Candle Lover – This is for YOU!

I used to love candles. So much. My husband and I use to go shopping JUST for candles or wax melts sometimes. We loved the baking ones, the fall scents, the “frosted Christmas tree” smells, the florals, “clean cotton”. All of them. The stronger – the BETTER! I wanted to smell them even when they weren’t lit. We loved burning candles and used to burn them all the time. 

And then I learned something that I couldn’t ignore. I learned that the air quality inside our home is 5-7x more toxic than the air outside even in largest and most industrialized areas, and that stay/work at home moms, and many other groups of people (elderly, really young people, and those with cardiovascular disease to name a few) are at higher risk because we spend more time inside our homes than others. I couldn’t knowingly pollute my air with things that were within my control, and that weren’t very expensive to change. VOCs* are released from so many things in our homes including furniture, paint, pressed wood, building materials, radon, household cleaners, air fresheners, candles, wax melts, laundry soap, dryer sheets, etc. I couldn’t afford to rebuild by house or throw out all of my furniture, but I could get rid of candles and switch my household products to things that don’t have harmful ingredients, and therefore side effects. 

Research shows we spend 90% of our time indoors, so indoor air quality is really something to consider. We have a greater health risk from our indoor air pollution than our outdoor. Let that sink in for a second. A lot of candles are made from paraffin wax, which is a petroleum by-product and is carcinogenic when burned. Carcinogenic means we KNOW it causes cancer. Cool, I love cancer candles!!! Soot from candles can aggravate the symptoms of asthma, allergies, heart and lung problems. “Aromatherapy candles” that are scented with synthetic oils release microscopic particles that can cause cancer and other health problems when inhaled. Formaldehyde is released during burning of many candles. Even UNLIT candles but off VOC emissions.

Phthalates, which make fragrances last longer are linked to male reproductive system damage and endocrine disruption (this system is in charge of our hormones. Our hormones control everything our body does. Endocrine disruption is a BIG DEAL PEOPLE). Fragrance is top 5 known allergens and can trigger asthma attacks. 

You may be wondering, how in the world are companies allowed to do this? If this is such a problem, how come we don’t hear about this on the news? It can’t be that bad or it wouldn’t be available for us to buy at the store, hell, there are entire stores dedicated JUST to candles! I just don’t think it’s as bad as you’re saying. Ok, don’t trust me. Go look it up for yourself and then come back. Do a search for “stay at home moms air quality”, “are candles toxic?”, “what is fragrance?” It IS on the news, but it doesn’t get a big spot. The EPA warns about these things on their website, but who causally peruses the EPA’s website for funsies? Not I. Do yourself a big favor and watch the documentary “Stink!” on Netflix while you’re doing your research. I’ve done all this research, it can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a friend to help you along, who’s been exactly where you are, is handy. I would love to be that friend. 

You may be thinking to yourself – but I just love candles!! I love the flicker! They’re pretty and they’re a huge part of my decor! How can I possibly still get that effect?! 

I’ve gotchu, boo. I HAVE GOT YOU. I have solutions! One of my favorite ways to replace candles is with a Young Living diffuser and essential oils. Essential oils smell incredible and are extremely versatile. They’re also much more cost effective than candles. Here’s an examples. A large tumbler candle from a well known brand coats $29.50 with an average burn time of 75-110 hours. A 5ml bottle of Christmas Spirit essential oil blend (orange, cinnamon, black spruce) from Young Living is $10.50 and that bottle has approximately 300 hours worth of diffusing! You only need 4-5 drops of essential oil in your diffuser at a time, and diffusers from YL have a 12 hours setting. Each 5ml bottle has approximately 125 drops of oil in it!

Essential oils help to purify the air, not pollute it. My favorite diffuser from Young Living, the dessert mist diffuser, had a candle flicker mode.

You can purchase a diffuser and a kit of 12 essential oils for less than you would spend at that annual stock up sale. You can feel confident that you’re making smarter and healthier decisions for yourself and your family. The essential oils that you start with are called the everyday collection because there are everyday uses for each oil in the kit. Lavender, lemon, peppermint, Raven, Thieves, peace and calming, valor, stressaway, digize, PanAway, frankincense and citrus fresh. Each of these oils can help support your body in natural ways, and there’s an oil for each system in your body. Not to mention their ability to help keep your air clean, and your home smelling amazing. 

Other candle replacement ideas:
– Himalayan salt lamp (also helps purify the air by emitting negative ions)
– Battery operated flicker candles
– Unscented Beeswax candles 
– Selenite, rose quartz or amethyst crystal lamps (Purchased from @thebrewersalley)
Salt lamps and selenite lamps have a distinct place in my home. They have such a beautiful glow and are gorgeous! They’ll also last a lifetime, and the bulbs don’t need to be replaced very often. 

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Here are some staging and ideas to inspire you (shoutout to @coachingwithcoua for helping me make awesome decor decisions and coaching me through this idea!). Where will you put your new diffuser? In your kitchen to help combat food smells, on your bedside table to help ease you into sleep, by your desk to help you focus, at your entry way table to welcome you home with a delicious scent and a mood boost, or in your baby’s room to help them sleep all night? If you’re me, the answer is all of the above! 

*Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that are found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. Once these chemicals are in our homes, they are released or “off-gas” into the indoor air we breathe.

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Young Living is the worldwide leader in essential oils. They have the highest standards on the planet, go look here www.seedtoseal.com 
Not all essential oils are created equal, and with all things, you get what you pay for. I only recommend Young Living essential oils. Don’t replace a toxic product with another toxic product because it sounds better. Do your research. Join Young Living here, and I will hold your hand during this process, and will give you exclusive access to more education on these subjects.