If you’ve spent any time at Prairie Soy Candles, you’ll note we always reference the soy tarts as “soy melts”. Usually when you think of a piece of wax that’s put into a burner of some sort and melted, you will normally call them a wax tart or soy tart. So why don’t we call them soy tarts?

The answer is pretty simple - we can’t!

“Tarts” is actually a trademark term used by Yankee. Legally we can NOT call them soy tarts without getting in trouble. Plus we would NEVER want to do anything unethical. That’s just bad business to steal a trademarked term.

Instead we use the term “soy melt” because it’s easy to understand. It does just what it says - it “melts” in a warmer of some type.  Many other small candle businesses are also using this term, so it’s quickly becoming somewhat of a standard to call them soy melts.

So the next time you question why a business isn’t using the term “tart”, you’ll know why. And if you see a company that IS, they might just be doing something illegal if it’s not a Yankee tart.

If you are looking to buy candles online, I’m sure you aren’t looking to read the benefits of soy candles. You already know how great they are, right?

Well, just in case you don’t know the benefits of a clean burning, strong smelling, high quality soy wax candle….we updated our “Why Soy?” page a bit. Here’s an overview of the benefits of soy candles:

- Clean Burning/Little Soot
- Promotes American Farmers
- Cost Effective
- Wonderful Scent Throw

Want the details? Check out the benefits of soy candles by Prairie Soy Candles!

There are no shortage of stores online which sell soy candles. The choices can be overwhelming at first, but hopefully this article will help in your decision. Many factors must be looked at before you make a purchase, so be sure you research each company carefully. Taking the time to look closer at each online store will save you time and money in the long run.

Here are some tips to help you buy candles online:

1. Check Shipping & Ordering Information
Before you fall in love with a specific candle and scent, be sure you read all the information they have on their ordering process and shipping times. Handmade candles can take up to 2 weeks to ship, some even longer. If there is no shipping or ordering information anywhere on the site (and you may have to dig deep), you may want to just move on.

2. Check FAQ or Product Information
What are the candles made of? Are they soy or a soy blend? Not all soy candles are made from 100% soy, so be sure you read information on the website about what their candles are made from. If it’s a big secrete or they say “soy blend”, watch out. It’s hard to tell exactly what is in the candle if they aren’t completely up front about it.

Some terms which may be used are “FAQ” or “Soy Information” which may give you clues at to what their candles are made from. They might also have the details directly on the home page of their site or store as well, so be sure to read everything you see.

3. Checking Prices
Prices are going to be a bit harder to fully research, since many factors may change the cost. Generally you will find jelly jars to be the least expensive, while tins and other jars a little more pricey. Although one thing you’ll need to keep in mind - you get what you pay for. Some candles are less expensive because they are not soy, or a lower quality.

Novelty jars and candles can also be more expensive. Unique items are sometimes worth paying for, depending on what you are buying the candle for in the first place. A teddy bear jar is going to be more expensive, but worth it as a gift for a teddy bear and candle lover.

The main thing you’ll want to may attention to is the size of the candle. If there is a specific style you like, check to see how many ounces the candle you are wanting has. If it just says “small” or “large”, you may want to shop elsewhere.

4. Choosing Scents
Sometimes this is far from an easy choice to make. Some online candle stores specialize in only a few scents, while others have 50, 100, or more. You’ll want to read scent descriptions carefully, since some odd names may not be what you expect.

For example, the scent “Hummingbird” is not anything you would really expect. It’s a blend of fruit and florals. “Innocence” is complex blend with florals, musk, and a few other scents.

There are many other factors in helping you decide how to buy candles online, but these are the main points. If possible, try out samplers or smaller sized jars before making a large purchase with any one company.

Happy shopping!

When we first started making our own candles and selling at craft shows over a year ago, there were quite a few who weren’t sure exactly what a melt was. We spent a lot of time explaining, and that was alright with us. Some knew it as “tarts”, although we can’t use that term because it’s trademarked by Yankee candle.

