** YIKES! Watch out with Aromatherapy!

[Dria El]

Unfortunately, an emerging and serious air quality problem is soot from candles. The major culprits are scented and aromatherapy candles. Find out what you can do!
Click here: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/1690

[Kiya]

That's scarey! I was planning on buying some aromatherapy candles and coloured candles to start working with candle magic, but perhaps I'll just keep with my plain old white ones with a floppy wick (no wire) that look boring... but maybe slightly better for me!!!!!!!

Yours, hiding behind the sofa in fear,

Kiya

[MystyPines]

Merry Meet!

I am a candlemaker and the only time I have had problems with soot from candles is when there is a "lead" wick used (or wicks containing a wire). I make my candles with lead-free wicks but I do use parrafin, because beeswax is very very expensive, and I would hate to charge a customer $6.00 for 1 votive. I find that if you do not follow the standard instructions for lighting a candle, which is cutting the wick to 1/4 inch, and only burning the candle at 3 hour intervals, cutting the wick after each 3 hour burn. If you do not do this, it will cause the candle to give off black smoke.

Bright Blessings! :)

[Kiya]

Mysty, I will follow your advice. I've made candles in the past, but only for fun. I would like to start again... but it's a case of finding time!

Kiya

[Mariposa De La Luna]

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I just found a great new place for very smelly candles! I guess I'll just have to put them out instead of burn them. At least they still smell strong that way. :(

[Kaylara]

I actually like unscented candles better than scented ones anyways, and try to avoid those candles that have metal in the wicks... Thank you for posting this, I would hate to hurt the Mother in trying to worship her...

Kaylara

[Dria El]

If you want scented candles, just scent them yourselves. If I remember correctly, the article said they used synthetic oils to make them which was part of the problem. So use the real thing! :) Who knows, you might find a mixture you like better than the store bought ones anyhow. :)

[Hestia]

Thanks for the post Dria El, I remember hearing about this not too long ago. I try to avoid using scented candles because it seems to really bother my son's and my husband's allergies. When I do use scented ones, I use the kind with real essential oils (I get the Crystal Journey votives that have been magically charged, then I charge them again myself for my own spellwork). I also use the little tealights in metal cups pretty much every night and I've wondered if there's any danger coming from the little metal discs that hold the wicks up? I seem to remember hearing at one time that those weren't a good thing either.

[Dria El]

Originally posted by Hestia
I also use the little tealights in metal cups pretty much every night and I've wondered if there's any danger coming from the little metal discs that hold the wicks up? I seem to remember hearing at one time that those weren't a good thing either.

I haven't heard of anything but if I do, I'll be sure to pass it on. Though, I would think it would be a little different 'cus flame seldom comes in direct contact with it. At least on mine they don't.