How to choose scented candles. how to make a scented candle how to light a scented candle
It has long been no secret to anyone that smells play an important role in our lives. Nowadays, incense sticks and candles are in great demand and popularity, helping to create the right atmosphere in the room. With the help of properly selected aromas, you can relax and unwind, focus your attention on something, calm nerves shattered by constant stress or cheer you up. However, some smells can, on the contrary, bring only trouble: cause an attack of headache and nausea, make you lethargic or irritable ...
SOURCE OF FRAGRANCE
In order for a pleasant aroma to spread throughout the house, apartment or office, it is necessary to choose the most suitable source of odor accumulation. An aroma lamp, scented candles or sticks can act as such.
According to the designers, scented candles are the best source of pleasant aroma and an object that creates a special atmosphere in the room. Cute candles of various shapes and sizes with your favorite aromas will not only fill the room with a pleasant smell, but also create an unobtrusive atmosphere of comfort and warmth, soft light.
However, despite the fact that incense sticks cannot fill the room with warm light, they do not become less popular and in demand because of this. They can be successfully used in a wide variety of rooms, while remaining unnoticed. You can use incense sticks even in the office to tune in to the "right wave", recharge your batteries and spend the day usefully for business.
Incense sticks are one of the most convenient types of incense to use. The method of making these sticks is quite simple: a base impregnated with a fragrant composition is applied to a wooden stick or a sliver. The base can be made of wood or coal.
You can determine what the basis of incense sticks is by their color. So, the sticks, the basis of which is made of coal, have a rich black color, and when burning in the room, only the aroma with which they are saturated will soar.
If the incense sticks you purchased are brown or beige, then they are based on wood chips, which are impregnated with a special plant mass or oils and resins. Such sticks are no worse than "coal" ones, just when burning, the smell of natural plants from which the base is made will be mixed with the aroma of the composition with which they are impregnated.
The aroma emitted by the sticks is revealed in the same way as the aroma of perfume, it is revealed gradually: the first note is the fastest evaporating, the second is the note of the heart and the third note of the fragrance soaks all objects in the room for several days.
The ideal material for scented candles is natural wax, which does not smoke when burned and emits a pleasant aroma, however, most often, purified paraffin, dyed in a wide variety of colors, is used as a base. Aromatic oils or waxes are added to add fragrance to the candle.
Scented paraffin candles are often sold with a special candle holder or in a glass. A beautiful scented candle will decorate your home or office.
CHOOSE A FRAGRANCE
In order not to make a mistake with the choice of aroma, ideally, you need to familiarize yourself with the effect of certain aromas on the human body. However, in order not to process such a large amount of information, you can try to choose the most suitable aromas for you using a horoscope. If you do not believe in predictions and horoscopes, you can make a choice based on your preferences in fragrances or whether you have certain health problems.
Impulsive and energetic people, who are very often exposed to headaches and toothaches, viruses, colds and eye diseases, the aroma of lemon, which has a powerful tonic and a pronounced antiviral effect, is perfect. Thanks to the inhalation of this aroma, headaches and nausea disappear, immunity is strengthened. They can also quite successfully use scented candles and sticks with scents of pine, sandalwood, incense, patchouli and vanilla.
If your life has a lot of “a lot” - a lot of work, a lot of emotions and feelings, a lot of bad habits, a lot of fuss and various worries, and from all this your energy declines, despondency and indifference begin, jasmine will help you relax and calm down. Also, inhalation of this aroma is indicated for diseases of the throat, neck, nose and other sensory organs.
Aroma sticks or candles with jasmine will help to relax, relieve stress, increase the body's defenses. In addition, scented candles for the home (or sticks) with the smells of pine, lilac, cedar, lily of the valley and bergamot will be excellent helpers.
For people who are worried about insomnia, allergies up to asthma attacks, nervous breakdowns and diseases of the joints of the hands, sandalwood will help alleviate the condition. This aroma will help overcome depression and insomnia, relieve headaches, unpleasant colds, and eliminate problems in the stomach.
And if you are overwhelmed by boredom and depression after a sleepless night, an aromatic candle in a glass with the smell of orange, cinnamon, myrrh, vanilla and ylang-ylang will help restore the taste for life.
In our life, full of stress and worries, diseases of the heart and blood vessels are very common. An excellent scent to support the heart in working condition is the scent of rose. Inhalation of rose aroma improves blood circulation, relieves nervous tension, and strengthens the vascular system. It is also good for the "cores" to inhale the aromas of patchouli, almond, incense and rosemary.
