The problem with synthetics

There’s a lot of confusing information about what ‘natural’ really means, so let’s clear things up.

Most conventional candle and fragrance brands use petroleum wax, synthetic fragrance and scent boosters. This means they can make a small amount of fragrance go a lot further, which makes them cheaper to produce. Unfortunately, synthetic candles are full of toxic compounds and when burned, they can release acetone, benzene and toluene – all known carcinogens.

How do I know what’s natural and what isn’t?

Today, many new fragrance brands use soy wax which is great, but they are still using synthetic fragrance or a blend of synthetic fragrance and essential oils. Just using natural wax does not make a candle natural. For a fragrance brand to be 100% natural, it needs to say 100% natural fragrance, meaning they only use pure essential oils.

Why choose 100% natural fragrance?

Because of the essential oils. Not just for their smell, but also for their scientifically proven aromatherapeutic benefits. Once you start using natural fragrances, you just can’t get enough of the cleanness of the smell. Natural fragrance isn’t overwhelming or intense, it doesn’t give you a headache or make you feel nauseous. We like the analogy that the difference between natural and synthetic is like comparing a pine scented air freshener to walking through a pine forest.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They’re made by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves or fruit) to capture the compounds that produce fragrance.

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a form of holistic healing using essential oils and natural plant extracts to help create emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical balance.

How does it work?

When a person inhales an essential oil, the scent is carried by olfactory nerve cells in the nose to the olfactory system, which sends the aroma to the brain. This is the limbic system, the house of emotions and emotional behaviour, such as intimacy, passion and sex.

Depending on the oil, you may begin to feel more alert or more relaxed, more excited or aroused. You may feel the release of negative emotions and/or the soothing of muscle tension, and mood enhancers like serotonin and endorphins can be released.