredible scent throw with virtually no black soot.
Caterpillars also offer a great line of wholesale soy candles for your business and have great specials on wedding candles.
Personally I love candles, whether scented or unscented, and I rather sit at home relaxing with a candle or two burning than to have electric lights on of any kind.
I assume, personally, that this comes from my background and childhood when candles and oil lamps and the fire outside was the norm. But, the life of the true Gypsy People is far from romantic, before anyone makes the mistake. Candles and fire, though, are religious with us and hence I have a penchant for them, and having a deep regard for the environment I rather have them made from natural oils and waxes than from those based on the sticky black stuff that is extracted out of the ground.
I am sure than I am not the only one who would prefer to have his candles from materials other than petroleum-based wax, that is to say, paraffin wax, but at a lower cost than beeswax. While I love beeswax candles and especially the smell they give off I do not, I must say, like the price tag that comes attached to most of them. Hence soy candles may be the solution, for me and others.
© M Smith (Veshengro), October 2008
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Candles, many candles (not, not just four)