The aroma of eucalyptus will help to cope with intestinal problems, it has anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects, perfectly disinfects and deodorizes the air. You can also use cedar, orange, lemongrass and myrrh.
When choosing candles, it is necessary to pay attention to the wick, which must be made of natural thread, since when burning, a synthetic wick will change the aroma. If you are buying a set of scented candles, take the trouble to check each candle separately for integrity and no chips or cracks.
HOW TO USE?
Any aromatic accessories, whether candles or sticks, are best lit in a pre-ventilated area. The duration of burning incense should be no more than 30 minutes, only in this case the maximum benefit will be obtained from the procedure. When used, the sticks are arranged vertically - this way the aroma is more fully revealed and the occurrence of a fire is prevented.
And most importantly, in order for scented candles or sticks to give you an unforgettable experience and create the right atmosphere, do not forget to follow fire safety rules.
IS THERE HARM?
Danish scientists claim that the constant inhalation of aromas from sticks and candles increases the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, I advise you not to get too carried away with aromatherapy - everything is good in moderation.
BE BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY!
And candlesticks can decorate any interior.
To do this, you do not need to buy candles and / or candlesticks, as they can be do it yourself using old candles kept at home and a few handy tools.
Here are some cool ideas on how you can beautiful and fragrant candles and candlesticks for them at home.
How to make coffee candles
You will need:
Small bowls or glasses
Candle wax (can be cut from old candles, melted and used)
candle wick
Super glue
coffee beans
Sliced vanilla beans
Pot.
1. Melt the paraffin in the microwave, in a saucepan on an electric stove or in a water bath.
2. Glue the wick to the bottom of a bowl, glass or other shape where you will pour the melted wax next.
3. Pour some paraffin into the mold, add a layer of coffee beans and a layer of vanilla beans. After that, fill out the form to the end. Try to keep the wick straight.
* While pouring paraffin, it can be stirred with a stick.
4. Wait for the paraffin to harden and, if necessary, cut off the excess part of the wick.
How to make a candle (video instruction)
Beautiful candles at home: animals
You will need:
Paraffin (can be from an old candle)
small toy animals
Small candlesticks (with a thin stem)
Drill with a small drill or any thin, hard and sharp object (to make a hole in the toy for a candlestick)
Pliers
Spray paint or acrylic paint.
1. Hold the toy animal with pliers and make a hole in it so that you can insert the candle holder. Be careful not to pierce the toy through.
2. Paint the toy on all sides. If you are using spray paint, then you need to paint outdoors, and preferably with a respiratory mask (spray paint contains substances that are harmful to health).
* If desired, you can paint the candlesticks.
* Let the paint dry, and then you can light candles or just put candle holders in a prominent place so that they decorate the interior.
DIY shell candles at home
You will need:
deep shells
Paraffin
Short wick
Super glue
Pot.
1. Put the shells on the newspaper.
2. Glue the wick to the bottom of the shell.
3. Melt the paraffin and pour it into the shells.
4. Wait for the paraffin to cool down and you will have the perfect decoration for the bathroom, for example.
Making candles with cinnamon (photo instruction)
You will need:
cinnamon sticks
Thick candle (unscented)
Elastic.
1. Put a rubber band on your candle.
2. Start putting cinnamon sticks under the gum.
* You can use two or three elastic bands for reliability.
* You can decorate the candle with braid, jute sackcloth and / or a sprig with berries (can be artificial).
Homemade candle with spices
You will need:
4 small jars (or 2 large)
2 tbsp. tablespoons of spice (can be cinnamon or a mixture of several spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg)
Olive or nut oil (1/2 cup)
Long wick (about 30cm)
Paraffin
Adhesive tape (adhesive tape)
Scissors
Pot.
1. Pour some oil into a saucepan and put on a small fire, but do not bring to a boil.
2. Add spices to the oil and stir.
3. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. Pour the resulting solution into a jar and let it brew for no more than 2 days.
5. Melt the paraffin - cut a piece of paraffin (new or from an old candle), place in a saucepan and put on a small fire.
6. Prepare the wick. Attach it to the bottom of the jar with tape.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the jar.
8. Pour the melted paraffin into the jar and stir to combine the oil and paraffin.
9. Place the jar in the freezer for 20 minutes or just in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
10. When you light a candle, you will feel a pleasant aroma.
Do-it-yourself lemon candle (master class)
You will need:
Paraffin or beeswax
lemon essential oil
Container for paraffin (form).
