A candle is a light source usually consisting of an internal wick which rises through the center of a column of solid fuel. Typically the fuel is some form of wax with paraffin wax being the most common. Prior to the candle being ignited, the wick is saturated with the fuel in its solid form. The heat of the match or other flame being used to light the candle first melts and then vaporizes a small amount of the fuel. Once vaporized, the fuel combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to form a flame. This flame then provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning via a self-sustaining chain of events: the heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel, the liquefied fuel then moves upward through the wick via capillary action, and the liquefied fuel is then vaporized to burn within the candle's flame. The burning of the fuel takes place in several distinct regions (as evidenced by the various colors that can be seen within the candle's flame). Within the bluer, hotter regions, hydrogen is being separated from the fuel and burned to form water vapor. The brighter, yellower part of the flame is the remaining carbon soot being oxidized to form carbon dioxide.
As the mass of the solid fuel is melted and consumed, the candle grows shorter. Portions of the wick that are not evaporating the liquid fuel are themselves consumed in the flame, limiting the exposed length of the wick.
Usage
Prior to the domestication of electricity, candles were a common source of lighting, before, and later in addition to, the oil lamp. Due to local availability and the cost of resources, for several centuries up to the 19th century candles were more common in northern Europe, and olive oil lamps more common in southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. Makers of candles were known as chandlers. Today, candles are usually used for their aesthetic value, particularly to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambience, and for emergency lighting during electrical power failures. Scented candles are common in aromatherapy. Small candles are often placed on birthday cakes.
Religion
Candles are used in religious ceremonies.
Christianity
In Christianity, they typically represent the light of Jesus, and are often placed on the altar. Votive candles may be lit as an accompaniment to prayer. Candles are lit by worshippers in front of icons in Orthodox and other churches.
Candlemas marks the end of the season of Epiphany.
Candles were traditionally used to light up Christmas trees before the advent of electric lights. They are still, even today, commonly used to decorate Christmas trees in Denmark and other European countries. They are also used in Advent wreaths. In Sweden (and other Scandinavian countries), St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13 with the crowning of a young girl with a ring of candles.
Judaism
In Judaism, candles are traditionally lit on Friday evening at the start of the weekly Sabbath celebration. The Jewish holiday of Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by lighting a candle in a special candelabrum (menorah) each night during the eight-day holiday to commemorate the dedication of the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Candles are also used in remembering a deceased loved one, especially on Yom HaShoah, The Day of the Holocaust.
Kwanzaa
Candles are also used in celebrations of Kwanzaa, which is an African American holiday, which runs from December 26 to January 1.
Showing posts with label candles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candles. Show all posts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Buying Candles For Holiday Cheer For All Types Of Friends
Scented candles have become a staple for the holidays and especially throughout the fall and winter months. Not all of us know exactly how to go about plucking one candle from the cacophony of many and deciphering whether its aroma will be sweetly pleasant or nauseatingly sickening. What matters is not so much how you respond to it, but how the individual it is meant for will respond.
It is worth noting that many people who suffer from asthma and other types of respiratory diseases struggle with candles. Even if you have noticed scented candles in their home, you might want to reconsider, unless you can get close enough to the candle they have selected and jot down the brand name and the fragrance. Some people with respiratory diseases can only tolerate certain scents and others will send their asthma or breathing difficulties into over drive.
Quality candles can be rather expensive. They are a great gift for those who appreciate them simply because of their expense. Buying one candle is not difficult, as the price often ranges between $20 and $40. But buying numerous candles can really run up a tab. It can be hard to justify to a significant other why there are charges on the credit card for $140 for candles when it appears that you can pick up the same thing at the grocery store for $5. There is a reason for quality and price when it comes to a candle. Sure, you can drop $5 on a scented candle, but then nobody is going to be able to enjoy its scent. They dont tend to be strong enough to alter the aroma of a house or apartment, and sometimes not even one room. Scented candles worth their weight in pleasant aroma run more because their quality is that much higher. And when you can use just two candles to liven up your homes aromatic qualities, its worth the price.
Candles have a positive affect on most people, even when its not known. Aromatherapy is a therapy based completely on scents. Studies have confirmed that aromas cause the brain to leach out different hormones. When the nasal area is more than satisfied, and smells pleasant aromas within the home, there is a connection made in the brain that triggers greater relaxation and stronger emotional ties to the home. Can aromatherapy stop an affair? No. Its not a magical source that will rework ones character. But what it can do is allow for a more relaxed and calm environment within the home, which can help facilitate conversation, laughter, and even sexual intimacy. While the complete range of the benefits of aromatherapy are not yet known, the results that have been established are quite positive and, in my opinion, certainly worth $40 a month on a candle or two.
