The wonders of Eel Skin
by John Frangulis on August 04, 2011
The eel is a mysterious sea creature that has no visible organs except a mouth and several symmetrically arranged secretion holes on both sides of its body. Eel skin is not only softer and suppler than other animal hides and leathers, but is considered to be as elegant as ostrich, crocodile and alligator. Eel skin is 150% stronger and more flexible than any other leather, given that it can withstand the high levels of atmospheric pressure found at the bottom of the sea. Eel skin becomes softer, shinier, and suppler with use, and is elegant in appearance. Many believe that eel skin may prevent disaster, and according to Greek mythology brings good luck & health.
GHJK stocks a great range of quality eel skin accessories.
They are manufactured by Pratten whose designs are 100% Australian and can be found here:
http://www.ghjk.com.au/products/cuff-pratten
http://www.ghjk.com.au/products/wallet-pratteneelkeepsafe
http://www.ghjk.com.au/products/wallet-pratteneel
http://www.ghjk.com.au/products/wallet-pratteneelzip


Enjoy Your Soy!
by John Frangulis on June 17, 2011
What are soy candles?
Soy wax is a new alternative to paraffin wax, made from
soybeans, is renewable and cost effective. The soybean is one of the most
versatile products used today. It has been a high protein source for millions
of people for thousands of years. Soybean wax also seems to be the most
promising natural wax available. Natural waxes, such as soy waxes, are gaining
in popularity but natural waxes are not new. Beeswax and tallow were used in
colonial times to produce candles. Beeswax is a great natural alternative to
paraffin, but unfortunately, to get the same results as a soy-based candle, it
is cost prohibitive to use 100% beeswax in candles. Soy is in lots of things
like body & skin care products, hair products, crayons, paint removers, and
cleaning products. When soy wax replaces common paraffin wax, an estimated 60
million pounds of soy beans will be required for annual candle production. Soy
candles last three times longer than petroleum-based candles, have an
incredible scent throw with virtually no black soot.
Are soy candles
really "soot free"?
Now, you may have read or heard other candle manufacturers’
claim that their all natural wax candles are "Soot Free". This is a
big misconception. No candle can be "soot free", but natural wax
candles do have less soot. The only way a candle can be soot free is if the
flame is completely blue (i.e.: propane torch), meaning there is 100%
combustion. Unlike other soy candle manufacturers, we are not going to
guarantee that our soybean wax is soot-free. To make a claim such as that would
be misleading and no wax can make that claim. While soy wax its-self is
all-natural and will not produce the thick black soot that you see on paraffin
candles, it does produce soot - a lighter, white soot! Anytime you have a flame
and combustion you may have soot, and anytime you add synthetics such as
fragrance oils and dyes, you will have soot. Additionally, using too large of a
wick or the incorrect wick can produce soot as well. Soot can be a "white
soot" that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Soy wax will produce little
black soot - you will not see that thick black ring on the jars, nor will it do
the black soot damage to homes, but it may produce white soot. No other
manufacturer will tell you that.
Are fragranced
candles a health hazard?
Conscious Soy Candles are made from biodegradable vegetable
wax with 100% cotton and paper wicks. Our high quality fragrance oils contain
no heavy metals (such as lead) and are formulated just for us, with a base of
vegetable oil, not liquid paraffin oil (like most fragrances commonly
available). Soot is a health hazard, not our fragrances!! Additionally, all of
our fragrances are created just for us, using natural essential oils,
aroma-chemicals, and are balanced perfectly to both optimise our blends and to
create a clean burn!
What are the
differences between Conscious Soy candles and other companies "soy
blend" candles?
Some candle company's consider their candles to be "soy
candles" even though they are "blended" with paraffin wax. We
urge you to thoroughly read the label, and ask if your candles are a
"blend". Conscious Soy Candles are made from 100% all natural waxes,
which are soy and vegetable waxes. Our soy candles are eco-friendly,
hand-crafted and biodegradable. Custom crafted with top-grade fragrance and
essential oils, we guarantee our soy candles to be the safest, most fragrant
eco-candle you'll find!
Are soy candles
really "all natural"?