1. Melt the paraffin in a saucepan over low heat.
2. From a saucepan, pour some melted paraffin wax into the bottom of a candle mold and insert a wick.
* The wick can also be pre-glued to the bottom of the container.
3. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the paraffin pan.
4. Pour the melted paraffin into the mould, keeping the wick level.
5. Wait for the wax to cool down.
* You can decorate the candle with jute and film, making it a great addition to a gift.
Making a candle with lavender at home
You will need:
soy wax
soy wicks
Thermometer
flavoring agent
A jar or other container for a candle.
1. Place soy wax in a saucepan and heat to 60-70 degrees. For one large soy candle, you will need 2 cups of crushed wax.
2. While the wax is melting, glue the wick to the candle container.
3. Remove the wax from the stove and let cool to 50 degrees. After that, add a flavoring agent - vanilla aroma oil or lavender.
4. Pour the melted soy wax into the jar. Try to keep the wick straight, for this you can press it with chopsticks or toothpicks.
5. The wax will harden overnight, after which the candle can be used, and if necessary, part of the wick can be cut off if it is too long.
Here is another way to make a scented candle at home:
Summer citrus candles at home
You will need:
jars
floating candles
Lemons and lime
Essential oil with a lemon or other citrus scent
aromatic herbs
Twine or braid.
1. Cut lemons and limes into slices.
2. Place the herbs in the jar. Rosemary, thyme, lavender, and chamomile were used in this example.
3. Fill the jar halfway with water and add 10 drops of essential oil.
4. Place lemon and lime wedges in a jar and top up with water.
5. Now it remains to put a candle on the water and decorate the jar with twine or braid.
This post-instruction is for those who prefer really nice-smelling candles to the chemicals that are sold in our stores. Of course, there are manufacturers who add really natural oils to their products, but these candles are very expensive. So if you have a desire to tinker a little and try your hand at making candles, have patience and, of course, free time, this post is just for you.
Ingredients
I will try to give you the most concise and understandable instructions for making scented candles.
You will need:
- wax or paraffin (you can use old candles);
- essential oils of your choice;
- lace;
- scissors;
- small glass jars into which candles will be poured;
- heat-resistant dishes for melting wax;
– a special thermometer for measuring the temperature of melted wax (optional);
- a thin wooden stick;
- tape measure or ruler;
- cutting board;
- a nut to hold the cord.
Manufacturing
1. Wash and dry the containers in which you are going to fill the candles. These can be small glass jars, tall glasses of various shapes, ceramic or porcelain cups.
2. Line your work surface with baking paper. Since the wax will be soft, it can stick to the table and be difficult to remove.
3. Break a bar of wax or an old candle into small pieces so that they melt faster.
4. Now you need to prepare the wick for the candle - make the "seed". This will ensure that the wick matches the color of the candle, burns more slowly, and is easier to install. So, first you need to melt the wax! Pour a small amount of small pieces of wax or paraffin into a bowl and place it in a water bath. When the wax melts, put the wick of the length you need there for 20-30 seconds. Then remove from the bowl with tweezers and place on baking paper. Straighten the wick, straighten it and roll it a little on the table, as if you were making a plasticine sausage. Leave to dry for 10 minutes.
5. After the wick is dry, thread it through the nut to help hold the bottom of the wick to the bottom of the candle. It can be found either in needlework stores, or borrowed from tea candles.
©photo
6. Reheat the wax, add the remaining pieces there and melt. Then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. You can make mono smells, or you can try mixtures. For example, a few drops of cedar oil, a couple of drops of eucalyptus and three drops of citrus essential oil. Mix the wax well with a wooden spatula.
7. Remove the wax from the fire. Pour about 1/4 of the wax into an ovenproof dish.
8. Pour a little wax into the prepared candlesticks, making sure that the wick is always in the middle. Leave to harden for 20-25 minutes. This will help keep the wick in the middle as the candle fills up.
9. Heat the remaining wax, pour it into a heat-resistant dish and fill the candles to the end.
10. Carefully wind the remaining top of the wick onto the wooden stick so that the tension is not very strong. Otherwise, you can pull the nut from the bottom and have to redo everything again. Attach the wick to the stick and place it on the edge of the candlestick so that the wick stays in the center of the candle.
©photo
11. When the candle is completely cool, trim the wick so that a small tail about 5 mm long remains above the surface.
Trim the tail of the wick each time after using the candle. This is especially true for candles with glass candlesticks, which can burst from overheating if the wick is too long.
