What to do about Mothers Day?

Mother. Is there any other word in the English language which so instantly conjures a feeling of complete love and gratitude? The bond between a mother and her child is truly an amazing and sacred thing. Sure, we try to tell our Mothers how much we love and appreciate them throughout the year, but somehow picking a gift out for Mothers day can be a daunting experience - as though we needed to find just the thing to sum up everything she has ever done for us.

First: relax! One of the best things about Mothers is that they do everything they do not expecting lavish gifts and heaps of gratitude. That's one of the reasons we love them so much! With Mothers, truly it is the thought that counts. Find something that expresses a sentiment you couldn't quite put into words yourself, one that hearkens back to a shared memory or experience, or one that simply shows you know her preferences and you are all set!

At our Soyfire store we carry a beautiful line of Pavilion brand gifts, each comes in a gorgeous gift box (no wrapping is always a bonus in my opinion!) and inscribed with a simple, but genuine, sentiment. Different styles and shapes are available, come in and check them out!

You could also pick out a special scent that you reminds you of Mom: Did your mom make the best Apple Pies in the world? Did you vacation at the Seashore when you were little? Is she mad for Lilacs? Or maybe she's a coffee-fanatic? Pick a fragrance that says something special. Something "her."

If you're creative, why not use candles as a jumping off point? You can use tealights, empty jars, colored sand, beads, and some wire to string together homemade patio lanterns! Or start with some tealights, glass floaters, and glass cylinder vases to create a gorgeous display for her. You can fill your cylinder with fresh fruit or flowers, or just colored water. The choice is yours! Moms love it when you express your creativity!

Whatever you choose, just make it from your heart. She'll love it. Trust me... I'm a Mom myself.

April 2010 Fundraiser: The White Mountain Community Health Center

Soyfire is proud to announce its first-ever monthly fundraiser: The White Mountain Community Health Center!


The White Mountain Community Health Center (WMCHC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 health care provider located in Conway, New Hampshire. The health center is the "safety net" provider of the greater Mount Washington Valley meaning it provides care to the under-insured and uninsured population of the region.

Today, the health center provides services to over 3,500 area men, women and children. Patients have access to a wide array of medical and social services.


This April stop in or log on and treat yourself or someone you love to a Soy candle or gift and we'll donate 20% of your purchase to the health center - just mention the center and it's done!

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: Spring Thaw

What an amazing, glorious Spring we've been having! We've been truly spoiled. Never in all my years of New England living have I experienced an actual Spring. I could get used to this! Windows opened, sleeping with fans on, dining on the porch for dinner? These are things that usually don't happen in New Hampshire until late May! Normally, in April we are thick in the middle of "Mud Season," that quintessentially New England time period where the melting snow disappears into the soft, thawing earth and you're left with that earthy hopeful scent lingering everywhere you turn. Since we sort of skipped this "fifth season" this year, I thought I'd recreate it with Beanpod. Just melt Beanpod's Bonsai Tree, Herb Garden, & Pink Petals soy beads in a melter and enjoy! Then just make sure you go outside and play afterward!

Beanpod Soy Candle Recipe of the Day: Spring Rain

Create the clean, light scent of Spring Rain with Beanpod Candle! If you enjoy using soy beads, simply cobine Beanpod's Fresh Water, Bonsai Tree & Lilac beads in your favorite melter. Not a fan of melters? No problem! Just burn one candle in each scent in the same area and enjoy the same benefit!

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!

The Health Effects of Burning Candles

Are burning Soy Candles Really Better for Your Home and Your Health?

Two popular issues surrounding the use of scented candles are one, the positive environment and effects of aromatherapy treatment and two, the threat of soot and toxins creating an unhealthy environment. Evidence suggests that if you not careful, it is possible to create an unhealthy environment while trying to create just the opposite.

Let's deal momentarily with the topic of aromatherapy. One of the basic concepts of mind/body medicine is that a positive frame of mind helps to keep people in good health. Aromatherapy is thought to improve a person's mental outlook and sense of well-being by affecting the area of the brain that regulates emotions. Relaxing and pleasant smells stimulate emotional responses of pleasure and relaxation. Without any technical qualifications to endorse or reject the ideas for any particular health result, I'll leave that debate to the trained professional aroma-therapists.

Now let's explore the second matter - soot and toxins. With 7 out of 10 households enjoying candles on a regular basis and scented candles being a popular gift, we should know if we're giving poisons to our loved ones. Paraffin candles, even expensive or popular brands, produce toxins, probable cancer causing agents, and nasty black soot that leaves visible trails in your home. While most candles made in the US do not use metal in their wicks, there are no laws governing it and many candles, especially imported candles may still contain lead wicks. A University of Michigan School of Public Health study revealed that after one hour, one third of the candles tested emitted unsafe levels of lead into the air. We recommend that you never burn a candle with a metal core wick.

How much damage can one candle cause? According to David Krause, of Indoor Air Solutions, results of recent experiments have shown that certain paraffin candles can produce up to 100 times more soot than low-soot producing candles. The American Lung Association also warns that burning paraffin candles can emit toxins in measurable amounts, into your home's air and testing by the EPA has confirmed that paraffin candles, and the smoke and soot they give off, contain several dangerous chemicals in significant quantities. These chemicals include known or probable carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins.

No one knows for sure if paraffin candles cause cancer, but there are at least 4 cancer-causing chemicals associated with paraffin candles. The EPA lists these chemicals on their website:

1) Benzene (EPA classification as Group A, known human carcinogen).

2) Carbon Tetrachloride (EPA classification as Group B2 probable human carcinogen).

3) Trichloroethane (EPA classification as Group C, possible human carcinogen).

4) Toluene (EPA classification as Group B2 probable human carcinogen).

So what's the alternative to petroleum based candles? The long-standing favorite has been beeswax, but beeswax is very expensive and is generally not an option for the most popular candle variations - scented jar candles, tea lights and votives. The relatively new petroleum alternative comes from soybeans grown in Iowa. Be forewarned, many large candle makers are offering so-called soy candles, that may be as much as ninety percent paraffin (petroleum based) and 10% soy wax. Soy "blend" is not the same as a 100% soy wax candle. Candles made entirely from soy wax burn cooler and last longer than paraffin wax. Soy wax is derived from plants and is a renewable resource that's non-toxic, biodegradable and better for the environment.

As more people learn about the effects of burning paraffin candles in their homes, they're switching to soy candles and coming back for more while sharing great success stories. So the next time you want to create a relaxing, inviting or romantic atmosphere in your home, don't do so at the risk of your health or home. Choose natural soy candles as a healthy alternative.