Now though, we do a lot less explaining. It seems more and more know what melt warmers are, and have several in their homes. Personally I love my melt warmer, and it’s so very easy to pick out “left over” melts from craft shows and other orders. Sure I still burn candles, but the majority of the time my melt warmer is on.

With the popularity of melts come sample packs of melts. While we normally sell in packages of 10, I’ve noticed many are looking for packages of lots of different scents. This month I’ve put up several sample package sales on Etsy, and just about all of them have sold. Looks like I may have to put up even more in the near future!

For those looking to try out some melts, here is what we have:

10 Pack Melts - Choice of Scent

12 Pack Bakery Melts Sample Pack

Soy Melts on EtsyThere are two main features of our melts:

No Dyes
Since we use no dyes, you aren’t going to stain a melt warmer or have the color of the melt clash with your warmer. All of them are a pure, creamy white.

Large Size
We’ve seen melts at craft shows which are half the size our melts are. If you have a large room, it takes a lot of scent to fill it up. Our melts are over an ounce, and some of the largest “regular” melts you will ever see.

We’ll be adding more sample pack features on Etsy soon, so be watching!

Are Everyday Candles Destroying Your Home And Health?

Did you know that most candles are made from the sludge in the bottom of a barrel of oil which is bleached and texturized with a chemical called acrolein?

They’re called paraffin candles and burning one puts all the same horrible toxins and carcinogens (cancer causing agents) into the air in your home that burning diesel fuel in your home would.

The National Candle Association estimates that more than 7 million people in the US alone burn candles every year.

But testing by the EPA has confirmed that those candles, and the smoke and soot they give off, contain several dangerous chemicals in significant quantities. These chemicals include known or probable carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins.

The American Lung Association also warns that burning paraffin candles can emit toxins (in measurable amounts) into your home’s air.

It might shock you to learn that after burning just a few paraffin candles in your home, the overall effect on the quality of the air in your home could be worse than the air in major cities like Los Angeles!

Not only is your health affected, but the health of your pets and children as well.

Cathy Flanders who has been at the forefront of addressing health and safety issues involving candles says, “With the current ‘candle-craze’ and increased candle burning in homes, expectant Moms need to be aware of the fact that the emissions from some candles are toxic, reproductive toxins, neuro-toxins and/or carcinogens. This has been a growing cause for concern for the EPA and children’s health agencies.”

And it might hit your pocket book soon too. Not only is the price of oil spiraling out of control, but you might have a nasty surprise the next time you go to renew your homeowners insurance.

The NIA Group (Insurance and Financial Services) lists the following problems with paraffin candles in an article on their website:

* Reduces the internal air quality in your home.

* Damage by particulate deposits on interior and exterior walls, carpets, furniture, appliances, window treatments, floors and other surfaces.

* Contributes to health problems from inhaling particulate matter or ingesting harmful chemicals.

* Spews hazardous chemicals that are either in the paraffin wax, the wick, or are present when paraffin wax is burned….Acetone, Benzene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Carbon Disulfide, 2-Butanone, Trichloroethane, Trichloroethene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Tetrachloroethene, Toluene, Chlorobenzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, Xylene, Phenol, Cresol, Cyclopentene and Lead

They go on to say…

“Another surprise is that the candle-making industry is not required to tell consumers about the ingredients used in their products, including when a wick is used which contains a lead core.”

No one knows for sure if paraffin candles cause cancer, but there are at least 4 cancer-causing chemicals associated with paraffin candles.

The EPA lists these chemicals on their website:

1) Benzene (EPA classification as Group A, known human carcinogen).

2) Carbon Tetrachloride (EPA classification as Group B2 probable human carcinogen).

3) Trichloroethane (EPA classification as Group C, possible human carcinogen).

4) Toluene (EPA classification as Group B2 probable human carcinogen).

Would you burn animal fat in your home?

Most of us would answer an emphatic “No!” or “Yuck!” to that question, but like something straight out of a horror movie, you might react in horror to realize that you probably are burning animal fat in your home when you burn paraffin candles.