When youre trying to buy scented candles for others, all of these ideas line up. The gift youre giving is one of aromatherapy and eased expense for the candle lover. This is greatly appreciated. Of course you want to get the right candles for the right person, but unless you know what type of fragrances they appreciate, it can be hard to pick out something positively perfect. Most people who are shooting blind in the candle buying arena tend to go for neutral smells. Smells, while technically are divided up into numerous categories, are divided up into three basic styles for purposes of clarity. There are sweet smells, neutral smells, and what I call potent smells but the rest of the world seems to refer to as hearty smells.
Sweet smells, as you would expect, smell like something that remind us of cookies baking or apple pie or fruit. These smells include most of your vanilla scents and a lot of your linen scents. Sweet smells are lovely to some and sickening for others. Unless you know for sure how your recipient feels about these things, avoid the sweet smells.
Hearty smells are the smells that arent sweet, but offer a strong and bold aroma. Pine scents, herb scents, and some of your tree and nature scents are considered hearty. These are usually preferred by someone who isnt crazy about the sweetness of some smells. However, those that prefer sweet smells find hearty smells to be overpowering.
The neutral smells are those that are considered to be less identifiable. Sometimes they come with cute scent names like sand, sea, and air. Some linens will be more neutral than sweet. Neutral scents are good for those who offer you no clue to their preference. Often a neutral scent can fit into most peoples aroma range with ease. They are usually not as strong as your sweet or hearty scents, but can be subtle and remind us of things that are clean.
When picking up a candle for a loved one or a friend, choosing between the long list of scents can be very difficult. If you approach it with the idea of the three basic scents, youre going to have a much better shot at purchasing a candle that will be well received.
It is worth noting that many people who suffer from asthma and other types of respiratory diseases struggle with candles. Even if you have noticed scented candles in their home, you might want to reconsider, unless you can get close enough to the candle they have selected and jot down the brand name and the fragrance. Some people with respiratory diseases can only tolerate certain scents and others will send their asthma or breathing difficulties into over drive.
Quality candles can be rather expensive. They are a great gift for those who appreciate them simply because of their expense. Buying one candle is not difficult, as the price often ranges between $20 and $40. But buying numerous candles can really run up a tab. It can be hard to justify to a significant other why there are charges on the credit card for $140 for candles when it appears that you can pick up the same thing at the grocery store for $5. There is a reason for quality and price when it comes to a candle. Sure, you can drop $5 on a scented candle, but then nobody is going to be able to enjoy its scent. They dont tend to be strong enough to alter the aroma of a house or apartment, and sometimes not even one room. Scented candles worth their weight in pleasant aroma run more because their quality is that much higher. And when you can use just two candles to liven up your homes aromatic qualities, its worth the price.
Candles have a positive affect on most people, even when its not known. Aromatherapy is a therapy based completely on scents. Studies have confirmed that aromas cause the brain to leach out different hormones. When the nasal area is more than satisfied, and smells pleasant aromas within the home, there is a connection made in the brain that triggers greater relaxation and stronger emotional ties to the home. Can aromatherapy stop an affair? No. Its not a magical source that will rework ones character. But what it can do is allow for a more relaxed and calm environment within the home, which can help facilitate conversation, laughter, and even sexual intimacy. While the complete range of the benefits of aromatherapy are not yet known, the results that have been established are quite positive and, in my opinion, certainly worth $40 a month on a candle or two.
When youre trying to buy scented candles for others, all of these ideas line up. The gift youre giving is one of aromatherapy and eased expense for the candle lover. This is greatly appreciated. Of course you want to get the right candles for the right person, but unless you know what type of fragrances they appreciate, it can be hard to pick out something positively perfect. Most people who are shooting blind in the candle buying arena tend to go for neutral smells. Smells, while technically are divided up into numerous categories, are divided up into three basic styles for purposes of clarity. There are sweet smells, neutral smells, and what I call potent smells but the rest of the world seems to refer to as hearty smells.
Sweet smells, as you would expect, smell like something that remind us of cookies baking or apple pie or fruit. These smells include most of your vanilla scents and a lot of your linen scents. Sweet smells are lovely to some and sickening for others. Unless you know for sure how your recipient feels about these things, avoid the sweet smells.
Hearty smells are the smells that arent sweet, but offer a strong and bold aroma. Pine scents, herb scents, and some of your tree and nature scents are considered hearty. These are usually preferred by someone who isnt crazy about the sweetness of some smells. However, those that prefer sweet smells find hearty smells to be overpowering.
The neutral smells are those that are considered to be less identifiable. Sometimes they come with cute scent names like sand, sea, and air. Some linens will be more neutral than sweet. Neutral scents are good for those who offer you no clue to their preference. Often a neutral scent can fit into most peoples aroma range with ease. They are usually not as strong as your sweet or hearty scents, but can be subtle and remind us of things that are clean.
When picking up a candle for a loved one or a friend, choosing between the long list of scents can be very difficult. If you approach it with the idea of the three basic scents, youre going to have a much better shot at purchasing a candle that will be well received.
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