why we ditched candles
Who else loves a cozy, candle flicker after a long day!? I used to be a candle lover through & through — literally couldn’t escape the aisles of tj maxx or target without picking up at least one pumpkin scented candle! I used to burn candles daily in our home, and never thought twice about it (I loved the hygge cozy vibes). But that all changed after a sweet friend enlightened me of the dangers of candles. After hearing her story, I started doing my own research. At first, I wanted to stay rooted in this idea that they couldn’t be that bad.. but article after article described the dangers of candles: the carcinogens they release, the pollutants & soot that lands in our air & homes, and the dangers of open flame in our home. I couldn’t shake it & knew I needed to find a better alternative.
Why Avoid candles?
+ Scented candles are known to release VOCs – volatile organic compounds both BEFORE lighting and when lit/burning. Commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol, and esters. These harmful chemicals can cause health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness, allergy symptoms, asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections, and even cancer.
+ Candles emit soot, which gets into the air and has to land somewhere (walls, ceilings, and furniture). Not to mention burning candles can pose a fire hazard since you will always have an open flame when burning a candle.
+ The contents of many fragrance candles are made of zinc, tin, and lead and spread easily from candles due to no filter.
+ One hour of burning a candle in your home is equivalent to smoking a cigarette for your lungs.
+ A study by scientists at Copenhagen University conducted on mice found exposure to particles from burning candles to cause greater damage than the same dose of diesel exhaust fumes.
Why We Diffuse Instead of Burn Candles
Lucky for all of us, there’s a better option for making our homes smell good & creating a cozy environment: diffusing pure essential oils! They smell even better than the synthetic, fragrance-filled candles I was using before, plus have so many additional health benefits to support our immune systems, emotions, air quality, and so much more. And you can get that exact same cozy, warm, inviting vibe as a candle with a diffuser!
What is diffusing?
Diffusing is the process of dispersing essential oils into the air using a device called a diffuser. There are many benefits to diffusing essential oils, including their ability to improve mood, boost immunity, and purify the air. Many essential oils have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve sleep too! For example, lavender oil is well-known for its calming properties – we diffuse it every night before bed to unwind & support a restful night of sleep.
In addition to their emotional benefits, diffusing essential oils can also help to purify the air we breathe. Essential oils like thieves and eucalyptus have natural antimicrobial properties, which can help to kill airborne bacteria and viruses. This makes diffusing essential oils a great way to keep your home healthy & clean, along with smelling amazing.
Benefits of Diffusing
+ Diffusers don’t have an open flame & run for up to 12 hours (safe & easy)
+ They act as a humidifier & air purifier (and don’t have the VOCs & toxins of candles/synthetic fragrances)
+ You can control how strong the smell is by how many drops you use
+ You can switch the scent whenever you want & we have hundreds of essential oils to choose from
+ Oils last so much longer than candles (you only need a few drops at a time)
+ Essential oils have therapeutic benefits! they can support your emotions, immune system, energy level, focus, & so much more!
Diffusers We Love
THE ARIA DIFFUSER
My very favorite diffuser for so many reasons! The Aria is an ultrasonic diffuser – featuring an elegant American maple wood base with a glass dome lid. It runs up to 12 hours, has built-in speakers, and covers up to 430 square feet of space! One of the standout features of the Aria Diffuser is it’s candle-like flicker LED light setting, with additional light options to match your mood or home decor.
+ Gorgeous output with wood base & glass dome top
+ Runs for up to 12 hours
+ Dreamy candle flicker light mode (along with other LED light options)
+ Built-in speakers (to plug in your device) or play the pre-loaded relaxing spa music
+ Covers up to 430 square feet of space (so great for large rooms/open concept living spaces)
+ Natural & stylish way to bring the benefits of essential oils into your home or space
+ Control the strength of the scent (use more or less drops of essential oil)
+ No open flame or risk with kids/pets
+ Matching wood remote you can control from anywhere
THE DESERT MIST DIFFUSER
The Desert Mist is a great, budget-friendly & family-friendly option for diffusing! We have had this diffuser at our bedside for 5+ years now and it’s also great to travel with. The “flicker” light setting resembles a candle! Here are a few reasons we love it:
+ Ultrasonic diffusion with 11 different light settings can be turned off or on independent of diffuser function. Including a cozy candle-flicker mode.
+ Covers 300 square feet.
+ Three run modes are perfect for a customizable experience: High mode runs approximately 5 hours continuously. Low mode runs approximately 8 hours continuously. Intermittent mode (1 minute on/1 minute off) runs approximately 10 hours.
+ Plastic cover so you don’t have to worry about kiddos or pets and makes it super easy for travel!
Feather the Owl Diffuser
Feather the Owl Diffuser is the perfect option for kiddos & families! Here are a few reasons we love it:
+ Ultrasonic diffuser with Easy-Touch Talons that offer touch-sensative power and light operation that’s simple for kids to use!
+ Covers 323 square feet.
+ Three run modes to customize your aromatic experience: High mode runs continuously for approximately 5-6 hours, Low mode runs continuously for approximately 8 hours, Intermittent mode runs for approximately 10 hours—1 minute on, 1 minute off.
+ Built-in speaker with five different sound variations: Rain, birds, ocean waves, fan, and lullaby.
+ Ten different LED light options to fit any mood.
+ Night-light and white noise function independently of diffuser mode.
