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Our Products goodwood® firelogs goodwood® mesquite charcoal good mood™ candles		good mood™ soy candles FAQ's Are paraffin candles REALLY hazardous to your health? Three years ago, the American Lung Association issued a warning stating that candles are one of the most common causes of poor indoor air quality. The state of California, under its Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986), has identified at least seven major toxins in paraffin wax, including toluene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and naphthalene--substances found in paint, lacquer and varnish removers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that toluene and benzene are probable human carcinogens. Burning paraffin candles for long periods indoors produce toxin levels that are higher than the EPA's guidelines. At this point, however, medical information is inadequate. There is an urgent need as the candle industry continues its impressive growth for more thorough medical studies to determine exactly the short-term and long-term effects of inhaling paraffin fumes. In the meantime, it's pretty amazing that health stores and spas typically feature paraffin candles as part of their body care and "ambience" marketing. What else? Paraffin is neither renewable nor biodegradable. Its petro-soot leaves an oily residue that blackens walls, ceilings, floors and furniture, and contaminates ventilation ductwork in your home. Then why is paraffin the predominant wax used in the candle industry? Paraffin is the final by-product in the petroleum refining chain, basically the "bottom of the barrel" even after asphalt is extracted. Paraffin began to replace vegetable-based waxes 120 years ago with the onset of the "Age of Oil". As oil production became more critical to American society, paraffin, produced in huge quantities (now about 10 billion pounds each year in the U.S.), became the logical and cheapest choice for the candle industry. Why are good mood™ soy candles better than paraffin candles? Soy wax is a sustainable, renewable resource that is 100% biodegradable, non toxic, and burns cleaner without the petro-soot emissions of paraffin. Natural vegetable wax and beeswax candles do not emit chemicals and are easier on people with asthma or breathing problems. What about the wick? About 30 percent of the candles on the market still have lead core wicks (the metal makes the wicks stand up straight during the candle production process). These candles release more lead into the air than is recommended as safe by the EPA. Only buy candles with lead-free cotton or hemp wicks. good mood™ soy candles currently use cotton wicks. What about the fragrance and the color? Scented candles typically use chemical-based fragrances and dyes that contribute to the pollutants emitted by paraffin. good mood™ soy candles contain real essential oils (derived from plants) and vegetable-based colors, however, we are still a few months away from achieving our objective of 100% renewable resources - the candles are currently at 99.6%. It turns out there is a LOT of cheating regarding fragrances and dyes in the the world of candle-makers. Real essential oils are highly volatile and dissipate within 2-3 weeks on a store shelf, so nearly ALL candle scents that claim they have real essential oils also include a fraction of fragrance for the long haul. We'll have to get back to you on that one, as this is totally unregulated territory and we can only take our suppliers' word at the moment... Home \| Our Company \| Our Products \| Find a Store \| BUY NOW! \| Wholesale \| Contact Us Terms of Use \| Privacy Sign Up for Our Newsletter Summit Views LLC, 540 N. Santa Cruz Ave-#260, Los Gatos, CA 95030 1-877-872-8341 Patents Pending © Copyright 2001-2004 Summit Views, LLC All Rights Reserved. goodwood, the goodwood logo and goodwood package design are trademarks of Summit Views LLC.