Old fashioned Lard candles
Modern candles are known to give off all kinds of noxious toxins while they silently burn on your counter top which is why I’ve been on a mission to create my own candles to burn in my own home made from clean oils with clean scents.
Lard and Beeswax candle
Natural and Non Toxic
Before the widespread use of paraffin wax, animal fats like lard were commonly used to produce tallow candles. Every oil is a fatty acid or a blend of fatty acids with its own behaviours. Lard has many superior benefits as an oil however usually isn’t as solid at room temperature as some other fats which is where blending with beeswax can add its strength. Lard and beeswax are safer options than soy or paraffin wax, which release chemicals like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene, benzene, and acetone.
Other benefits of lard and beeswax particularly for those seeking natural, eco-friendly options, include being biodegradable, burning cleanly, producing less soot which makes them a healthier choice for indoor air quality. They also burn longer than many alternatives, providing extended use and a warm, natural light.
Fragrance flash point
Even though I thought I could just use essential oil blends to get those seasonal candle perfumes we know and love without having to worry about chemicals, I encountered a fast lesson on ‘why’ parfumerie is such a complex job! Unfortunately most essential oils have a low ‘flash point’ which means that although you might be able to smell them when they are cold, the minute you heat them up the smell evaporates and poof, it is gone. Even for the essential oils that boast higher flash points they don’t always ‘stick’ well to the oil they are blended with which means you can’t smell them all that well.
This sent me on a quest to learn more about fragrances.
Fragrance oils ( as i learned) are often blended oils and can be produced from plant resins before being dissolved in aroumatic compounds. These are the fragrances commonly used in soaps, body products, sprays and candles and have a reputation for having a lot of bad chemicals, hormone distuptors This is exactly what I wanted to avoid.
I considered making all my lard candles unscented ( and I do make those too) however I’m a sucker for a warm sugary vanilla scent or sweet and fruity notes which are all the smells that are too delicate to heat when in the form of essential oils.
Clean fragrance oils
Not one to give up, after searching through supplier after supplier I finally found a company who have spent a lot of time money and effort producing a line of fragrance oils that are free of all the big No No’s. Free of Phthalates, free of parabens, free of sulphates and a very long list of other chemicals that would require a prop65 warning label if you lived in CA ( which all candles using those standard scents should carry nation wide in my opinion).
In total transparency I want to share with you the list of chemicals that is excluded and the rigorous testing standards that my chosen line of fragrance oils is subject to. Its far better that you read about the testing and safety standards in their words rather than mine. I was satisfied that these fragrances were something I could enjoy using in my own home that would be safe for myself and my children to enjoy.
I always put all the ingredients on my labels and have been enjoying making a variety of candles, some with essential oils, some unscented and some with my new clean fragrances. Head over to our shop to check them out!
