Why Chose Natural Candles Over Synthetic Candles

Even in the summer heat, I find that lighting a delicious smelling candle completely transforms my work area.

I work from home studio – lucky me 😉 – and when I’m not making a batch of candles or another one of our botanically infused creations, burning a candle helps me get through the admin side of my work (the part of running a small business I enjoy a little less than the rest).

With one lick of flame, I’m transported by the evocative scent blends, in my own bubble, and ready to focus on any task.

This is me while I work, but I take just as much pleasure in lighting a candle when I’m reading before sleep, when I’m taking the time to meditate or when I enjoy a bath. This ritual triggers an emotional me-space, a time and environment that inspires and soothes me.

Like most people I know, I used to enjoy any candle I simply liked the scent of. That is, until I learned I was breathing toxic, carcinogenic substances.

We have all been exposed to the consequences of pollution, returning home from a day out in a big city with black nostrils, or even a sore throat. We also hear about air pollution levels on the news, especially during the warm weather.

The air we breathe affects our health. Regularly burning a paraffin or synthetically scented (made with petrochemical ingredients) candle that releases volatile organic compounds into your personal air space can cause physiological, mostly endocrine reactions, whereas natural candles do not.

Natural candles burn cleanly, delivering their scent without excess soot, or unnecessary potentially harmful chemicals. The delivery of scent, and the warm glow of natural candles comes without the air pollution.

Discovery and shock once passed, I knew I couldn’t go back to just any old candle. We take such care of what we eat, what we put on our skin, and where we live… I couldn’t knowingly pollute my environment.

Truly natural candles are handcrafted with care, using premium ingredients. In the case of MYTHYN candles, they are formulated to enhance your personal space, with sustainably sourced ingredients.

There’s a reason we see clever marketing wordings such as

“Fragranced Natural Wax Candle“
“Hand Poured Candle“.

The difference is so easy to miss.

These terms are carefully worded to appeal -because natural products are best- but they do not hide the fact that these products are not natural.

Fragranced means fragrance (meaning synthetic unless they specify that the fragrance is from essential oils) was used to scent the wax.

Natural means nothing unless it is defined – there is no regulation, so the term is often used loosely to include naturally deprived (or even inspired by nature…).

Hand poured doesn’t mean it’s not in a huge factory somewhere and it doesn’t mean the element of fair trade we understand from it.

I formulate MYTHYN candles believing that natural should always mean uncompromisingly 100% natural. Not partially, not inspired, not derived. It either is, or isn’t.

I also hold the belief that hand poured / made should mean that the product is made fairly, with care. It should denote expertise.

The funny thing is now, after years of using solely natural scents, I actually do not enjoy synthetic fragrances any more. Your nose gets used to the cleaner scents. It’s a little like when you get used to eating less sugar and suddenly, every flavour gets to shine and create a more satisfying blend. This happens a lot of people who have made the switch.

Until next time,