Soy candles don’t put your health at risk. Soy candles do
not release the toxins that paraffin candles emit. According to the state of
California’s Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of
1986), there are at least seven toxins in paraffin candle wax, including
benzene, an affirmed carcinogen. (Paraffin is created as a by-product of diesel
fuel refining!) Soy wax candles are crafted from soy beans. That part of your
candle is absolutely all natural. Soy wax candles are not “all-natural” when
you add dyes and fragrance oils. Once you add those two elements, your candle
is no longer natural as they both contain chemicals. We do not add any colour
to our soybean wax candles. However, Conscious Soy Candles are made with wax
from 100% natural soybeans and contain NO UNNECESSARY CHEMICAL ADDITIVES such
as UV light reflectors and chemical wax stabilizers! Our soybean wax contains
no paraffin and therefore no petroleum by-products! Our fragrance and essential
oils are non-diluted, full strength scents specifically formulated for use in
soy candle wax! Also, to recycle the containers, just wash the glass or tin
after discarding the used wick. The soybean wax just rinses off!
Do your wicks contain
lead?
No. Conscious Soy Candles are crafted with 100% cotton and
paper wicks.
Are your soy candles
triple scented?
With any candle, the recommended fragrance usage is one
ounce of fragrance oil or less per pound of wax. More is not always better and
we know that "Triple Scented" is just a sales pitch used by some
candle manufacturers. More scent or fragrance oil does not mean more aroma.
Just like there are different grades of fuel, there are also different grades
of fragrance oils. Some contain more "fragrance" and some contain
more "fillers". The true secret to "scent throw", as it is
called in the candle industry, is the burn quality. The scent is
"thrown" from the wax pool that is created. Candle-making is an art
and a science. A good candle manufacturer plans, designs, and tests their
candles with their fragrances per each candle container and size to ensure good
scent "throw" and candle performance. Each fragrance has different
"throw" qualities, and just "triple scenting" does not mean
more fragrance. In fact too much fragrance can cause the candle wick to
mushroom, smoke when burned, and could even cause the candle itself to combust
causing shooting flames centimetres above the candle. Conscious Soy Candles are
all designed and tested to burn properly, creating a safe, clean, and aromatic
candle.
Our thoughts
The fact is that Conscious Soy Candles are a cleaner
burning, healthier alternative to other scented candles. They burn longer than
paraffin by almost double in time, and burn cooler than paraffin, creating an
out of this world fragrance experience! Our soy wax is also very creamy, opaque
and soft.
We think you will be pleased with both the appearance and
the performance of Conscious Soy candles.
We have spent an overwhelming amount of time testing each
and every type of candle we offer, to ensure our candles offer you the best
burn times, appearance, and Aroma Power!
We believe that in order to produce a quality candle, you
must start out with high quality ingredients. Sometimes, you have to pay a
little more for high quality.
We guarantee that you will find that our candles are well
worth the money!
Soy wax has a lower melting point than regular paraffin wax
and will release excess moisture it cannot hold. You can leave it or wipe it
out with a paper towel. It does not affect the burn quality, and will generally
not show up again after your first burn. This typically only shows up in the
jar candles. For best performance, store your candles in a cool area out of
direct sunlight.
Soy wax candles have a few unique characteristics to them
that in no way effect the wonderful way they burn. As well as containing a
lead-free wick, your Conscious Soy range candle will have a creamy, off-white
colour to it. In keeping with our desire to create as natural a candle as
possible, we have chosen not to add artificial colour to our wax. There are a
few Essential Oils that are a bit darker and will add a pale yellow tint to
that particular wax. You may notice some wet looking spots on your candle where
the wax has adhered to the surface of the glass. They are caused by temperature
variations and are simply due to the expansion and contraction of the wax. You
will notice that they change as the candle is burned or when the room
conditions change. They in no way affect
the quality of the candle. Soy candles are very sensitive to temperature
and light so be aware of the location when placing or storing your soy candle. Place your candle away from sunlight,
fluorescent lighting and sources of heat. When traveling with your candles,
be careful as extremes in temperatures will melt or freeze our great candles.
We know that once you see how wonderful soy candles are you'll never want to go
back to paraffin again.
Enjoy your soy!

GHJK has a great selection of Conscious Candle Company Soy Wax candles available for purchase.
To view the range, please click a link below:
http://www.ghjk.com.au/collections/home/products/candle-signaturevanilla
http://www.ghjk.com.au/collections/home/products/candle-soy160z

