Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Sizzling Summer!

There's something about Summer which just makes me want to burn citrus scents all season. Is smelling Lemon Citrus as refreshing as drinking a tall glass of lemonade? Perhaps psychologically. At least for me. So whenever that mercury starts to rise, I abandon all the sweet and flowery scents and devote my fragrance selection exclusively to citrus. At the moment, I am enjoying a blend of Pink Grapefruit, Lemon Citrus and Fruit Slices. Now since, Beanpod doesn't manufacture Pink Grapefruit in soy beads, you can do one of two things: Either start with a Pink Grapefruit jar candle and "Season" it with a blend of Lemon Citrus and Fruit Slices soy beads - OR - burn one jar candle of each scent in the same space. Either way you will get all three scents mingling together creating a blissfully fresh citrus blend. Enjoy!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Mid-Summer's Night

I don't know about the rest of you folks, but it is SWELTERING here in the East. Temps have been between 88 and 100 degrees with high humidity for well over a week now. So what is a person to do? You might not think that this kind of weather lends itself to burning candles - and you'd be right - but what I've noticed in my un-air conditioned arrangement, with all this humidity, our house gets very stuffy and stagnant smelling, especially after being closed up for the day to keep the heat out. Electric bead melters to the rescue!

Electric melters have gained popularity lately for those who don't want to worry about open flames. They're great for people with pets, or young children, or college students whose dorms don't allow flames. "Plug In" melters, which fit directly into an outlet are very much the rage nowadays, too. Bottom line: electric melters are not difficult to find, but can be just the thing to fragrance your house without adding even half a degree of heat on a hot day!

So what's my recommendation for a nice scent for a stuffy house? Stick with citrus! Blend equal parts Raspberry Lemonade, Lime Citrus, and Fruit Slices soy beads and click that electric melter on. Then draw those blinds, turn on a fan and grab a chilled glass of white wine sangria! Ooh la la!

And don't worry... January will be here before we know it!

This Just In: Beanpod Candle changing their jar design!

Coming soon to Soyfire, look for Beanpod's new, sleek design!

The Best Ways to Burn

Lighting a candle seems like a pretty straight forward activity, but what you may not know about burning candles might be preventing you from getting the longest, cleanest, most effective burn for your money. Here's just a few tips everyone should know before lighting their next candle:

Jar Candles:

*The first time you light up your soy candle, you should be prepared to let it burn for a while. The preferred time is to allow a soy candle to burn one hour for each inch in diameter of the candle. For many soy jar candles that would equate to 3-4 hours of burning, as they are 3-4 inches wide. The reason for this is to get the best burn pool going. As it burns you will notice there is a slow spread of the melted oil from the center towards the edge of the jar. You don't want to extinguish you candle until the pool has reached the edges of the jar each and every time you light it. If you plan on going to bed an hour after you light your candle, start burning smaller-sized candles.

*We frequently say, "Candles have a memory and they love to carry a grudge!" Candles 'remember' how wide their oil pool was in the past, and they will grow to that size in the future. That means if you only burn them a little while the first time around, they will stick to that size burn pool and burn down through the candle, instead of making use of the wax around the edges. This is the primary source of candles "tunneling" or leaving excess wax stuck to the sides of the jar.

*Your scent comes from this burn pool. The larger it is, the better the scent. You will get more fragrance from a larger candle than a smaller one and you will get more fragrance from your candles if you burn them for long periods of time before extinguishing them.


Pillar Candles:

To prevent dripping, when candle burns down to the point that you can no longer see the flame, allow to cool completely then slice off the top of the outer wall of the pillar to allow proper burning to continue. If you choose, you can throw the excess wax into the top of a melter to get the most from it!

Taper Candles:
Our palm wax tapers are dripless, but to ensure this: avoid drafts, excessive vibrations or nearby heat sources and be sure tapers are straight and set firmly in their holders. (We sell Taper "huggers" in our store to help achieve a straight, wobble-free taper.)

