{Product Review} Pye Brook Candle Co. | Binx|Parenting Services|Albany, NY Saratoga Springs, NY

While perusing Facebook the other day I came across this great candle company, Pye Brook Candle Co., so of course I had to find out more info! Candle connoisseur, and Pye Brook Candle Co. founder, Stacey Ovanes, toyed with the idea of candle making shortly after leaving a successful 20-year career as an Executive Recruiter to spend more quality time with her family. She had always loved candles but found that she had become extremely sensitive to fragrances following the birth of her daughter, Hayden Grace. In addition, she was often disappointed with candle choices that smelled wonderful in the store but them fizzled when burned or simply wouldn’t burn at all. The final push came when a set of votive candles from a highly reputable manufacturer caught on fire and gave off a strong fuel like aroma. It turns out that, like so many commercial candles on the market today, the votives were made of non-renewable paraffin wax, which is a petroleum-based product that produces ugly black soot and contains carcinogenic toxins. Couple that with a fragrance oil that has a high fuel content and the end result was inevitable. So, the research began and so did Pye Brook Candle Co. . . .Stacey was nice enough to send me this great info on candles:

“There are many candle wax options available but only a few that stayed true to Pye Brook Candle Co.’s commitment to providing a high-end product that was safe for our family and yours, environmentally responsible, and truly enjoyable! Here’s how we came to our decision:~ Why Soy Wax?
◦ Natural soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than paraffin wax.
◦ Natural soy wax is able to absorb a larger percentage of fragrance providing an exceptional “throw” whether hot or cold.
◦ Natural soy wax candles burn slower and cooler than paraffin wax, creating a longer burning candle.
◦ Soybeans are a renewable source, unlike paraffin, which consists of petroleum.
◦ Since soybeans are vegetables, natural soy wax (basically made from hydrogenated soybean oil) is naturally biodegradable. Soy wax is also easier to remove from materials and other surfaces than paraffin wax.
◦ Buying soybean products creates important economic growth for the agricultural sector of the US economy.
◦ Candles made from natural soy wax candles are simply better for you, your family, and your environment.

~ Why not the most commonly used commercial wax, Paraffin?
◦ Paraffin wax is a petroleum based product.
◦ Petroleum smoke produces ugly black soot.
◦ Petroleum is not a renewable resource and it is of a limited supply.
◦ Paraffin candles contain up to 11 carcinogenic compounds. These 11 compounds have been deemed ‘toxic air contaminants’ by the State of California.

~ Why not Beeswax?
◦ Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem, but they’re declining at alarming rates. It’s called colony collapse and it affects humans more than you may think.
◦ Many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees and bees play a major role in the reproduction of wild plant communities.
◦ There are not enough flowers out there that secrete pollen and nectar, so the bees are not getting proper nutrition.
◦ The flowers that they do encounter often are contaminated with pesticides.
◦ Colony Collapse is a combination of poor nutrition, pesticides and brood disease.
◦ Pye Brook Candle Co. chooses not to add to the disruption of their natural habitat

~ Why not Palm Wax?
◦ Palm Wax is the most environmentally destructive.
◦ Due to the overwhelming use of palm oil essential rain forests are being demolished at alarming rates to grow palm instead.
◦ Palm is renewable and sustainable but at a tremendous cost!”

Make sure to check out the Pye Brook Candle Co. website to order candles for awesome holiday gifts and for your own home, and visit their Facebook page here!