Last week I was asked, in my opinion – “What is the most important reason they should choose to buy hand made?” I guess the most politically correct answer would be to support the work of handcrafting artisans, but that is not the most important reason that I buy hand made whenever possible.

Here are my thoughts;

Quality – In most cases the quality of raw ingredients and the manufacturing techniques used in creating by hand are superior to those available in the mass manufacturing market. This can be largely contributed to cost containment. Large manufacturers must invest millions into a product before the item is even tested. All entrepreneurs have the cost of doing business, but in the hand made, cottage industry those enormous costs of R&D, testing, marketing, manufacturing, packaging and distribution are extremely less – allowing for the use of finer ingredients and better quality production techniques.

Choice – Hand made means having a more extensive choice in products. Large companies spend a great deal of money to find out what will sell. As a result, the manufacturer will then produce what their research indicates the masses or average person fitting their demographic will desire. This is fine, if you are among those they are hoping to fill the needs of, but what about those of us that would like something different?

Custom – While not all hand made artisans can make products especially for you, many do and those that don’t can usually point you in the direction of a fellow artisan that will. One of the most common complaints I hear from customers is how they became addicted to a particular product and are now having to undergo a 12 step program because the chain is no longer carrying it. Value – Hand made products for my purposes are crafted to bring to my customers something “top shelf”. You know the stuff that you were taught to save for special occasions, the fancy china, or frilly towels you don’t dirty, reserved for guests. Into everyone’s lives there should be top shelf items they are allowed and encouraged to use each and every day.

Craftsmanship – The most obvious reason products made by hand are special is because the artisan’s energy goes into everything they craft. It’s a priceless ingredient, not available when a product comes off an assembly line. As the artisan becomes seasoned their wares become more valuable. As their skills and creativeness age, so does their ability to perfect their product, and the consumer is gifted with the very best money can buy with no extra cost for expertise and pride.

Support – And since it’s a very important part in the cycle of commerce…support those that create to ensure they will continue to do so. Regardless of your reason, it is good business to spend money in your own backyard, giving back to those that may support you. So much of our domestic dollars are spent on imported and inferior grade junk.

Choosing hand made keeps our country’s artisans creating the best products you can buy!

Then I stated looking at the fragrances we would be incorporating into our soap and new bath and body products. Most of these were new and since the selection of fragrances was smaller, the task was quickly over. I felt maybe I was missing something? So…I started researching other companies, other artisans I buy from, just to get a feel for what they offered in the way of scents for their body products and soap. I was really surprised by what I found.

What is with all the foodie smells in bath and body products? I personally have no desire to smell like a cupcake, but I guess there are a great number of ladies out there that are into smelling edible. Not too long ago I read an article that said the number one favorite aroma to a man was pumpkin pie…that I understood, but I never thought about actually wearing…on my body…a scent that reminded me…much less was, food like. But I am not here to judge so I started doing some research and found some interesting things.

It has long been held that memories are triggered more by the sense of smell than any of the other senses. Nothing invokes memories more than the smell of something, not even seeing, feeling, touching or hearing. It has to do with how our brains are wired and the limbic system – the emotional part of our brains. Interestingly enough the first sniff of a new odor and our brain attaches it to an associated person, feeling, moment and/or situation. It forges a link that is unconscious on our behalf for the most part automatic in recall. So the next time we get a sniff of that odor we are transported in our emotional minds back to that association. Since we are not born adults, many of these associates are made in our youth, as we grow up. There have been studies on babies that were exposed to odors while inside the womb. Even if offensive to others like onions or garlic, the born baby displays an attachment to the odor when born, finding it comforting and soothing. WOW

This area of the brain with these uber charged olfactory nerves is meshed in with the areas of brain that control emotion and moods, learning and alertness. Aromatherapy studies have mapped these brain waves and it’s been proven, taking a wiff of certain smells invokes emotional reactions, controls levels of awareness as well as having the ability to alter states of mind. We have all had that moment when really sleepy and you smell fresh brewed coffee…suddenly you feel a bit more energized or alert. Or how about that big inhale of lemon that makes you salivate and your mouth pucker. It’s all programmed! WOW (again)

That is just a drop in the bucket of how powerful the sense of smell is…look at the science of aromatherapy and how vast and far reaching those studies are…

So I asked myself – why? Why is the sense of smell so important and why all the special treatment. Research says…it is part of our instinct to survive.  Early man relied on the sense of smell to hunt and find food. Knowing what smelled good and what was rotten kept early man safe…for the most part. Odors for the early man were also helpful in finding a mate – and I am pretty sure in keeping one.

I now have why scent is so important and realize how crucial a part of our lives the sense of smell is.  So deductively (yes, I wanted Sherlock Holmes last night) I am slowly figuring out why there is such an attraction to foodie scents.

