Switch Your Candles to Save the Planet

Do your part to save the planet every night simply by lighting a candle—a natural one that is. A small step to “going green” is simply switching your candles.

Using natural candles made from soy or beeswax instead of paraffin candles can save fossil fuel resources, improve air quality, reduce allergies and improve your overall health.

Paraffin wax candles are made from petroleum and release the equivalent of diesel exhaust when burned. Ever notice that soot on the rim of your candle votive?

Paraffin wax emits 11 known toxins while burning, including toluene, benzene, and formaldehyde, which are known carcinogens. Candles made from soy or beeswax burn 90 percent cleaner and at least 50 percent longer than conventional paraffin candles.

Where does paraffin come from? According to Milena, owner of Milena’s Boutique in Hollywood whose clients include top name celebrities “the process of making paraffin wax starts at the bottom of the oil barrel. After petroleum is processed into diesel, gasoline, motor oil, kerosene and other fuels, the waste that has been rejected by the gasoline industry is then whitened with industrial strength bleach, a few other ingredients are added, and then you have the very wax that is burning inside your homes.”

If Hollywood is too far for you to travel to get one of Milena’s renowned soy candles have no fear. You can get soy candles right here in Studio City at a custom blend bath and body shop where all the goods are fragrance-free until the customer chooses his or her personal scent to blend into them.

You may have noticed the sunlit, white walled boutique while walking on Ventura Place at the .  The store is filled with walls of sugar scrubs, soy candles, room sprays, bath oils, lotions and more.  

With scents such as vanilla grapefruit, white tea and ginger, lemongrass, lavender and plumeria as some of the many scent choices, you can create a beautiful atmosphere in your home and care for your health and the Earth at the same time.