GoodLight Natural Palm Oil Candles

Did you know that the average candle is made from paraffin? Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum, a non-renewable resource. And while it might seem obvious, many people don’t realize that inhaling the fumes from paraffin candles is not good for your health. According to a study done at South Carolina State University in 2009, the fumes from paraffin candles are still linked to cancer, birth defects and such respiratory ailments as asthma, especially when there are many of them burning in an enclosed space like a restaurant or church.

After it’s scraped out of oil refineries, paraffin wax is usually: bleached by adding dioxin and other poisonous chemicals; texturized with acrolyn (a known carcinogen); and then mixed with animal-based stearic acid (a nasty byproduct of the meatpacking slaughterhouses) to harden it so that it can be made into candles. When paraffin candles burn, they emit black soot and toxic fumes—similar in chemistry to diesel exhaust—containing poisonous chemicals such as benzene, toluene, naphthalene, tri-decane, tetra-decane, penta-decane, and hexadecane. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn’t require candle makers to list the ingredients in candles, so you never really know what you’re burning.

Kinda scary, isn't it?

Beeswax and soy wax are acceptable alternatives, but they can be very expensive and costly to produce and sustain.

Enter palm wax candles from GoodLight Natural Candles.

Palm wax?? Yes. Palm wax is a completely non-toxic product of palm fruit, a rapidly renewable resource that also happens to be the most efficient and highest yielding oil-producing plant on earth. And GoodLight's palm wax candles cost about the same as, and sometimes less than, their paraffin counterparts.

GoodLight palm wax candles are unscented and all natural. They burn for a long time, too, with no soot or carcinogens being emitted into the atmosphere. While the main focus of the GoodLight Natural Candles company is selling to restaurants, bars, churches, spas, weddings, wherever candles are traditionally burned for ambience or ritual, I believe that there is a vast consumer market for these all-natural candles as well.

The fine folks at GoodLight were kind enough to send me a sample of their candles. I received an 8-pack of 15-hour votive candles (only $7.99 - that's $1 each, about what you'd pay for paraffin votives, right?) and a 6-pack of 5-hour tea light candles ($1.99 - again, about the same as paraffin).

I tried the votive candles and I am delighted that they are made from 100% palm wax and contain no additives. The wick is pure cotton and contains no lead or metal of any kind. Like any votive candle, the GoodLight votives are designed to melt and fill the holder with molten wax. Make sure to use a holder just wide enough to fit the votive. This votive will burn long and bright without harmful smoke or soot. Going green with candlelight just got affordable.

While I have to be honest and admit that I miss a bit of scent, I have nothing but good things to say about these candles. And besides, you don't want scented tea light candles under your chafing dish, do you? I thought not. The votives would be beautiful at holiday time without adding any additional scent to your holiday meals or decorations. And of course there are some people who just don't like anything scented at all.

Learn more about palm wax candles and the GoodLight Natural Candles company at their website http://www.naturalcandles.com. Because you breathe what you burn.

At the company's request, I am giving away the 6-pack set of tea light candles to the first reader of my blog who emails me at tnshadylady at gmail(dot)com and answers this question:

Jon and David are the co-owners of the GoodLight Natural Candles company. Jon also has another candle company. Tell me the name of Jon's other candle company and what he specializes in. (hint: you can find the answer on the GoodLight website) Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided a sample of GoodLight Natural Candles gratis in exchange for providing this unbiased review of the product. {Thanks David!} No other monetary consideration was involved, and my review was not influenced in any way.