Four Benefits of Candles

A candle is much more than a fragrant piece of decor. A candle is many things  — an olfactory object of expression, a time-machine, a therapeutic tool. The mental health benefits of burning candles are real, according to researchers. Though it might seem silly, the science of candles for health is rooted in the practice of aromatherapy. Here are four benefits:

1. Sets The Mood - Candles transform an atmosphere through scent, changing the way we feel in space. Lighting a candle for meditation, a bath, a date or any other intention is a beloved practice for setting an ambiance anywhere.

2. Calming Effect on The Mind, Body and Spirit - Scented candles can induce calm and help to alleviate symptoms of stress, with the ability to lower cortisol. Certain candles are crafted specifically to activate chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and dopamine, to support a positive mood.

3. Supports Restful Sleep - In the 21st Century, candlelight evenings are incredibly beneficial for maintaining natural sleep rhythms. Practicing good sleep hygiene means limiting blue light by disconnecting from technology at a certain time each day.

4. Creates Consistent Self Care Routine - Burning candles can become a personal ritual to commit to reflection and relaxation. Psychologists say candles have a positive effect on mental health, and can be paired with other wellness activities like journaling and doing yoga by candlelight.

Why Scented Candles Are The Perfect Gift

Finding a gift for someone is a daunting task no matter who is on the receiving end. It takes a lot of thought, time and effort to come up with a perfect gift for a friend, loved one or family member. Candles are a great solution when looking to buy the perfect gift. They are always well received and due to their versatility, there's truly something for everyone.

Here are a few reasons why scented candles are the perfect gift for pretty much anyone.

PROVIDES AROMATHERAPY

Scented candles are great mood boosters as the scent triggers receptors in the brain that are responsible for making us feel positive. They can have a profound effect on our emotional, physical and mental state. Who wouldn't enjoy lighting a candle after a long day and feeling themselves relax and de-stress? Even if not as a gift, it is amazing to get this self-care gift for yourself as well so even you can enjoy the countless benefits of aromatherapy.

COST-EFFECTIVENESS

Scented candles are an amazing choice when you are on a budget and still want to show someone how much you care about them. You can find exceptional quality scented candles ranging from as little as $10 all the way up to $200 (and even more). There is literally a candle to match any budget.

UNIQUENESS

The best thing about scented candles is their diversity of scents. From fruity and sweet to floral and musky and everything in between there's always something for everyone. Our sense of smell is the only sense directly connected to memory and emotions.

LONG-LASTING ENJOYMENT

A good quality unlit scented candle will continue to emit fragrance for many months and even years. Once lit they provide many hours of fragrance, depending on size some can last up tp 50 hours. They are a luxurious addition to any space and will fill it with an amazing smell for you to enjoy for a long time.

SPRUCING UP YOUR SPACE

It's surprising how many people buy candles yet don't light them. Candles have a wonderful ability to add more aesthetic to any space. With their beautiful jars and subtle release of fragrance into a room, they provide a stylish focal point whether lit or not.

This is why they make great presents for others and yourself. You can get many uses out of them.

8 Reasons to Buy Hand Poured Candles Over Mass-Produced Store-Bought Candles

Candles are perfect for every occasion; they capture moments with beautiful scents and help to uplift the mood. But the deal is, not all are created equal. This blog post addresses 8 reasons why you should buy hand-poured candles instead of mass-produced store-bought candles. So, let’s jump right into it:

Zero Compromise on Candle’s Quality

Because hand-poured candles are made in small batches, the candlemaker exercises maximum quality control to ensure consistency and excellence. But, mass-produced store-bought candles are made cost-effectively using huge manufacturing machines with very little human supervision, this goes to say that there are minimal quality standards and poor control over the final product.  

Because of this, problems like misplacement of the candlewick and short-lived or inconsistent scent (this happens when fragrance oils are added at the wrong temperature, unevenly distributed, or don’t bind perfectly to the wax), and emission of soot are very common with popular mass-produced candle brands. Clearly, handmade candles are more value for your money because there is no compromise on quality—they are carefully crafted with all-natural and quality ingredients, and production is closely monitored from start to finish.

