Candles are found in many households across the United states and all over the world! The candle industry estimates sales at $2 million annually, exclusive of candle accessories. Picking up a candle at your local big box store is something you may take for granted, but it is not usually a very green or healthy decision.
Candles have been used for light for thousands of years. Beeswax was utilized to make candles in Egypt and Crete as early as 3000 BCE. Early candles were also made of natural fat, tallow and wax. In the 18th century, oil from the sperm whale, spermaceti, was used to make excellent candles and later that century certain plant oils were found to work well and were much cheaper than spermaceti. Continue reading “Are Your Candles Safe?”