Sagebrush & Pinon Soy Candle

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:44:00 +0000

My reasons for reviewing the Sagebrush & Pinon candle from Soy Candles by Phebes were somewhat self-serving. I was intrigued by the name, and I wanted to try my hand at writing a product review. Ama encourages reviewers to do a little research before requesting items for review, but I happily assumed a candle that smelled like sage would be a welcome accoutrement to any abode. So it was to my great amusement when I discovered the candle scent described on the Soy Candles by Phebes website as “a rich and earthy scent that will fill your room with the scents of the great western desert. Woodsy with the particular evergreen scent evoked by the images of cactus and sagebrush tumbleweeds. A true one of a kind masculine scent.”

By the time my candle arrived in the mail, my curiosity was piqued. The 8.5 oz. candle arrived in a small brown cardboard box with a colorful label illustrating sagebrush and pinon. A white candle in a glass candleholder, it reflected simplicity and a lack of pretension. I’m a converted believer in aromatherapy—upon lighting the candle, the air seems to take on the scent of a natural western setting at dusk, or what I might imagine it to be. When I burn this candle, I can almost see the cowboys riding back through the sagebrush and pinon to the campfire after a hard day’s work.

For those Americans looking for a homegrown soy candle, look no further. Per the website: _Soy Candles by Phebes are made in Atlanta, Georgia. We hand pour your candle at the time of order, using only essential oils and premium plant derived fragrance oils. We blend this with 100% American grown soy beans...Soy Candles by Phebes are biodegradable, hypoallergenic, almost completely soot free, eco friendly and vegan owned and operated._I didn’t have much familiarity with soy candles before receiving this product. I discovered after a little research that soy wax is environmentally friendly because, unlike paraffin candles, which are made from petroleum, soy candles are made from a renewable source—burning of soy candles doesn’t increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Among other advantages, soy candles last up to fifty percent longer than paraffin candles. If you’re not entirely convinced, gift yourself with a soy candle from Phebes, or add a few to your holiday shopping list. Shipping is free, which is always a great selling point.

Written by: Gita Tewari, November 3rd 2009

Chocolate Rain Soy Candle

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:25:00 +0000

By Soy Candles by Phebes

To say I was ill prepared when I moved to Denmark for love is quite an understatement. I did not research the stereotypes; when people starting shoving past me on public transit, I was surprised. The prices still startle me. And while I have a working knowledge of geography, I was not prepared for the darkness that accompanies winters so close to the Arctic Circle.

A South African co-worker recently asked how I survived last winter in Copenhagen. Terrified as it is her first cold season in Scandinavia, I shared with her the tactics of the Danes: huddle in warm blankets, play boardgames, and light candles. By December, the sun will be setting at 3PM. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Some folks fear the estrogenic properties of soy, and those folks are not necessarily misogynist dudes. Women may fear high estrogen because we fear breast cancer. Then again, others claim that Asian women are at lower risk for breast cancer because of their high soy protein intake. I’m vegan, so I’m sort of stuck hoping the skeptics aren’t right.

When it comes to candles, I admit that I used to hate on them. I thought they were a default gift given among co-workers and frenemies on unavoidable holidays. Yet this year, I’ve learned to love them for their heat and light but continue to struggle with the beeswax issue. You see, we oppress the bees; their colonies are dying at a terrifying rate. While their pollination tactics are essential, perhaps taking their honey and wax is unnecessary. Can’t we give the little buggers a break?

Imagine my total delight upon discovering Soy Candles by Phebes. Run by friendly vegan partners Mike and John, their delicious candles are the very best I have ever encountered. It’s high praise, but it’s true. Minutes after lighting my Chocolate Rain candle, my house was full of chocolaty aroma, putting asthma attack-inducing shops like Yankee Candle to shame. The only scent possibly stronger was my tiny, unlit Phebes Festive Fruits tart, a sample from their holiday collection that will save my sanity during the dreary winter months.

The Soy Candles by Phebes chandlers offer pretty much everything I want in a candle. In addition to being vegan (and thus cruelty-free), they are eco-friendly, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, soot-free, and made to order. One color and one size—8.5 ounces—keeps the focus on selecting from their range of over ninety scents rather than on the design. So far, my soy candle has burned significantly slower than paraffin competitors. Soy Candles By Phebes offers free shipping on every single domestic order from their base in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chocolate Rain may make some people think of the viral video of the same name. For me, it simply brings to mind the glorious aroma of my apartment that matches the dark bitters stashed in my cupboard. Soy Candles by Phebes will get my vegan self through this dark winter with style. My partner’s Danish mother, a true master of surviving the frigid darkness now in her sixty-seventh year, may also be receiving a few of these cruelty-free votives for Christmas.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, October 23rd 2009