Eco-Friendly Candles

Some decades back, candle manufacturers in the US used to braid cheap cotton wick around lead wires to achieve a firm, unbending candlewick. These lead-core candles were reported by The United States Environmental Protection Agency Research and Development in an article titled, Candles and Incense as Potential Sources of Indoor Air Pollution: Market Analysis and Literature Review, to release lead in amounts higher than the recommended EPA safe limits.

 In 2003, lead-core candles were banned in the US but it is believed that they are still being imported from countries like Japan and China where there are no strict regulations guiding the candle making industry. 

Lead-core candles are highly dangerous and reduce air quality. Prolonged exposure will cause mental retardation, depression, lethargy, hormonal imbalance, complications in pregnancy, lower brain activity and development in young children, and so on. It is best to purchase locally made hand-poured candles made with cotton or wood wick, they are sustainable and great for the environment. 

They Are Not Dangerous to Your Health 

Most mass-produced candles are manufactured using paraffin wax, a byproduct of petroleum and harmful chemicals like phthalates (used to extend the scent of fragrance oils), which release carcinogenic compounds like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, acrolein, etc. into the air when burned. This toxic emission can cause serious health problems, including mutagenic effects for those that inhale it.

It can worsen respiratory complications like asthma, dyspnea, respiratory infections, and lung cancer. Hormonal imbalance resulting in reproductive difficulties can also occur from prolonged exposure to these chemicals. What’s worse is constantly burning these paraffin wax candles would stain your precious walls and ceiling with black sooty residue.

Now the question is, why do these big brands use these harmful materials? Well, it’s simple. Paraffin wax holds lower amount of fragrance for longer, is readily available, and a much cheaper alternative to beeswax, soy, or vegetable-based wax usually used in small batches of hand-poured candles. Burning hand-poured candles help to purify the air around your home.

Uniqueness

Hand-poured candles are made by real people. Every candlemaker invests quality time, unmatched devotion, and love into his craft. So, each candle is a unique representation of the makers’ story, skills, creativity, and individuality. Whenever you patronize smaller brands instead of popular mass-produced candle brands, you are encouraging the uniqueness and creativity of the craftsman.

They Bring Nature to You

Hand-poured candles are beautifully scented pure essential oils and made with all-natural ingredients. Some candlemakers decorate their candles with botanicals like jasmine flowers, orange slices, lavender, or rose petals to bring nature closer to you. They deliver an aromatherapeutic experience, perfect for sharing relaxing and intimate moments with your beloved.

Customizable Candles

You can work with directly artisans who make hand-poured candles on customized products. They’d be happy to customize the exact colors, scents, and fragrance to your preference. They can make personalized gifts for family, holidays, weddings, religious ceremonies or rituals, etc.

They Are Unconventional and Trendy

Unlike popular mass-produced candle brands, local artisans and candlemakers are quick to experiment and create trends. They spend time understanding their production process, and it is more affordable and flexible for them to innovate new products or jump on trends.

They Support the Local Economy

Whenever you purchase hand-poured candles from local artisans or craftsmen, you help support their dream while contributing to the growth of the local economy. This adds up to create job opportunities and a better flow of money.

Hand-poured candles are high-quality, unique, safe, and customizable. What’s not to love about them? Have you ever purchased a hand-poured candle? What was your experience? Please share it with us in the comments.

Original article here.

Scents For Productivity & Focus

Have you ever walked past a certain aroma and instantly experienced a flashback to your childhood? This happens because smells that enter your body have a direct link to your memory center. Better yet, have you experienced where certain scents have a calming effect? Some scents can even help you focus and in turn increases productivity. There are scores of studies that show scents affect things like memory, concentration, sustained attention and cognitive function to improve productivity.

When you hear, touch or taste something, that information passes through the thalamus, the part of the brain that relays sensory information, before reaching its correlated part of the brain. As such, you’re aware of the sense before you’re aware of the memory or emotion it corresponds to.

Smells, however, bypass the thalamus and head straight to the olfactory bulb, which is directly connected to the hippocampus (which is responsible for your memory) and the amygdala (where you process your emotions). Because odors are first routed through these regions before reaching the thalamus, they’re more closely linked to memory. This explains why aromatherapy can have a profound effect on our emotional, physical and mental state.