Votives:
Votives are made to liquefy; burn them only in appropriate holders, never burn a votive without a container that reaches up to the top of the candle.

Avoiding soot:

Although soy wax burns much cleaner, the all cotton wick may cause some soot. Also, if you light your soy candle with matches or a typical lighter (even a budget candle lighter) the flame usually paints the jar black. Use a candle lighter with an adjustable flame that can be kept only large enough to light the wick, not blacken the jar.

*Keep your wick trimmed only when it's too long and has a mushroom top on it. Avoid burning candles in drafts (ie. outdoors, near a fan or heater/ AC unit).

*When putting your soy candles out, pinch the wick with your fingers or a Candle Quencher. This will virtually eliminate smoldering and soot residue caused from blowing or snuffing out wicks.

If you follow these simple tricks of the trade, you will be able to get much more burn time for your money, as well as an optimal candle-burning experience!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Relaxing Retreat

We all need a little retreat once in a while. Maybe we can't always arrange for that long-spa weekend that we feel we deserve, but maybe just a mini-vacation in your own bathroom will be enough to rejuvenate your spirit until you can make that trip a reality! To create your own Relaxing Retreat you will need:

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1 quiet hour
1 large bathtub
1 bottle of bubble bath
1 fluffy towel
Assorted glass holders
(2) boxes of Beanpod Candle Solitude tealights


Mix it up a little and grab a book, or beverage if you'd like. Maybe pop in a relaxing CD to listen to - whatever is going to help you relax. Everyone is entitled to a little "me" time, you're no exception! Make your own retreat today!

Springtime Fragrances

Spring has sprung. It's time to change the air in your home from the hum-drum of winter and brighten things up a bit. For many people, spring is a time to open their home to friends and family and start to enjoy the fact that it's warm enough to entertain outdoors once again.
No matter how you choose to welcome spring into your home, there are a lot of ways candles and can be worked in to help you welcome the season.

The main thing people think about in Spring is flowering blooms and nature coming back to life. While you may not have the greenest thumb, and also may not have a flowering paradise in your yard, you can use candles to take part in the season. Purchase candles scented with appropriate flowers of the season such as lilac, and enjoy the scent of the blooms.

One thing many people expect in spring is the rain that will keep those flowers blossoming throughout the season. After all, where do you think the 'April showers bring May flowers" line came from. If you don't want a house overtaken by the scent of flowery blooms, you instead may choose to appreciate the rain that will bring those flowers to life outside.

Beanpod Candle offers light, water-scented candles like Ocean Mist and Fresh Water that can be lit in your home to fill the air with the scent of air that has been cleaned by a soft spring shower. Additionally, these candles come in beautiful shades of blue that can be used not only to scent the room, but also as an attractive addition to your décor.

Of course, some fruits and vegetables start to bloom this time of year as well. These are scents that can be brought into your home to make the air always appetizing. Among the fruits that are in season now are raspberries and strawberries. Additionally, vegetables such as cucumbers are in season at this time as well. Beanpod's Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Cream or Herb Garden might just be what your looking for to fit his bill! Additionally, scents like Beanpod's Aloe Vera and Bonsai Tree embrace the earthly, light scent of new fresh, grass and greenery.

Any combination of these scents can be put together in your home to give it an air of a spring harvest. More than anything, just focus on whatever scents fill you & your home with energy and vitality, that's what Spring is all about!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: May Day

Happy May Day, everyone! Boy, you couldn't ask for a nicer one here in the Mount Washington Valley. It's pushing 80, the winds and chilly temps from earlier in the week are just memories now, and the sun is making everything bloom and sparkle! The Lilacs are even beginning to bloom - almost 3 weeks ahead of schedule! Truly, this has been an amazing Spring! So, on this amazingly gorgeous May Day, one's thoughts naturally lean toward the fresh, fragrant smells of Spring which inspires today's recipe. Blend Beanpod Candle's Lilac and Pink Petals soy beads in an Aloe Vera candle and light! In but moments, you will be instantly transported to a sunny, mountainside oasis!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Raspberry Margaritas