We as a species love to eat, especially cakes and cookies, pies and candies. What else would give us such joy and elation than those fat pills, especially in our youth when we knew not of the evils they contained! Bring on the cake batter, rich vanillas and butter creams of our childhood birthday celebrations. The lollies, gummies and bubble gum given to us as kids by our lovable relatives, family and friends. As children… we would if we could have swam in a sea of chocolate bars and nutty concoctions similar to those  given to us as rewards for jobs well done or as special treats. The pies and fruity whips of our holiday dinners when all the family was together, happy and jolly. Not to mention the gum drops and sugary candies bestowed by Santa and in every candy bowl during Christmas.  And don’t forget the mellow marshie tweets, peanut butter laden eggs and jellies of Easter when you frolicked with playmates finding the baskets FULL of candies. Or what about becoming your favorite hero or goblin in an effort to be rewarded by a bag full of candies by your neighbors on Halloween. And don’t forget that big ‘ole honking piece of white baked bliss you shoved into the face of your beloved on your wedding day? All those lovely, emotion invoking memories of joy – smacked into our brains…all associated with sugary yummies. It’s a wonder we all don’t want to roll around in sugar sprinkled convections and smell like a bakery!

Triple scented candles… Most handmade candles are scented with the correct amount of fragrance oil as dictated by the Chandler’s testing. There is a recommended amount of fragrance oil that can be added to wax, but that varies by type of wax and one’s measure of ample scent.

Because scent is one of the most expensive components of a candle, mass manufacturers use cheap/inferior grade fragrance oils and keep their percentage of usage at a minimum. It became common practice in the early days of handmade candle mania for Chandlers to boast having “triple scented” candles. This was based on the industry average (large candle manufacturers) level of usage. So in their defense… most Chandlers did/do use more than their large company counterparts.

Unfortunately, what the industy average was/is and thus the amount they are tripling – is never revealed and I doubt they know for sure. Think of it this way, three times a penny is only 3 cents! It’s simply marketing hype. Wax is like a sponge and will only hold so much fragrance oil, any more than it will hold and it will leak, or seep out becoming unsightly and NOT burnable.

Paraffn Candles can Cause Cancer… This is based on some random studies that were concluded WITHOUT any supporting evidence or research that paraffin wax emits toxic or carcinoginic fumes while burning. Their studies also suggest that the burning of paraffin wax is an allergen, which also had not been proven although the fragrance oils used in most candles can be. I make candles of soy because it’s the wax I prefer to use,  not because there is any “wrong” with paraffin waxes.

Soy Candles Are ALL Natural…I always stress to my customers that the choice to make soy candles was based on my decision to keep products I produce as natural as possible. Any wax that is used for candles is processed, which entails taking a natural product and doing some “not so natural things” to it to make it work for the intended purpose. It’s not possible to pick soybeans, mash them up and make candle wax. Soybeans are subject to chemical fertilization and the use of pesticides – MOST oils, butter and waxes are, they are not like syrup you just tap and pour. Much of the soybeans grown today are hybrids, genetically altered to increase yield and desirable traits. Once the oils of the soybean is expressed through chemical solvents, it is hydrogenated to infuse it with air to make it a solid. Does not sound so natural now right?

But seriously – soy wax IS a naturally derived product. The expression of oil does not leave it chemically tainted. Hydrongenation, abit complicated process is only altering the basic state of the product. And soybeans are a renewable resource, grown in America – so it does support our farmers. 

Into everyone’s life there is a bonbardment of “crap” excuse my political incorrectness. We get zapped with a plethura of rays, germs, chemicals, viruses, general badies daily. It seems everything is out to get you. In keeping with my desire to maintain products that are naturally derived, I feel I am making a trade up into the “better” for you category. The more things we can keep natural in our lifes the less “crap” we have to content with. And remember I am pouring up to 50 pounds of steaming wax a day at times, talk about exposure! Those reasons along with some allergy issues I developed while buring paraffin candles, and my desire to have cleaner burning candles, that lasted longer – is why I chose to craft soy wax.

Beware of Lead Wicks…Sure, but chances of finding lead wicks in this county are rare. Their sale and distribution has been banned for years. If you see what appears to be metal in a wick, most likely it is zinc, used to add rigidity to wicks – commonly used in many types candles.

Gel Wax Candles are Dangerous…Some urban legend made it’s way through the internet about an exploding gel wax candle and people have been repeating it ever since. ALL CANDLES ARE DANGEROUS IF YOU USE THEM IRRESPONSIBLY.  Almost every candle has a warning label and burning insructions, these must be followed to burn the candle correctly. Gel wax is no more dangerous than any other wax. I will admit though, it is at times hard to see the melt pool in clear wax. Special care should be paid to not “blow” out a gel wax candle, instead diffuse the flame by cutting off air to the flame/wick. Use either a snuffer or a flame proof top to extinguish.