Here are 5 Scents That Improve Focus and Productivity:

1. Lemon - The tangy scent of lemon arouses the senses and improves cognitive function. Use lemon to help you power through that long proposal!

2. Lavender - Sweet-smelling lavender improves concentration by recharging the brain during rest time. This allows you to return to work more revived than you would be otherwise.

3. Jasmine - The smell of jasmine has stimulatory effect on the nervous system. It’s used to re-energize and promote a sense of well-being and a positive mood. Sniff it during a break for an instant refresher.

4. Citrus - Bright, light citrus aromas are helpful for staying awake and alert. Take a whiff before an important afternoon meeting to power up.

5. Peppermint - Peppermint improves attention and concentration. It also enhances the accuracy of memory and increases alertness.

So, while we purchase fragrances and candles because they just smell good. Next time when you’re shopping for scents take into consideration the effect it has on focus, attention, mood and productivity.

Browse the UnOrthoDoc Candle Co. Collection below for some of these scents.

Your Candle Toolbox

Your Candle Accessories Toolbox 

Yes, there is such a thing! Here are 3 candle tools every candle enthusiast should have on hand:

1. Wick Trimmer – Wick trimming is always recommended. This ensures an all-around better burn and eliminates the awkward trimming with regular scissors once the candle nears its end. 

2. Wick Dipper – Picture this: your candle has filled your home with a wonderful perfume, only for you to blow it out and replace that fragrance with smoke. What a waste! This brilliant little tool extinguishes your candles cleanly and without the smoke, leaving you to enjoy the lingering aroma of your candle. 

3. Candle Snuffer – Used for centuries, candle snuffers are also used to extinguish candle flames. So what’s the difference between this and a this and a wick dipper? While wick dippers work great for container candles, candle snuffers can be used for all types of candles. Consider this one the OG of candle tools. 

We've Been Featured in Voyage Houston Magazine!

A couple weeks a go we sat down with Voyage Houston Magazine to tell our story and how UnOrthoDoc Candle Co. came about. The story includes our journey, our processes and even our struggles.

To read about us, check out our feature below:

Tumbler ReUse: Whisky Glasses

You’re a candle lover (who isn’t, right?) and you’ve accumulated a stash of jars and tumblers that you’re not sure what to do with. Instead of throwing them out, there are really cool, fun and creative ways you can repurpose your container - one of which is turning it into a whisky glass.

Here’s How We Repurpose Our Tumblers Into Whisky Glasses.

Gather your tumblers, remove all remnants of wax and wash them thoroughly. Remove label to reveal your new tumbler, ready to be repurposed.

Step 1: Remove old wax and wash your tumbler thoroughly

Step 2: Remove label

Step 3: Gather all Ingredients

• Sugar

• Orange Bitters

• Orange Peel & Slices (for garnish)

• Cashews, Cherries, Cranberries, Bacon bits or strips (for garnish)

• Ice Spheres

• Rye Whisky

Not pictured: Cherries, Cranberries, Cashews and Bacon bits

Step 4: Pour a drink (see video)

Once you're finished with your candles, there's no need to throw out the tumblers. There are many uses for your containers. In this video I am showing you ho...

Step 5: Garnish & Serve

Voila! Garnish and serve.

take it up a touch and add condiments

There are a myriad of other ways to reuse your tumblers. Stay tuned for more tips!

A Guide to Non-Toxic Candles

Burning candles is an effortless way to shift the mood and awaken the senses through sight and scent. They are the perfect add-on to your self-care routine. Although they might help you stick to your rituals, the truth is that despite their warm glow, pleasant scent and feel-good vibes, most scented candles are an unhealthy source of indoor air pollution.

Many conventional candles contain toxins. Their waxes are known carcinogens, some of which can even be found in diesel fumes. Their wicks can contain heavy metals like lead, and their artificial scents and dyes are known allergens and respiratory irritants.

Paraffin wax, the type that most candles on the market are made from, is a petroleum byproduct that creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned. Both of those are known carcinogens. I’m not sating your candles are giving you cancer but rather that they re a source of indoor air pollution.

Fortunately, there are some healthier alternatives to petroleum-based candles. Candles made from 100% soy, beeswax or coconut wax that has cotton or wood wicks, and uses essentials oil fragrances are fantastic options.