That’s because many paraffin candles contain large amounts of animal fats to give them a more textured or rustic look.

So what’s the alternative?

Believe it or not, the answer comes from soybeans.

The soy plant produces a waxy substance that not only burns cooler, but can burn up to 50% longer than paraffin wax.

Since soy wax is derived from plants, it’s a renewable resource that’s a pleasure for candle makers to work with.

Some of the surprising benefits of soy candles include:

* Burn with no toxins, carcinogens or choking soot.
* Burn up to 50% longer than paraffin candles.
* Cruelty-free, contain no animal fats.
* Non-toxic, biodegradable, derived from a renewable resource.
* Cleans up easily with soap and hot water.
* Better for the environment.
* Use no nasty chemicals to release fragrance.
* Supports the American farmer - not foreign oil.

As more and more people learn about the harmful effects of burning paraffin candles in their homes, they’re substituting soy candles with surprising results.

Karen Key, a mother of three in Washington state, had this to say, “I’m asthmatic and when I burn paraffin candles in my home, or get around smoke or perfumy scents, my airway closes down and I start to panic. So I was more than a little nervous when a friend lit a scented soy candle in front of me. I have to say I’m completely amazed. Shocked is a better word. With soy candles I now have no problem breathing and I can finally enjoy the beauty and magic of candles in my home once again!”

So the next time you want to create a warm, inviting, and romantic atmosphere in your home, don’t destroy your home - or your health, choose all-natural soy candles as a healthy alternative.

To learn more about the dangers of paraffin candles you can go to any of the following websites:

http://www.epa.gov
http://www.soycandlemaker.biz
http://www.scorecard.org
http://www.webref.org
http://www.fpinva.org

About the Author
To reach the author, learn more about soy candles or start your own fun and highly profitable soy candle making business go to:

http://www.soycandlemaker.biz
“The most fun you’ll have making money!”

You can also download a free ebook on the topic at:
http://www.soycandlemaker.biz/freeebook.html

Will Soy Candles be the Leader to Light the Future?
by Brian F Connors

Ahhhh, the scent and sight of a burning paraffin wax candle and the appealing ambiance that it floats throughout a room! One may think that this scenario is innocence in its purest sense. There is, after all, that cozy feeling which makes one give thought to everything that’s good in this world. That is until you take the time to get acquainted with the darker side of the world of paraffin wax candles.

Did you know that paraffin is a petroleum by-product which means that paraffin wax may be a risk to the well-being of your health? How is that, you ask? Well after petroleum is processed into gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, diesel and other fuels, the excess waste is then used in the production of paraffin which contains harmful toxins and carcinogens. Hmmmm.

The black soot buildup on your walls, ventilating system, furniture and so forth after burning paraffin wax candles is similar in composition to diesel soot. This dirty matter makes a deposit of unwanted and dangerous pollutants into our homes that endangers the health and welfare of family, pets, and ourselves when breathed into our collective lungs. Studies have shown that cancer-causing agents released by paraffin wax candles are just as toxic as second hand cigarette smoke and can cause damage to the heart, lungs, circulatory system and nervous system. This is not a good thing.

Why then have scented candle sales increased to over 2 billion dollars annually over the last decade according to the National Candle Association? I’m not sure but I’d hazard a guess that the mesmerizing glow and soothing fragrances are part of why seven out of every ten households burn candles regularly.

Here’s a question, though, that I’d like to pose to anyone that subscribes to the rules of common sense. It’s the one that your parents or teachers of yesteryear asked when the majority was acting in an intellectually challenged way. I’ll paraphrase it here : “If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you do the same thing?” The same thing holds for paraffin wax candles but what alternatives are there to break this dangerous habit?

I’m glad that you asked. The answer is Soy Candles. Why the joy for soy? Soy wax is 100% vegetable by-product and not a petroleum by-product. Soy is completely non-toxic and non-carcinogenic and soy candles produce little or no soot to damage the surrounding room or to those with allergies or breathing problems. Soy wax is environmentally safe, biodegradable and is easily cleaned up with just soap and water.

