Destinations Scented Candles
This maker started with the vision of creating a unique brand of scented natural candles. They wanted to capture the floral and fauna, food and other desirable scents people associate with popular cities and exotic vacation spots. The intention for the products was for them to evoke good memories and feelings from being in or reading about and wanting to be in those places.
The choice was made to use 100% palm wax sustainably sourced from certified palm oil plantations in Malaysia who are members of the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil. When cooled, these candles have a beautiful sparkly frost-like appearance. The candles are hand-poured in small batches using the best in high grade scented candle oils and cotton core wicks.
In Their Own Words:
Grown on plantations
Picture coconuts growing in a palm tree. Just like coconuts, palm oil comes from palm trees too and these trees are grown in tropical locations on plantations. Our wax is sourced from sustainable palm oil producers in Malaysia that are members of the (RSPO - Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil). These plantations are on designated agricultural land that were once deforested areas where exotic trees once grew but torn down to create rubber and furniture, but palm oil trees are now recreating natural rainforests again.
Very Eco-friendly
No harm comes to the palm trees because only the fruit is needed to be harvest get the palm oil. This means the trees grow for 25+ years or more. Only steam, pressing and centrifuges are used to extract palm oil from the fruit kernels unlike with other oils, where hexanes and other harsh chemicals are needed in the refining process. Also, much of the palm husks and other byproducts left over from the milling and refining process are turned into mulch and paper products.
Conservation Funds help the endangered species
The RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) in Malaysia works with the WWF and has created funds like the Borneo Orangutans Survival Foundation. The foundation promotes conservation and protection of orangutans through sustainable management of wild orangutan habitat, release areas, and orangutan sanctuaries, and involves the community and stakeholder participation in conservation efforts.
EXCERPT: Destinations Scented Candles’ Blog
Are Plam Wax Candles Really Eco-Friendly? Yes!
July 15, 2019
...two key elements to make a good candle:
1. The more natural the wax and ingredients, the better the quality of the candle.
2. The raw materials need to be good quality that works well with all candle ingredients.
First, let's talk about what "more natural" ingredients means. Candles need feel in order to burn. That fuel comes in the form of various items like tallow, petroleum, beeswax, plants like soy and palm. Petroleum, the main ingredient in paraffin candles, tends to be the dirtiest because it creates highly toxic chemicals like benzene, toluene Tetrachloroethene, Chlorobenzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, Xylene, Phenol, and so on. When burned these chemicals create carcinogens. Carcinogens often heard in texts about tobacco and smoking as well as asbestos and so on, are cancer-causing agents. However not all carcinogens cause cancer. But the more you are exposed to carcinogens the more likely that exposure can lead to cancer.
Natural plant-based waxes - which include beeswax, greatly reduces the chance of encountering these harsh chemicals. Soy candles aren't entirely pure - while they are 100% plant-based and natural, the refining process is not eco-friendly. Hexanes and other alcohols are needed to bleach and refine soy into the product used in candles and cosmetics and so on. Additionally many news reports share scientific data regarding the dangers of GMO soy linked to pesticides such as Monsanto in the hopes of creating better crops of soy.
Then there's palm wax. In one google search you can find a TON of negative press about how endangered animals and deforestations is linked to palm oil plantations. But living in a world of "fake news" is it all true? Some but not all. Some countries are behind in raising standards regarding farming eco-friendly palm oil plantations and some articles are dated 10-15+ years where standards today are far better than years past. Also, in reading the articles I noticed some articles are written and paid by rival oil crop industry owners where facts and figures are inflated or exaggerated, not backed up by credible sources. Some articles do not even state sources to back up claims.
However, to understand why natural waxes such that of palm are the way to go, let's look at the irrefutable facts. All articles do tell how eco-friendly palm oil plants are regarding how they are planted, harvested, and refined. The plants are farmed in agricultural designated lands that were left fallow due to the harvesting of exotic tropical woods like rubber. Also, high standards have been set by the RSPO (Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil for Malaysia) and the MPOC (Malaysian Palm Oil Council) set to protect the endangered animals with the help of the WWF in the area of these plantations, environmentally safe farming practices that do not danger the land and natives who live nearby, etc. The harvest of palm oil does not affect the trees. The palm oil trees are left to grow for over 25 years while only the fruit bunches are harvested by hand with sharp hook type tools. Then the fruit is transported to refineries where the fruit is pressed, steamed and spun in centrifuges to separate husks and extract the oils - no harsh chemicals are needed to refine the oil, just water in the form of steam is needed. Byproducts like the husks are reused and turned either into electricity or turned into pulp to make paper and mulch.
In other words, less chemicals equals less risk for poor-performing candles.
The other aspect to consider materials used in candles. Just like a great tasting meal requires a tried and true recipe, the same goes for candles. Materials like wicks, fragrance oils and the like also play a key role in having a great performing candle. Lead wicks are outlawed in the USA but many overseas production facilities still use them. Lead core wicks notably produce soot and release toxic chemicals where over time can create upper respiratory health concerns. When it comes to scents it is important to learn if the candles you choose to burn contain candle grade fragrance oils or essential oils or other types of oils not safe for candles. Many candle makers proudly share they use essential oils to scent their candles. This is a no-no because essential oils are meant to be used for skin contact not to be burned. Essential oils are very flammable! When subjected to a flame or high heat the chemical makes up changes causing explosions and large flames. Additionally breathing in essential oils that are used in candles also causes bronchial issues and allergic reactions or worse. The same results can happen with candles that do not use candle safe fragrance oils too as some oils are only good for certain types of waxes used in various candle types.
When picking a brand to go with that meets these standards consider my company's products - Destinations Scented Candles. Applying my knowledge I use 100% palm wax sourced from RSPO certified plantations in Malaysia, high-grade fragrance oils specific for natural waxes, and 100% cotton core wicks which are made in the USA. I guarantee all of my candles and if anyone has any issues whatsoever, they can get a full refund!
Lastly, one of the safest alternatives to burning candles is using wax tarts/melts. Wax melts/tarts are wickless candles where block of scented wax is placed on a dish on top of a wax melter that heats up due to the help of a plug inserted into an electric outlet or tea light so the scent is released into the air. Some wax melters have a flickering light to give the effect of a real flame but without the danger.
Interested in more information about palm wax candles, wax melts and the like, visit the About page for Destinations Scented Candles which contains links to articles and scientific studies on these topics and more.
- Written by Michelle Sholund, owner of Destinations Scented Candles
