Sunshine After Rain Candles
I started making soy candles with no idea what I was doing. My first attempt was a giant disaster involving a microwave and some measuring cups. I’d like to tell you that I first began making my own candles because I already knew how toxic many store bought candles were and I was starting my journey to clean living on purpose, but that’s not exactly how it happened.
I studied Fine Arts in college, creating paintings and sculptures that were completely useless. My Sophomore year, I fell in love with ceramics. The best part was that I was learning how to make functional objects…in theory. At the end of that first semester I went home with a box full of impractical yet pretty vessels. It was near Christmas, and despite working full time, I was low on funds and decided I needed to repurpose these ceramic pieces. I turned the funky mugs and bowls into unscented soy candles. I don’t think I even googled “how to make candles”, I just figured it couldn’t be that hard to melt some wax and pour into containers. It turns out there’s a little more to it, and the microwave is not an effective alternative to a double boiler when it comes to candle making. Despite the mess, the candles were a hit with my friends and relatives (or so they claim).
Clearly this mug is not ideal for drinking, but I also didn’t have a clue how to keep the wick centered so it probably wouldn’t burn very well as a candle either.
Fast forward to post grad life, I traveled to India, became a yoga teacher, got engaged and moved into a 200+ year old house (previously inhabited by squirrels), with my now husband and two large, stinky dogs. I was constantly buying and burning scented candles to clear the stale air. At some point I got sick of spending money on candles and decided to give my candle making hobby another go. This is when I realized that while I thought I was creating a nice clean environment by burning all these candles, I was actually filling my home with toxins!
From my research, three things really stood out to me.
-Many of the candles I bought were made of paraffin, a petroleum waste product that releases chemicals linked to asthma and lung cancer when burned.
-Candles are sometimes made with lead wicks which as we know is not something we want in our household products, plus they leave some nasty soot marks on ceilings
-Fragrance. What the hell are “fragrances” made of?! I was really skeeved out by this. It turns out, many fragrances come from petroleum and other chemicals I would rather not breathe.
The first two things aren’t a problem with the candles I had been making. Soy wax is renewable and clean, and I use pure cotton wicks which burn cleaner and don’t emit lead into the air. The fragrance problem ended up being the most fun to resolve. I decided to use pure essential oils to create blends that would have practical and therapeutic properties.
First order of business: creating a scent that would freshen the kitchen after I burn the bacon or cook a filet of salmon. I blended lemongrass, eucalyptus and tea tree oil that would purify the air. This “Cleansing” candle is one of the most popular…I must not be the only one with a habit of burning my cooking. For my bedroom I created the “Relax” candle which is a combination of lavender, vanilla and frankincense which have calming effects. For the living room I wanted an earthy, grounding scent that wouldn’t be too feminine and would get rid of the dog smell. I went with patchouli and cedarwood and call it “Peace”. I’ve created other blends as well that all have a similar theme. They are named after the feeling they are meant to invoke or their purpose. Each room in my house has a slightly different vibe which is made in part by the aromatherapy blend I decide to use.
It is fun to play around with different blends of oils and techniques for pouring. I’ve learned my own tricks along the way. Like, if you add the oils when the wax is too hot, they may burn off or even change composition, all depending on their flash point. This may cause the candle to lose its aromatherapy effect or even create a new scent that is nothing like the original oil. I have used a variety of containers, recycled and new and embellished them in different ways. The process of making the candles is therapeutic for me. I like to quietly go through all of the motions and be very present in the act of making. I have since become very mindful of all of the products we use in our house and on our bodies. I make my own soaps, lotions, and cleaning products with therapeutic properties as well. Over time, people began asking for more of my candles so I started making big batches. My process and packaging have become more efficient, now everyone can create the environment they want with one of my blends and become more mindful about the products they use in their homes.
My latest batch of candles with new packaging and 2 new scents!
This blog was written by my talented friend, Sara White. She is an amazing yoga teacher, creator of beautiful things and all around wellness guru. I HIGHLY recommend you give her a follow on instagram and check out here website by clicking here !