Hold on, I’m not finished yet….Soy candles burn cleanly and evenly leaving very little to zero excess wax on the sides of the jar to eliminate waste. They also burn cooler than most paraffin wax candles which will lessen the risk of serious burns from melted wax. These babies also burn 30 to 50 percent longer than paraffin wax candles which makes them more economical to use. They also seem to hold their fragrances extremely well compared to the naughty petroleum by-product kind.

Ok, Ok just one more reason to think soy. These candles are made from 100% soybean wax made from soybeans grown right smack here in the USA. So what? Well, this not only benefits our environment but also supports our local agricultural industry. It appears that soy candles beat those bad-boy cousins on every level.

Ya gotta get the facts before indulging in the pleasure of enjoying the world of candles. Think outside the box and do the right thing. Your life and others may very well depend on it!

About the Author
Brian is a partner in E-Connors Enterprises which builds and promotes various websites. He enjoys the world of candles and feels strongly about the health benefits of soy candles and the beauty of gel candles. Go to http://www.heavenlygelcandles.com for more info.

Having any business makes you pay attention to details of what others are selling. Really small details. Like how a product is made, what goes into it, etc. Candles is no exception. There’s so many different types of candle blends out there, it’s near impossible for every company to have the exact same candle.

Because of the recent discovery of the benefits to soy candles, many have been seeking out natural or 100% soy candles. Unfortunately, a TRUE soy candle isn’t all that easy to find. Most you find are blends, natural or not, and there are very very few that are actually all natural like they claim to be. Because of this, I wanted to post a few facts about soy candles.

Fact 1 - Soy Candle doesn’t NOT mean Natural
If they say “all natural” and include fragrance oil, it’s not natural. Fragrance oil is man-made. Unless it’s made from Essential oils, the site is lying. It may not seem like a big deal to you, and actually I don’t care if it’s got fragrance oil. Having a highly scented candle is the best part. However, to state something that isn’t true bothers me.

Fact 2 - You can NOT make pillars from pure soy wax
If you see a site that says “100% soy” and sells pillars, it’s a lie. You can not make a pillar from pure soy wax - only blends. Maybe you don’t care if it’s a blend or not, and that’s fine. Again, it’s the dishonest part that bothers me the most. If they can’t be honest about the candle’s true ingredience, what type of a business are they running?

Fact 3 - Not all soy wax is pure
Just like we mentioned about the pillars, not all sites that say “natural soy candles” are made with all soy. Check their ingredient or FAQ if they have one to find out what’s REALLY in the candles. Some mention it’s made with “other botanical blends” or “palm wax” - which isn’t soy. It may not be a big deal to some, but being raised around soy bean fields it is to me. I don’t want to “kinda” support farmers, I want to fully support them with 100% soy wax.

Fact 4 - Soy Wax is more expensive
One thing to keep in mind when choosing a candle is that soy wax is more expensive. It is well worth the money, though. Most know they burn slower and cleaners, making them completely worth the extra cost.

Now that you have the facts, here is some information about Prairie Soy Candles:

- We use soy wax AND beeswax
We won’t lie to you - our candles are a blend. How much beeswax do we add? Less than 1%. That’s it. The rest is pure soy wax and not a blended wax. The only reason beeswax is added is to make the candle more solid and burn longer. Since beeswax also comes from farmers and other natural resources, we have no issues using a tiny bit of beeswax. However, you won’t see us saying our candles are “100% soy” - no, they are about 99%.

- We use frangrance oil
Nope, our candles are not “all natural”. The wax is, but the scent is not. Natural oils tend to not throw scent or be as strong as fragrance oils. Plus we are able to offer “fun” scents like Snickerdoodles, Apple Pie, Blueberry Muffin, Banana Nut Bread, and other blends. We DO offer unscented candles, which of course ARE all natural.
(See: Unscented Candles)

- We DON’T use dyes or additives
You won’t find any dyes or additives in our candles. Why? We don’t like dyes. They take away from the natural look of the candle, and dye has no real purpose other than making a mess. Pure soy wax doesn’t color well either, which is another way to tell a candle is make from a blend and not pure soy. Instead of dyes, we try our best to find as many diferent colored jars as possible. It’s not always easy, but we’ve been able to find a few here and there!
(See: Colored Votive Holders)

Don’t be fooled! The next time you choose a candle, be sure to really look around to make sure you know what you are getting. Dishonest advertising could be a sign to other dishonest business practices!