Mmmmmm.... margaritas. Is there something I like more than a margarita on a warm sunny day? I don't think so! Of course it's not always "appropriate" to carry tequila with you everywhere, so if you want to enjoy the aromas of a tall pitcher of Raspberry Margaritas, just try this: burn on candle each of Beanpod's Raspberry Lemonade, Lime Cooler, and Lemon Citrus and suddenly you're on a warm Mexican beach being served a frosty glass by your favorite pool boy, Juan Carlos. Hold the salt, please Juan!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Banana Split

Mmmmmmm... I could go for something sweet. Anyone for a banana split? OK, maybe not an actual banana split. That would be a lot of calories. Plus it's not quite warm enough out there to truly indulge in an ice cream treat. But that doesn't mean we can't surround ourselves with the decadent fragrances! This is a fun one, because - just like making a real sundae - you can go as crazy as you want. I recommend starting with Beanpod Candle's Vanilla, Chocolate & Banana Cream Pie flavored soy beads. Depending on your preferences, you can also add Toasted Hazelnut, Strawberry Cream, Orange Vanilla, Angel Amaretto or Whipped Cream! Have fun with it!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Mountain Oasis

It's such a joy to live in the White Mountains, constantly surrounded by beauty. Even on a rainy, Spring day like this, the sights and smells are just amazing. With the trees budding and flowers blooming, and the evergreens glazed with raindrops, there's no better time to get out and take a walk through nature. Still, if you'd prefer to stay dry, just try this mix: Burn one candle each of Beanpod's Fresh Water, Evergreen & Bonsai Tree fragrances. It's a soft, fresh blend that will instantly transport you to the top of a mountain ... and you don't have to leave your living room! Even if you don't have these scents, you still don't have to leave your house - just order them online!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Long Winter’s Nap

Boy, oh boy have we been spoiled? The Northeast has had a positively spectacular end to winter with unheard of warmth and snow melt starting in late February and continuing right through this past week. Never can I remember packing up my snow shovels and rock salt as early as St. Patrick's Day, so this week's wintry chill should not surprise me. Surely, we're not heading full-force back into winter, but it's enough to give us pause and enjoy this last throes of winter as it waves goodbye. It makes me think of those restful, clean fragrances I love to burn on chilly winter days and inspired today's recipe: Long Winter's Nap. To make this scent, start with Beanpod Candle's Solitude scent and combine it with their new 2010 fragrance, Pink Petals & calming favorite Lavender. Now curl up and dream of those warm Spring days which are waiting in the wings!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Spa Day

I don't know about you, but it seems like the weather in this country has done a flip-flop. I'm hearing reports of snow in Tallahassee, and up here in New Hampshire, it's practically Spring-like. To that end, it puts me in the mood for new, Spring-y scents like this one using one of Beanpod's newest fragrances: Fresh Water. To make Spa day, just combine Aloe Vera, Fresh Water & Lavender soybeads in your favorite melter and breath in the soft, fresh aroma. It's as relaxing and rejuvenating as an early Spring!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Cornucopia

It's November! That means thoughts of corn husks, pumpkin pies, Underdog balloons, and horn-o-plentys! To make a traditional late-autumn scent combination, try today's recipe: Cornucopia. To make this recipe, burn one votive (or jar candle) each of Pumpkin Pie, Cedar Chest, and American Harvest. It's a delicious mixture of scents to keep you cozy on these dark evenings. Enjoy!

New Beanpod Fragrance of the Month - Hot Apple Cider

Happy November, everyone! This month's Fragrance of the Month is Hot Apple Cider and it is one of the most popular of all of Beanpod Candle's Fall & Holiday collection! When you smell it, it's not hard to tell why! What's better at this time of year than the autumnal smell of apples, mellowed by the cozy, warm fragrance of cinnamon and mulling spices? Seriously, we are always sold out of this scent well-before Christmas, so stock up now and save!

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