Saturday, April 4, 2009

Votive Candle

The object is made of wax. The wax is melted at 175 degrees and then additives, fragrance oils, and dyes can be added. Then, the wax is put into a cylinder mold. As you may have already guessed, the object is a candle. To be more specific, a votive candle. Once the wax has cooled a little, the wick is inserted. Let the wax finish cooling and slide it out of the mold and you have a candle!
Candles have been around since biblical times. Then, they were used as the main source of lighting. Now, electricity has replaced the candle for that purpose. However, we still love the candle today for many reasons.
The only purposes I ever knew of for votive candles were decorations. They are popular as a small gift for someone you don’t want to spend a lot of money on or as a stocking stuffer, etc. Some people like to put them with stones or marbles for decoration in their home. Others like to buy them so they can try out a new scent before purchasing the larger candle, like a sample.
Although, when I think of a candle, I only think of the scents like vanilla, apple cinnamon, clean laundry, etc.; the candle is used for more purposes than simply making a room smell good. Aside from decoration and scent, candles provide a source of relaxation. They set a mood of tranquility and soothe the nerves. Furthermore, many votive candles are used for religious ceremonies or rituals. They are lit often in the Catholic church for the sick, those in need of prayer, or in memory of those who have died.
Controversy has been sparked over candles made with lead wicks. Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered the lead wicks can give off toxic emissions. High exposure to lead can cause brain and central nervous system damage. Critics argue that candles have been used for years and there have not been issues. The government may ban the use of lead wicks, but I believe we can all rest assured, candles will never leave the market!

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