A candle is just a candle, right!?

Well no, it’s not – I am afraid – so simple!

Some are actually harmful and some even darn right dangerous!

I hope your attention is now obtained 🙂 give me 5′ and I will share some knowledge obtained from trading in Candles and also studying them in Top shelf Cyprus, it’s interesting and can also prove to help the quality of air in your space! I Promise!

As we all know, there are many different kinds of candles, some are scented some are coloured and painted there are some even sculpted etc. The most important difference, however, is not the appearance but the contents themselves! Approximately 95% of candles are the cheap mass produced candles that are paraffin based (cheapest possible option available on the market, obviously petroleum based)  these are the ones we find at supermarkets and in main street dollar shops chain department stores etc.  The alternative 5% is more expensive but the old proverb is certainly true here so when we say:

“you get what you pay for”

believe it, I also like

“if you think eating healthy is expensive, check admissions to hospital and health care prices for when you get sick”.

I like to believe that there’s no one who would knowingly connect a hosepipe to a running cars exhaust pipe and feed it into your living room, bedroom, bathroom (small enclosed area!) and even, God forbid, your child’s or infants room (or any room where the child spends time!) with the door shut! well, that is exactly what a huge majority of us do when we burn paraffin (petroleum) based Candles! (GASP!) you see that black soot that forms on your hand when you pass it over the burning candle, that is burnt petroleum being released into your space and you (and yours) are breathing it all in!  😮

I know one simple luxury we can all indulge in and feel all the stress of any day simply melt away, is a nice long soak in a lovely hot bubbly-bath with a glass of wine and the amazing ambiance of a flickering scented candle, so far be it from me to even suggest (especially now that “winter is coming”!) we abstain from this little (well deserved) indulgence, all I am suggesting, is that you invest in a good quality “natural” alternative candle.  SOY or if you have the big bucks, “Beeswax” candles.

There are other types too but these are the “BIG 3”:

1. Paraffin (BAD!)
2. Soy (Great) and
3. Beeswax (Good but expensive).

Wicks are important too, as they can release toxins into your space, they are made from amongst other things:  tin, zinc, cotton, paper or even lead (outlawed in USA, but still available in some Chinese and other mass producing countries!).

think about that when you get the 12 for a fiver deal at the store!

All natural soy base scented candles in Top shelf Cyprus are 100% petroleum free and are made with pure cotton wicks!

So next time you are considering a candle purchase, please don’t surrender to the enticing bright colour or pretty shape nor even the enchanting smell, but stop and check the place of production, and ingredients, it’s your health and that of all those you love that you are protecting! 🙂  Namaste!