No Trees Were Harmed In The Production Of These Candles

One of the things I like so much about doing live craft shows in addition to internet sales is the personal interaction.  I hear feedback and get questions.  Once in a while someone will attempt to inform me...on candle making...which I've been doing for over a decade...and they have not.

I'm not so pompous to think I can't continue to learn.  However, well, I'll just let you assess the situation yourself.

SCENE: Auntie B's Wax booth at local craft show

CHARACTERS:  Auntie B, proprietor of Auntie B's Wax
                            Candle-loving lady, admiring Auntie B's candles
                            Candle-loving lady's husband

Candle-loving lady is enjoying the free candle sniffs available in Auntie B's booth.  She oohs and ahs at the various scents she encounters.  She clearly is a candle-loving lady.  Suddenly she notices the difference between two types of candles, and inquires about the one with which she is unfamiliar.

Auntie B: Those are palm wax candles.  They are made with an all-natural wax made from a renewable resource.

Candle-loving lady: How is that different from paraffin?

Auntie B: My paraffin candles are certainly made from high-grade wax, but all paraffin is a petroleum by-product.  Palm wax is not, which makes it very eco-friendly. 

Candle-loving lady: They're so pretty!  How do you get them to look like that?

Auntie B: Those pretty surface designs are natural in the cooling process.  I don't do anything to achieve that look, it happens naturally.

Candle-loving lady: Where does palm wax come from?

Auntie B: It comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree.  These are not palm trees like you might imagine, with coconuts.  Otherwise the wax would smell, well, like coconuts!  *chuckles lightly at the not-so-funny joke*

Meanwhile candle-loving lady's husband is shaking his head and quietly scoffing.

Auntie B: I see we have someone who's not a big fan of candles.

Candle-loving lady's husband: Oh, candles are fine.  But do you know the rain forest is being depleted to provide you with this wax?

Auntie B displays a look of surprise at his comment. 

First of all, only the fruit of the tree is used in the making of the wax, not the entire tree.  Pick the fruit, leave the tree.  The fruit grows back.  Etc.  That's why they call it a renewable resource. 

Second of all, these trees are grown on plantations.  It is a commercial crop.

These points were made to candle-loving lady's husband, but he was not having it.  Candle-loving lady embarrassingly said she would stop by again to buy a candle on the way out.   She never did.

Palm wax candles are a relatively new product on the market and it is expected that people don't know about it.  Palm wax, as mentioned, is all-natural and very clean.  It's harder than other waxes, which allows the candles to keep their shape.  Even tapers made of palm wax will not get soft or bend in hot weather.  Because of this hardness, the candles burn slower and last longer.  I have also found that I don't need to add as much fragrance oil  to palm wax to achieve a great-smelling candle.  Less fragrance oil means less chance of smoking.  I also only use cotton wicks, making the naturalness of the candle go all the way to the core.

Candle-loving lady's husband was not convinced that palm wax is a marvelous product.  I beg to differ.  It has become one of my favorite waxes to work with, and I love the way these candles look.  Bright and vibrant or soft and pastelly, they all have the fun Jack Frost surface designs for added lovliness.

So candle-loving lady's husband, don't get down on Auntie B.  I'm doing a good job of freshening up smelly kitchens and bathrooms with awesome fragrances.  I'm using an all-natural wax that is kind to your environment and the universe as a whole.  I'm bringing that cozy candlelight to the world.  It's not a bad thing.

Get a load of Auntie B's Wax candles.  You can come and see them in person (see the side bar for locations and shows) and they will be available online again soon. 

If you have any questions about the candles I make, or would like to inquire about a custom order, please contact me here in the comments section, or send me an e-mail at auntiebswax4u@yahoo.com.