NATURAL CANDLES = BETTER AIR QUALITY

WAX & WICK

Our candles are made from 100% organic soy wax which burns cleaner than any other wax type. Each candle is hand poured in small batches to ensure quality and consistency. We use 100% cotton wicks and high quality, phthalate free fragrance oils to ensure that our candles burn clean and produce toxin free scents.

SOY WAX

Soy candles are made from soybeans, a natural, renewable source grown in many regions by local farmers. A candle made from soy wax burns cleaner than many other types of waxes They are non-toxic, so they won't release toxins into the air as they burn. They typically last longer than a candle made of paraffin wax of the same size. The reason behind the longevity of soy candles is the slower burning time and cooler burning temperature of the soybean-based wax. Because they burn more slowly, the scent is gradually released; thus there won't be an immediate wave of strong scent. This creates a more pleasant atmosphere for most as the scent won’t be overpowering. Soy wax is also biodegradable, making it an investment that benefits the environment. Using candles made from soy supports local agriculture and farmers, allowing them to make money and grow their operations. While you may pay more for a soy candle initially, the longer-lasting burn means you won't have to buy new candles as often.

BEESWAX

Candles made of beeswax are also a great option. Beeswax helps to purify the air by emitting negative ions, which bind to positive ions, reducing indoor air pollution. Beeswax also burns clean and purifies the air at the same time! Negative ions also relieve stress, boost energy and alertness levels, reduce the amount of dust mites and dander in the air, and they may help protect against airborne germs by attaching to positively charged ions that are holding other contaminants airborne.

COCONUT WAX

Candles made of coconut wax are pretty new to the candle industry but is also a great option. Coconut was is made from cold-pressed organic coconut meat, the same way Coconut Oil is extracted. It then goes through a hydrogenation process, where coconut oil is transformed into a creamy white coloured candle wax. It’s non toxic and burns cleaner than other types of candle wax. Coconut wax emits zero soot particles and does not blacken walls nor add toxic carcinogens into the air. In addition, it burns slower and longer.

So, the next time you go shopping for candles make sure to read your labels to ensure you are purchasing a candle that is non-toxic and healthy and is made from any of the above wax types.

The Basics of Candle Burning

Candles are a relaxing and gorgeous addition to any home, but as open flames, they have the potential to become as dangerous as any other fire source. Although candles are one of the leading causes of accidental fires in one’s home, they are preventable through following three easy steps:

1. Do not leave any candle unattended for extended periods of time.

2. Keep candles away from (and out of reach of) children and pets.

3. Keep candles away from anything flammable (such as curtains or plants).

In addition to these basic tips, there are various things to consider before lighting a candle, while a candle is burning, and when extinguishing a candle’s flame. In addition to those listed above, here are other things to take note of:

BEFORE LIGHTING A CANDLE

• Invest in candleholders, decorative plates or coasters. This adds a lovely ornament to your candle and protects your surfaces from the heat or from unwanted drips of hot wax.

• Trim the wick about 1/4 of an inch to ensure even burning.

• When lighting for the first time, burn the candle until wax melts across the entire surface up to the sides of the vessel.

• Don’t light your candle in a windy or breezy space as flames can easily be carried across rooms.
  

WHILE A CANDLE IS BURNING

• Make sure that candles are at least three inches away from one another to avoid fusion and flaring.

• Do not burn your candles for more than 4 hours at a time and never leave them burning unattended.

• While you may initially think that candles should be burned to stubs, candles should actually be discontinued when 1/2 inch of wax is remaining in order to avoid heat damage to the container itself or the countertop or surface.

• When using soy candles consider keeping windows and doors closed for the first 30 minutes before entering the room. This will allow for maximum fragrance. Do not do this with other types of candles that might be toxic example: paraffin.
  

WHEN EXTINGUISHING A CANDLE

• While blowing out a candle is still perfectly fine with small candles such as birthday cake candles or tea lights, you’ll want to use a candle snuffer for larger candles to prevent a smokey scent or any spray of hot wax.

• Do not use water to extinguish a flame, as moisture can cause candle bases to crack or break.

• Before leaving an extinguished candle unattended, make sure that it is actually completely out.

• Wait until the candle and holder are completely cool before moving them in order to avoid burns and wax spills.