Truth About Triple Scented Candles

You see them everywhere - advertisements for triple scented candles. You might even be searching for them right now. But did you know there is no such thing as a “triple scented” candle?

It’s true - any time you see a company promoting “triple scented” candles it’s nothing but a marketing gimmick. The fact is, only a certain amount of scent can be added to any candle, regardless of what type it is. The reason for this is, a candle is like a sponge. If you add triple the amount of scent, it’s going to create a pool of oil at the top of the candle - which is highly flammable and CAN catch fire. You want your wick to burn, not your entire candle bursting into flames!

The maximum amount of scent that can be added to any candle is 1.5 ounces - possibly up to 2 ounces depending on your wax blend. Adding any more fragrance oil makes your candle very unsafe.

So the next time you see a company offering “Triple Scented Candles”, remember this is simply not possible!
For more information on highly scented (but not “triple scented”!) soy wax candles, please visit:
http://www.soy-wax-candles.com

If you have ever seen special candles without wicks called “Melts” and wondered what they were for, read on.

Using wax melts instead of regular candles has many benefits. Most importantly, it can help cut your candle cost down by quite a bit. Wax melts are becoming more and more popular, and it’s possible to purchase them in packs or individually for less than $1 each. In addition, a Melt Warmer can actually “throw” the scent more than a normal candle.

A Melt Warmer (sometimes called “Tart” warmers by Yankee candles) are either electric or ceramic. An electric melt warmer allows you to place a small light bulb into the bottom and a wax melt on top. The heat from the light will warm the wax melt, filling your room with scent. With a ceramic melt warmer, you will need to place a tea light in the bottom section to warm the melt above.

Melt Warmers come in all shapes and sizes, and can range anywhere from $15-$25, more or less, depending on size and style. Wax melts are usually about 1-2 ounces of wax, and can last for 2 days or more in a melt warmer. If you burn candles every day, using a melt warmer can be very cost effective and save you money in the long run.

Details on Wax Melts can be found on our online store.

Why Do My Candle Wicks Smoke?

One of the age old questions on candle burning - why do some candles smoke more than others? More and more have become aware of the toxins in our air, and are searching for alternatives to one of our favorite things - candles.

In our endless search for the perfect candle that doesn’t smoke, there are several factors we must look at.

1. What kind of wax is the candle?
There’s no doubt that soy wax puts off less smoke than paraffin. Find out what kind of wax the candle is, and if it’s putting off a lot of smoke it’s most likely paraffin.

2. What kind of wick does it have?
Cotton wicks tend to burn cleaner than zinc core wicks. Zinc core wicks also “shroom” more (meaning they get those black balls at the top of the wick when burning), and can create more smoke. For less smoke, burn only candles with cotton or other natural wicks.

3. Blowing out candles
If you don’t think twice about blowing out a candle, then this is going to create more smoke than if you use a wick dipper. What’s a wick dipper? It’s a tool used to push the wick down into the candle wax pool to put the candle out, then used to pull the wick back up straight. Using a wick dipper will reduce the amount of smoke.

4. Candle Care
Have you taken good care of your candle? This means letting it burn all the way across the first time you light it, and trimming your wicks when need be. Many candles don’t need to be trimmed, but others do. Also, be sure not to have the candle burning near any drafts. Winds can make the candles put off more smoke.

There’s other small factors involved, but the biggest are the type of candle wax used and the wicks. Buying only soy candles with cotton wicks is going to reduce the amount of smoke in your home.

Soy wax candles with cotton wicks can be found at Prairie Soy Candles.