The term "aromatherapy" is a branch of alternative medicine which
claims that the specific "aromas" carried by the essential oils have
curative effects. The healing art "aromatherapy" traces back to 4,000
B.C. where the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Persians use to burn herbs
and flowers for curative and cosmetic purposes. In ancient Egypt, plant
oils were widely used for spiritual relaxation, cosmetics and for
embalming and mummification of the dead.
The term "aromatherapy
candles" is used loosely in Western societies, because, unlike other
cultures, we mainly use "aromatherapy candles" for "aesthetic" qualities
vs. healing qualities. We want the calming, soothing aromas to aid in
meditation, bathing and relaxing activities.
Natural candles are
becoming more popular with the development of natural waxes such as soy
wax and palm waxes. There is a greater desire by consumers to go "green"
with all natural ingredients in candle making. Using all natural soy
wax that is a renewable resource, grown right here in the U.S.A. has
gained popularity in the few years, since the development of soy wax in
1998. Soy wax is hydrogenated soybean oil that is non-toxic,
biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Combining all natural
ingredients, including natural scents, to make an "aromatherapy" candle
is highly desirable.
A lot of so called "aromatherapy" candles out
on the market today contain paraffin wax (which is a byproduct of the
crude oil process) and fragrance oils that are chemically derived. Some
major manufacturers have paraffin wax, combined with natural scents.
Some have natural waxes combined with chemical derived synthetic scents.
My idea of a natural "aromatherapy candle" is one that is all natural.
So, what are natural scents? They are essential oils.
Essential
oils are volatile parts of plants, trees, fruits and roots that are
extracted by various methods: steam distillation, cold-press extraction,
chemical solvent extraction and the effleurage method. Essential oils
that are "pure" will mostly have their botanical name on the jar, and
come in dark colored bottles for protection from sunlight. They should
be stored in cool, dark places, and out of reach of children and pets.
Other essential oils are blended with carrier oils such as jojoba and
are considered "diluted". Some candle manufacturers sell "essential
oils", but they come in clear plastic containers, and are synthetically
derived, or are blended with alcohol or other solvents.
Because of
their concentrated nature, pure essential oils can be more expensive
than fragrance oils and come in small bottles - drams (1/8 oz), 1/6 oz.,
etc. They either have a closed lid or a dropper to distribute the
essential oils. Price can range from anywhere from $5 to $75 for a
fraction of an ounce of pure essential oils.
So, how do you use
essential oils in candle making? Good question - and there are many
answers to that question, depending on who you talk to. When I
originally tried to research this topic a year ago, there was very
little information out on the Internet, with candle supply companies, or
any e-books I purchased. One year later, there is a wide variety of
answers published in articles, candle supply websites, and so-called
"candle gurus". Some experts claim that usage per pound of wax is 1 oz -
which is similar to using fragrance oils. Now, 1 oz of pure essential
oils can be either incredibly strong or incredibly expensive. Others
claim that using as little 3-20 drops/pound of wax.
I personally believe that the aromatherapy candles should use much less essential oils than fragrance oils for two reasons:
1
Style & Taste. When using essential oils in aromatherapy candles, I
want a milder, less dominant, natural scent aroma from the essential
oils. I don't want an over-powering Cinnamon Spice fragrance oil aroma
that's going to fill my entire house for days. I want a "natural"
candle, because I want a soothing, relaxing, mild, fresh, natural aroma
that gives just enough scent to soothe my senses for a beautiful bubble
bath, meditation, yoga or Pilates exercises. I don't want the aroma
competing with what I'm trying to achieve - relaxation.
2. Cost.
Essential oils are expensive, and cost should be considered when buying
and using "pure" essential oils in candle making. First of all one dram
(1/8 oz) of 100% pure Peppermint oil (made right here in the U.S.A.) on
sale was $5/dram plus shipping. Honestly, do you think you it's cost
effective to use $5 of Peppermint oil in one 8-12 oz. soy candle? I
don't think so, besides, it may be too strong. Fragrance oils (mainly
synthetics) can be 10 times less expensive when purchased in bulk. I've
used blends of essential oils with 1/6 oz. and made three 12 oz. soy
candles, and they were perfectly scented. So, it's the cost/benefit rule
you have to apply in determining how much you're willing to pay to
achieve your desired outcome.
Another important consideration in
how much essential oils to use in candle making, is using the wax
manufacturers guide in how much fragrance/essential oils that the wax
will absorb in order to make a safe candle. I primarily use 100% soy
waxes for my candle making, and the manufacturers recommendation is to
use 3-9% of fragrance oil per pound of soy wax. There are additives
which can increase those percentages, but I mainly use 1 oz. of
fragrance oil/pound of soy wax, which is approximately 6%. When using
essential oils, I use much less than 1%/pound of wax. It all depends on
how strong or pure the natural oil is and my taste, of course!
So,
with those facts explained, using essential oils is a matter of style,
taste and cost. If you are selling your candles, you pass along your
costs to the consumer, but hopefully, you can market and price your
candles effectively to sell them at a profit. If you are making candles
for your own enjoyment, then it's a matter of what you're happy with -
milder/stronger, and whether cost is a factor for you.
