Archive for the ‘fragrances and candles’ Category

Preferably small sample sizes - i want to sample a lot of fragrances without paying an arm and a leg

There are several places on line that sell soap and candle fragrances, just make sure you only buy the soap safe ones. This is one of my favorite places to buy them, they have customer reviews on most of them. So you can see how others used it and how well they hold up over time. Or if it will discolor your soaps, many Fragrances will cause discoloration, sometimes it takes a few weeks to happen so be forwarned, vanilla fragrance is frequently the culprit that turns a white soap brown.

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/SoapMakingSupplies.aspx

While the term aromatherapy is sometimes misused to refer to many fragranced products, aromatherapy in the hands of a trained professional is a therapeutic technique using essential oils to promote health and well-being. Aromatherapy can increase energy, trigger relaxation, and reduce stress. Professional aromatherapy is part of the larger field of holistic medicine. Many aromatherapists are also herbalists.

Essential oils, which are the basis of aromatherapy, are highly concentrated derivatives of herbs and flowers. They contain the essence of the plants from which they come. In contrast, perfumed oils and fragranced oils are often synthesized from the plants, created in labs, or diluted.

A holistic approach means that a therapy deals with body, mind and spirit (energy). Only about five percent of essential oils available today are used in aromatherapy, and there are 10 to 15 that are the most commonly used. With few exceptions, essential oils should not be applied to the skin; they are best inhaled. Their aroma does the work.

To use essential oils for aromatherapy, only a few drops are needed. Common ways of dispensing aromatherapy oils are in a vaporizer, on a sachet, in potpourri, in bathwater, or in a lightbulb ring. While candles may emit fragrances thought to be therapeutic, they rarely contain actual essential oils.

Here are some of the typical uses and essences of aromatherapy. Bergamot is said to ease depression and anxiety (be careful if you put it in bathwater because it will temporarily make your skin more sensitive to sunlight). Chamomile is for alleviating insomnia and restlessness. Jasmine supposedly restores confidence and decreases apathy. Lemon is a stimulant that is said to improve memory and concentration. Lavender relieves stress and depression and enhances relaxation. Peppermint helps to eliminate fatigue. Both rose and jasmine are said to have aphrodisiac properties as well. Sandalwood helps to offset stress.

Jeff Minter
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/the-benefits-of-aromatherapy-65113.html

Aroma therapy is something many businesses and employers think about. In many case studies, the use of aroma therapy in the workplace has been proven to reduce work related stress and improve activity, as well as reduce the cause of most illness. Aroma therapy is not only proven to add protection against infectious diseases, its been proven to affect the mood and morale of employees. Working in an aroma therapy treated environment enables employees to think more positively and clearly, along with feeling better altogether. Effectiveness at work and in a stress free environment will ease employees.

1. The Working Environment

Aromatizing our working environment can also be a purifying experience by the use of fungicidal, anti-bacterial, and antiviral therapy to reduce the chances of contracting a respiratory disease, allergies, or other negative effects generated by air conditioning units. These purifying agents also reduce the chance of contracting a contagious disease by those who work in crowded offices or schools. Some purifying agents also seem to have an ionizing effect by appearing to reduce static electricity caused by a large number of electrical equipment, like computers, copiers, fax machines, etc. When all this equipment overcharges the atmosphere, they can induce psychosomatic symptoms such as stress, mood swings, aggression and over all tension.

2. A Necessity Not Optional

A pleasant working environment is now more of a necessity than desire for employees when considering employment. Positive attitudes in the workplace are closely connected to an aroma therapy treated environment. Employee burnout and stress has become a continuing problem in the workplace that has many employers searching for solutions to these serious problems. Some factors that contribute to employees becoming stressed are computers, lack of sunlight, pressuring work demands, and deadlines, harsh chemicals used for cleaning and improper lighting. The use of aroma therapy in the workplace is taking a natural approach to adding comfort in the environment to reduce stress and therefore increase productivity.

3. How To Tell If Your Employees Need A Break
– irritability – depression – constant headaches – sluggishness – excessive absences or sick days – lost sense of humor – angry or defensive behavior – making more mistakes – trouble in concentrating

4. The Benefits Of Aromatherapy

Employees benefit

An aroma therapy treated environment offers a more comfortable and pleasant working environment. With this comes the ability to think more clearly and function more easily and also make fewer mistakes that take time to be corrected.