Scented candles create a mood, relieve fatigue, envelop with a bouquet of aromas - but they also pose a threat.
Experts say that breathing scented vapors all evening is no less harmful than being a passive smoker for several hours. In a room where aroma candles burn for a long time, the concentration of hazardous substances in the air is about the same as in cigarette smoke.
Of course, it is not necessary to refuse candles. But it is worth considering safety precautions.
WHAT SMELLS?
You have probably noticed that aroma lamps or aroma candles often exude a smell that is not quite the same as that indicated on the package. For example, the annotation says that the candle should have the smell of an orange or an apple with cinnamon, but when you light it, the room smells of something unfamiliar, albeit pleasant.
The answer is simple: even if the candle is scented with natural essential oils, the fragrance burns out in the process. The oil is very hot, the chemical structure of the substance changes, and the aroma is distorted. At the same time, the vast majority of aroma candles sold in our stores contain artificial flavors, which in themselves are not good for health.
BAD LUCK
Most recently, the environmental council of Oregon (USA) raised the topic of the danger of aroma candles. The reason was an unpleasant story that happened to a resident of the city of Portland Ashley Henry. The woman was seriously fascinated by scented candles, made them the whole apartment - and as a result, she developed bronchial asthma. She developed hypersensitivity to volatile chemical compounds. Now in Henry's house there are not only candles, but also perfumes and air fresheners. Even the flavoring components that make up shampoos and washing powders cause a woman to experience a strong burning sensation in the respiratory tract and can provoke an asthma attack.
According to doctors, Ashley got off lightly: the substances contained in the candles can lead not only to asthma, but also to eczema and other skin diseases.
WHAT ARE THEY DANGEROUS?
Read the list of ingredients on the candle label carefully. It certainly has the item "aromatic fragrance". This fragrance, in turn, has a rather complex chemical composition, which in most cases manufacturers do not consider it necessary to describe in detail. And it would be worth it.
In particular, it has been established that many candles contain diethyl phthalate, an artificially synthesized substance, an ester of orthophthalic acid. It acts as a fixative: with its help, the smell acquires resistance. At the same time, it has been proven that diethyl phthalate in large quantities can cause problems with the reproductive system. It is especially harmful to inhale it to pregnant women: it can provoke the appearance of birth defects in a child.
The most popular candles are those made from paraffin: they are inexpensive and burn for a long time. But when paraffin is heated, unpleasant volatile organic substances such as benzene and toluene are released into the air. They hit the respiratory tract: with constant and prolonged inhalation, they can lead to asthma and even lung cancer.
Another important part of a candle is the wick. It should be made of natural fabric, not lead. When heated, lead releases compounds that adversely affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems. In America, the use of lead in candle wicks was banned in 2000; we still have it allowed. Fortunately, such candles are easy to recognize: if a thin metal rod shines through the white cotton of the wick, it is better to refrain from buying.
SUCH CANDLES WE NEED
Scented candles made from beeswax and soy wax can be considered absolutely safe. Beeswax is 100% natural. Burning, these candles emit a delicate aroma of honey and propolis. Soy wax is a relatively new and also completely natural product, obtained, as you might guess, from soybeans.
Compared to paraffin candles, bee and soy candles burn much cleaner, leaving little to no soot. As a rule, they are scented with natural essential oils, not synthetic ones. The only disadvantage of wax and soy candles is that they are the most expensive. But this is the case when you should not save on the feeling of a holiday.
TO BURN OR NOT TO BURN?
And if you have already stocked up for the holiday with paraffin candles - what, throw them away? Of course not.
* Light aroma candles only in a pre-ventilated (at least 10 minutes) room.
* Don't burn too many candles at once. There are no exact safety standards - it all depends on the size of the room and the candles themselves. So use common sense and double your caution if you have small children or allergies in the house.
* Do not make candles burn around the clock in the entire apartment.
* Do not try to mask unpleasant odors with them.
If you burn a candle a couple of times a week for 20-30 minutes, even a paraffin one will not cause much harm.
Pre-holiday days fill store shelves with an incredible variety of candles - how to make the right choice and what purchases should be avoided?
Shine everywhere
A rare perfume brand does not release its line of candles. There is practically no boutique or hotel where they do not distribute their fragrance - often it is custom-made by such famous perfumers as Olivia Giacobetti, Isabelle Doyen, Celine Ellena, Rami Mekdachi (Rami Mekdachi). With the onset of cold weather, candles are replacing flowers on restaurant tables. Their soft light makes the interior more refined and spiritual.
