Why Vegetable Wax?
Palm wax is a relatively new product, it is a renewable resource,
non-GMO, and entirely free of petroleum products.
How? Palm Oil, the
main ingredient, is derived from the fruit bunches of the oil palm. The
oil is heated under high pressure to separate
the glycerin from the
fatty acids. Next, the fatty acid component is combined with oxygen and
distilled to create a flaked, hard, white wax, which has a beautiful
crystalline structure. No harmful solvents or catalysts are necessary.
And to clarify, soy wax, has also become a popular alternative to
paraffin, but is generally only found in containers due to its extremely
low melt point. It also carries the same
clean-burning properties, but
beware, soy isn't always just soy and more than 75% of soy is from GMO seed.
Why NOT Paraffin Wax?
There are three main reasons to avoid buying petroleum (paraffin) based candles:
~ Paraffin smoke/exhaust contains many carcinogenic toxins and contributes to indoor air pollution
~ Petroleum is not a renewable resource
~ Burning paraffin often produces black soot that coats your walls, furniture, electronics, and appliances
Paraffin candles contain up to 11 carcinogenic compounds.
These compounds have been deemed 'toxic air contaminants' by the
State
of California. An air quality researcher, David Krause, has documented
evidence that candle soot particles contain many of the
same compounds
given off from burning diesel fuel. The soot from these materials can
contain carcinogens, neurotoxins, and
reproductive toxins. Testing and
air chamber analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency has found
the following compounds in a random group of over 30 candles tested:
Acetone
Benzene
Trichlorofluoromethane
Carbon disulfide
2- Butanone
1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane
Carbon tetrachloride
Carbon Black (soot) Particulate Matter <2.5 microns
Trichloroethene
Tetrachloroethene
Toluene
Chlorobenzene
Ethylbenzene
Styrene
Xylene
Phenol
Cresol
Cyclopentene
Lead (Inorganic Airborne Contaminant)
Health
hazards are created when paraffin (petroleum-based wax) is mixed with
synthetic fragrance (some not even meant for
combustion), and then
compounded with chemical fixatives, synthetic glosses, and wire core
wicks. Health problems have been more evident in the past ten or so
years due to the increased popularity of scented candles. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars of home and furniture damage have been reported,
causing a battle with insurance companies and candle retailers.
In
the Nov/Dec 2000 edition of the Emagazine, in an article titled, 'The
Inside Scoop,' Kathleen O'Neil writes that a recent study of
residents
in both residential and an industrial areas found chemical levels in the
subjects' bodies indicating they had received doses of pollutants in
their homes five to 70 times higher than the highest outdoor levels.
Burning candles are listed in the article as contributing
their share of
indoor pollution.
Unfortunately
candle ingredients are not required to be listed, so most of the
population is unaware, but awareness is growing. Worse, labels are often
worded in such a way that some consumers think they are buying healthy,
aromatherapy candles, when in reality the candle is mostly a petroleum
wax, synthetic scent, synthetic fixatives, with a pinch of plant
essential oil added. Even if a candle is labeled as being made of
beeswax, often there is paraffin as well. Wicks that have a metal, or
zinc core, often contain small amounts of lead as well. Always look for
very specific labeling by the manufacturer.
How does the Ascents Candle Company fit into all this?
Our candles are made with 100% palm based vegetable wax with
no harmful additives. We only use pure essential oils and never add
any
artificial fragrances. The pigments are the purest powder form,
eco-friendly, and contain no petroleum solvents. The wicks are pure cotton, wire-free,
and are coated with vegetable wax, not paraffin.
Breathe Easier with Ascents |
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