Employers Benefit

Think of the benefits! Less absenteeism, increased productivity, and increased morale. Aroma therapy can also help stop the spread of infectious diseases, such as coughs, colds, flu, sore throats and other illness that can keep employees away from their work or prevent them from doing the work correctly and in a timely manner.

5. Using Aromatherapy

Aroma therapy can be used in many forms. Candles (depending on the working environment and company policy), a water bowl, spray bottle or other method that is acceptable to the working environment. You can find aroma therapy items in most stores, mainly in small selections. Some malls may have an entire store dedicated to aroma therapy or you can shop online and find a particular scent or method to dispense the therapy. There is an abundance of fragrances available through aroma therapy. So that ones should you pick? All fragrances tend to have different functions; most will state what the expected function or relief affect it will have on the package. If you are searching for something specific, check online stores, they have lots that you may not consider.

John Morris
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/something-smells-aromatherapy-in-the-workplace-58968.html

As if Coupon Cart wasn’t already the place to go to get the great deals, they even offer a branch of products from Avon.

And, as if Avon doesn’t already offer so many of the products that we know and love, Coupon Cart has given you the opportunity to get even greater deals on all of the Avon products you need to look and feel great. Whatever it is you want from Avon; Coupon Cart has got it at amazing prices. You may even be able to catch a free shipping offer!

As far as makeup goes, Avon has always offered a great line of cosmetics products, from nail care products such as nail files, nail polish, and buffers to many of the classic beauty products, like lip gloss and mascara, eyeliner and eye shadows. Whatever it is that ladies have ever needed to look and feel their very best, Avon has always managed to provide that for them. Coupon Cart is a great way to save money on Avon products that are important to you, but could be better left for more important things-like bills, rent and entertainment. Who wants to spend money on things when it could be saved for other things? Avon and Coupon Cart have combined to give you the best deals on makeup. Together with Avon you have so many of the finest Avon cosmetics to choose from, from including lip stick and eye color in a variety of shades.

Whether you have dry skin or just prefer to stay butter-soft at all times, Avon’s moisturizing products are some of the finest moisturizers that any line of cosmetics has to offer, especially at such great prices. The difference between Avon and any other line of cosmetics out there is that Avon truly offers VALUE for their products. If you are a Skin-So-Soft fan, it would be easy to think that skinsosoft is the only option Avon lovers have as far as lotions go, but there are other things as well-some which can even help to clear up those nasty wrinkles that you might see popping up. For example, Avon has a line of moisturizing lotions and products called ANEW. Anew products are not only great moisturizers, but they are great anti aging products as well. Their creams are like face lifts in a bottle, without all of the expensive doctors and procedures.

For those of you out there who are fragrance fans, if you didn’t know it already Avon has a great line of fragrances for both men and women. Not only that, but they even care some of the smaller things that any person might need, such as insect spray and bug repellant. For aromatherapy candles and other gifts, check out Avon as well. If you are interested in careers with Avon, speak with your local Avon representative or your Avon lady today!

Jon Prunty
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/avon-products-at-coupon-cart-113940.html

Many people who are familiar with perfumes and colognes are not exactly sure what to make of the scented body oil department. It’s not quite a perfume. It’s not really cologne. It’s available for both men and women. Typically when we think of scented oils we think of smelly candles we burn in our house to cover aromas or provide a pleasant atmosphere.

Perfume originated as an incense, typically an offering of high value. Literally translated perfume means “through the smoke” in Latin, referring to the aroma the burning smoke gave off as it filled the room.

Today the meaning of perfume relates to a liquid solution that people spray on either to create a stylish statement or to attempt to cover up unpleasant aromas caused by sweat, smoke, or other environmental factors.

Perfumes now contain an oil base, which is what quantifies it as a perfume in the first place. However, modern day perfumes, while still containing a high oil content, also contain fillers. The fillers may consist of either alcohol or even water, diluting the effects that oil has on the fragrance.

Perfumed body oils contain very little or no fillers. This naturally makes them more expensive, however a small bottle of perfumed body oil will last three times longer than a large bottle of your favorite perfume. A tiny dab of perfumed body oil is as effective as a direct spray of traditional perfumes.

The difference is in the high concentration of oil. Just like any other liquid product, the more watered down with water or alcohol something is, the less effective it is going to be in small doses. Not only is the aroma of perfumed body oil stronger, but the effects last much longer, often until you wash it off in your next shower.

Perfumed body oils are available for men, women, and unisex aromas. Body oils have the unique distinction of blending with other aromas and scents which allows for the creation of a very unique and personalized blend. You can literally create a one of a kind scent every single day simply by using shower gels, other oils, personal care products, or natural body sprays.