Their hypnotic flame is conducive to trust, intimacy, seduction. Creates a chamber atmosphere for intimate conversations or for meditation, soothes, lulls. One way to indulge in bliss is to take a bath surrounded by scented candles.
What is worth the candle
The price of high-quality candles reaches 20-40 euros. “If the amount is lower, then you risk buying a product of dubious quality, for example, with a glass candlestick that can crack from heat,” explains Patty Canac, an olfaction specialist and professor at the Isipca Institute of Perfumes and Cosmetics (France). The surface of the candle should be smooth - this indicates that it contains mineral wax, which can convey all the notes of the fragrance, even the lightest ones, such as the aroma of citrus fruits. “It is better to give preference to candles in transparent glass, then, by turning it over, it will be easier for you to check whether the wick attached to the bottom of the metal substrate of the glass is located exactly in the center. This is the guarantee of its quality: the wick will not bend, and the candle will burn out to the end, ”says Patty Kanak. This substrate should not be made of lead (it is harmful to health), but of zinc. To check this, rub it against a piece of white paper: if you find traces of gray, then it contains lead. Pigments help thicken the wax, so a colorless (white) candle burns more evenly and releases fragrance better. The wick must be made of cotton. Candles that are too large in diameter, as a rule, do not burn out to the end. And if they have several wicks, make sure that they are not too close to each other.
fiery fragrance
The content of a perfume to create a pleasant smell should range from 10 to 12%, but this also depends on its notes: jasmine, for example, is brighter than musk. “Some cheap candles only have the surface scented, using an eyedropper,” says Patty Kanak. “They smell good when bought and after the first ignition.” There are "noses" that specialize in creating perfume compositions designed exclusively to interact with wax. “Scenting a candle is a very complex process,” continues Patti Kanak. “We need to test every perfume ingredient in the wax. Creating a perfume composition for a candle is a little different from what is used for skin: there is no olfactory pyramid, which means there are no top, heart and base notes. The aroma of a candle does not undergo such metamorphoses as on the skin, it opens immediately. This implies compliance with certain rules and a balance of all components. High-quality wax, perfume and wick are the key to success. A good candle burns for a long time and evenly (there is no funnel on the surface), it does not smoke, the wick remains straight and is in the middle, and a pleasant aroma emanates from it until the very end of burning (up to 60 hours).
Which wax is best
“In fact, it is better to choose mineral wax candles that meet European and American quality standards - they do not emit harmful fumes,” says Patty Kanak. “Vegetable wax burns correctly, without forming soot and burning on the glass, but it is consumed faster and retains aroma worse.” There are several vegetable waxes (soy, carnauba, jojoba, copra oil or palm oil). As for beeswax, it is very environmentally friendly, but it is extremely difficult to flavor it (because the natural smell is quite strong) and the price is high. “Beeswax is more commonly used to make simple candles,” says Norbert Hiblot, owner of Geodesis, which makes its own scented candles. – For candles filled in containers, we prefer to use mineral wax, it is softer. Our task is to make sure that the surface of the candle quickly melts, which leads to the release of aroma.
What if they are toxic?
“In Europe, suppositories are part of the European Pharmacopoeia and pass the appropriate toxicity tests,” says Norber Yblo. “However, there is a risk associated with non-controlled products. For example, cheap raw materials or candles from China can release benzene, a carcinogen.” Patty Kanak does not recommend buying small candles, which are usually sold in packs of 50: “Their wax is not of good quality. The same goes for candles sold in small plastic molds – plastic melts easily.” She also advises to buy only high-quality, expensive candles and not to use them often - especially when it comes to scented candles. Then these rare moments will become precious in every sense.
How to take care of them
- Trim the wick regularly, but only when the candle has cooled - the length should be about 5 mm so that the flame is not too high and there is no smoke.
- While the wax is still warm and liquid, the wick can be corrected by placing it in the center with tweezers.
- You should not light a new scented candle right before the arrival of guests - until the surface is completely melted, the aroma will not be felt. It is better to do this the day before or a few hours before the guests arrive. If after that you light the candle for only a short period, you will immediately feel a rich aroma.
- In a smoking home, you can choose stronger scents (floral, woody, spicy) to help neutralize the smell of cigarette smoke. Strong aromas are also suitable for those whose home is full of upholstered furniture and fabrics - carpet, curtains, pillows absorb any smell.
- Do not light scented candles during dinner - as a rule, this does not go well with the smell of food.