The trend in fragrances is beginning to shift more toward perfumed body oils. Their uniqueness and their long lasting effects make them worth the price in the eyes of many consumers. Perfumed body oils are available everywhere, including the perfume counter and internet sources.

Kuersten Steizer
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/perfumed-body-oils-107925.html

Traditionally candles have been made from tallow or animal fat, whale oil, beeswax, paraffin, which is a by-product of refining petroleum, and more recently soy and other vegetable oils. Gel wax is also a newer kind of wax for candle making. What is gel wax? It is a mineral oil or hydrocarbon. To make gel wax they thicken the mineral oil with a particular polymer. This makes the wax clear and makes it burn slowly.

There is a patent on gel wax, which Penreco holds. The company uses the name VersaGel™C for commercial purposes. There are three grades of gel wax: low, medium, and high density. The low density melts the easiest and pours well. It can only use 3% fragrance oil and it can’t be embedded. The medium density gel wax melts and pours well. It will hold 5% fragrance and can hold embeds like small beads and shells and glitter. The high-density gel wax is somewhat harder to melt and it doesn’t pour as easily as the other two. But dense pigments can be suspended in it. The embeds should be non-flammable. It can use 5-6% fragrance.

Gel wax is clear and this enables candle makers to do interesting things with it. Candle makers make aquarium scenes. When lit the flame creates an unusual glow because of the candles clear quality. Gel wax is used to make container candles. It burns and melts at a higher temperature than paraffin wax. Because of the higher temperature and because it has to be melted with direct heat unless a presto pot is used-one must be extremely careful when working with gel wax. The only fragrances that work with gel candles are oil-soluble fragrance oils that means non-polar.

Some of the containers that are good to use with gel candles are roly-poly glass, ivy bowls, but basically they need to be heat resistant and crack resistant. Some candle makers don’t like to use the bowls as they say they hold the heat more so. The thing is that all candle containers have to be heat and crack resistant and they can’t leak. So heat resistant containers. The stories out there concerning gel candles that exploded come from people making candles from containers like fish bowls and martini glasses; neither of these is tempered to resist heat, if anything just the opposite is true. A good container for making gel candles or any container candles is the old standby canning jars, which are made to resist heat and cracking. Jelly jars are also made to take high temperature. That has made both of these containers perennial favorites of candle makers.

It is wise to take into consideration that even a heat resistant container can crack. You can take proper precautions: don’t ever leave the candle lit and go out of the room, put it on a heat resistant surface, and keep it from any flammable material. This is important to do with all candles. Remember, safety comes first.

Tara Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/gel-wax-candles-and-containers-688775.html

Stress - in the modern era, it is an inescapable fact of life. Our jobs, traffic, lowered customer service or even our interpersonal relationships can create tensions that affect both mind and body. Luckily a number of holistic and homeopathic approaches exist that can help us unwind after a long hard day. One of them is the use of scented candles in an aromatherapy ritual.

Just what is aromatherapy?

By definition, it is the use of volatile or essential oils that come primarily from plants to remedy emotional and physical ailments. Devout practitioners believe that aromatherapy can cure a whole host if ills, from diabetes to some forms of cancer. In the mainstream world, this holistic approach is solely applied to relaxation.

Using candles gives you two forms of relaxation fixations as the soft and subtle flickering of the flame provides a visual stimulus that works in conjunction with the scent of sweetly released fragrance.

Today, one can find any number of outlets that carry candles, but to experience true aromatherapy, one has to locate the right kind.

Candles for aromatherapy

While you can buy fragrant candles in any drug store, true aromatherapy candles contain natural plant essences and have very few chemicals. The wax is also natural and burns in a way that creates stronger, more healing aromatic releases.

With this in mind, a person who wishes to use candles to reduce stress, anger or to facilitate tranquility should try to locate candles that are as close to all natural as one can get; organic in origin if possible.

Beeswax - the best kind of beeswax candles are pure with natural fragrances and free of toxins. Beeswax is especially calming because they have been proven to release negative ions, which cleanse the air. This is very conducive to creating a mellow mood and in time, detoxifying the body.

Paraffin candles - Paraffin candles have been around for centuries and are slow burning and long lasting.

The drawback is that they are petroleum based. Because of this, there are split factions of aromatherapists who tout both benefits and drawbacks of this candle’s use. Look online and do your own homework before you decide whether or not paraffin candles are for you.

Soy candles - these candles are becoming more and more popular with individuals because they are clean burning and aromatic. They are also all natural, biodegradable and non-toxic. Even with all of these wonderful attributes, soy candles can be wonderfully cost effective as well, making them an all around delight for connoisseurs of aromatherapy.

Feng Shui Candles - feng Shui, which literally translates into “wind-water” is the ancient oriental practice of achieving balance to facilitate positive health and beauty. It is also based on the concept of “Chi” or life energy. Feng Shui candles come in several different colors that represent elements, for instance, a red candle would symbolize fire. In this way, candles can add to a spiritual dimension to an individual’s aromatherapy.

Votives candles - scented organic votive candles are small in size, circular and primarily used for devotional purposes. People who enjoy candles like the variation in theme votives can offer as they can be placed anywhere and add a rich ambiance to any room. For example, a person who wanted to take a nice scented bath can lower the lights, place these small candles around the room, and add water sensations to their relaxation therapy.

You can locate these types of candles at any store that carries holistic foods or accessories. A quick online search can dig one up in your area if you do not already frequent such a place. The candles themselves can also be ordered online at a variety of Internet shops.

Other relaxation Accessories

Of course, candles are not the only items that can assist harried individuals in unwinding.

Incense - incense made from all natural or organic materials can be utilized in the same a manner as candles in order to evoke aromatherapy benefits. This product usually comes in sticks, bricks and cones and will burn slowly. The best thing about natural incense is that the smell is not as overpowering as those that are chemically based.

Potpourri - made from dried herbs, flowers, leaves or seeds, potpourri is used to refresh rooms, a ritual that dates back hundreds of years. Potpourri can come in a sachet or a bag of loose items that can placed in closets, cupboards or even dressers. When placed on a windowsill, potpourri can freshen the room for days.

One can also boil these all natural items to maximize their fragrant aromas.

Essential Oils - essential oils often contain volatile aromatic substances and botanicals wholly derived from plants and can come in various concentrations. Unlike heavy perfumes or “fragrant oils” essential oils have no chemicals or agents that dry the skin and are usually organic.

If you come across an essential oil with any additive in it, then it is not a true essential oil. To be used, these oils have to be diluted and mixed by carrier oils, like grape seed, to helps the body absorb it for healing effects.

The main caveat for the use of pure essential oils is that there are certain types that may be bad for pregnant women to handle because they may cause intrauterine contractions that lead to premature labor. There are however, a few oils that are actually beneficial in helped combat many of the common ills of pregnancy like morning sickness or water retention.

If you are pregnant consult with your doctor prior to purchasing any essential oil.

There are so many avenues and paths one can follow in the pursuit of relaxation in a turbulent world, but one will never go wrong with holistic practices that involve the marvelous fragrances of all natural, organic candles.

JR Ulderport
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/the-soothing-and-therapeutic-properties-of-candles-734230.html

Hello everyone, I hope you guys can help me out here. I am thinking of making a soy candle for my girlfriend for her birthday–soy because she is vegan, and I want to be sensitive to that with this gift. I have been trying to figure out what scent to make the candle, and I had been thinking about using the essential oils of flowers like lavender, but then I remembered that she really liked the way my cologne smells. I was hoping someone here could tell me if it is possible to use cologne as a candle fragrance when you make a candle, and if using soy wax would effect it adversely in any way. I realize that this is an odd question, but I appreciate any help that anyone can provide. Thank you very much in advance.

Cologne will not work with candles. If you actually managed to get any scent, it would be very weak. What you could do is check a fragrance oil dupe site and see if there is a dupe of your cologne. Then you could buy the fragrance oil (which usually works for both candles and bath and body products) and make the candle that way. You can buy fragrance oils anywhere, ebay is great place to check and compare prices. If you do decide to make bath products though, make sure that your oil is okay for them as well and is not only for candles. There are many oils that cannot work for both and trust me, you don’t want to find out the hard way. The site below is the best one I know of. Just check under duplications and look for your cologne company.

With candle fragrances selected by First Empress Michelle!

I have just installed my home idol shrine, after receiving the package from the Department of Homeland Security but the idol of Obama-Buddha was missing. I do have the idols of Mao and Marx though. Is that enough to start praying, or do I need the Obama-Buddha idol too?

Thanks comrades!

lol

I see that some people have used the coconut essential oil. Is it safe to use the organic coconut oil?

when using scented oils to make candles, don’t use any that can be used when cooking food. You will run into the problem of mold & other things growing in the candle.