I have long touted the benfits of using candles made of soy and beeswax. they are much healthier than paraffin, which is derived from petroleum, and they have the added benefit of cleaning the air in your home when you burn them. However, thanks to a great company called Elite Essentials, I now know they aren’t the only option when you’re looking for eco-friendly candles.
Elite Essentials candles are made of sustainable palm wax, and their fragrances come from essential oils. They sent me a few samples to try out, and I was pleasantly surprised. Because there are no artificial dyes, all the candles, regardless of their scent, features a beautiful crystalline texture and surface that makes them instantly recognizable. The wicks are also made of cotton, which is environmentally preferable to traditional wicks. What’s even better is that a portion of every Elite Essentials sale is donated to Sustainable Harvest International, and organization that is dedicated to creating sustainable farms and forests to help end poverty.
But how did they perform?
As soon as I opened the box, I was greeted by wonderful fragraces like Lavender Balsam, Citrus and Thyme and Peppermint Eucalyptus — definitely impressive. However, the candle isn’t as fragrant as traditional paraffin candles when burned. It took a while for the scent to envelop the room, but once it did, it was wonderful. There was no smoky trail from the flame, which was great, and what I also liked is that there was no drippy wax trailing down the sides of the pillars. Because of the size of the candles, burning them created a cavity in the center instead of a dripping mess. I used a small saucer as a candleholder, but I really didn’t need it.
Overall, they were great for intimate lighting and ambience. And though the fragrance wasn’t as strong as I would have liked once burning, it did give the air a subtle sweetness that was pleasant and not overpowering.
Why It’s Green:
- Made of sustainable palm wax
- Uses cotton wicks
- Portion of proceeds donated to Sustainable Harvest International
Price: $3.99-$11.99
What to win them?
Elite Essentials also sent me a couple of candles to give away to my readers. The winner will receive one 3″ x 6″ pillar candle in Citrus Thyme, and two 3″ x 3″ pillar candles in Peppermint Eucalyptus and Lavendar Balsam. Pay a visit to Elite Essentials and take a look around. Then come back here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26, 2008, and leave a comment telling me one thing you learned or thought was interesting. That’s it!
Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list:
- If you haven’t already, sign up for the Green Your Decor newsletter by 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2008. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. All current subscribers are eligible to win. And there’s no need to leave a comment letting me know you subscribe by email. I’ll know you’re a subscriber
- If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise.
- Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
- Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.
So that means every participant can receive up to 5 entries. You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26, 2008, to enter. U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. A winner will be chosen via Random.org, and the winner will be contacted via email. Good luck everyone!
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I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
{ 73 comments }
Those are lovely! I really like soy candles. Thanks for this info.
Would you be interested in a link exchange with my newest blog? It sure could use a little link-love to get up and running and your blog seems to be a somewhat similar niche.
My goodness, those are beautiful.
How nice! I’d like to give them a nice home!
I like that a portion of every sale is donated to Sustainable Harvest International. Thanks and have a great weekend!
OOOH! I love the Spa Lite gift set that they have with the reusable box. These candles look lovely.
Taras last blog post..Serene and Green Giveaway
Every purchase results in donation to a not for-profit organization to help build sustainable farming and forests.
Christinas last blog post..A Little About Me…
Elite Essentials are hand-poured in our factory in Mantachie, Mississippi, using all-natural ingredients. Each candle is good for you, and good for the environment. Their clean natural look comes from the candle’s palm wax, a sustainable and renewable alternative to soy.
Stumbled ya:
http://hellomary018.stumbleupon.com/public/
Great giveaway, thanks!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..Build-A -Bear Workshop Giveaway at Just a Mom’s Take on Things…
Hand made in the USA! gotta love that! ANd better then SOY! whoa!
I really love the simplicity of the pillar candles by themselves, no jar, no glass, nothing else to recycle holding it back. nice and simple.
Blogged ya:
http://tinyurl.com/4e74b9
Thanks again!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..Build-A -Bear Workshop Giveaway at Just a Mom’s Take on Things…
http://kagey10.stumbleupon.com/
100% cotton wicks. I never really thought about it before but what are traditional wicks made from? Something that is not eco-friendly? I will have to research this.
I love candles and have been real impressed with the soy wax ones. I hope these are comparable.
Made in the USA—
Those are great. 100% cotton wicks are wonderful and the fact that the donate some of the profits to help with farmlands is fantastic.
Jackie B., I think most of the time the wicks are made from cotton, but not 100%. They are usually blended with something that is often synthetic.
Jessicas last blog post..I heart T.J. Maxx
I am already signed up to the RSS feed via email; I have also written a little something on my blog for your giveaway over at:
http://blogfully.net/2008/09/link-luv-for-giveaways/#comment-102
Great giveaway!!!! I could use some beautiful smelling candles in the upcoming months.
Barbara Bakers last blog post..A Relaunch giveaway worth checking out
I really like that they are made in the USA! Fantastic! Also the fact that they don’t have any artificial dyes in the candles is very nice. Thanks for the great giveaway, that website is great, and I think I will be picking up some new candles!
carries last blog post..When crafts don’t go as planned.
These candles are made with therapuetic essential oils.
Elite Essentials proudly supports Sustainable Harvest International, a nonprofit who helps families in developing countries obtain what they need to end poverty and restore the environment.
I’m a Subscriber!
I like the idea that they use palm wax instead of soy. I think it is good not to use a food (as in ethanol) that can feed people.
A donation to Sustainable Harvest International- a non-profit organization that helps sustain farming and forests is made with each purcahse through Elite Essentials.
P.S. I love the candle trio! great gift idea for the holidays!
Every purchase results in donation to a not for-profit organization to help build sustainable farming and forests.
That is definitely awesome!
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
Rebecca Cs last blog post..Giveaways 9/19 – In Progress
I am a subscriber!
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
Rebecca Cs last blog post..Giveaways 9/19 – In Progress
I blogged about this giveaway:Here
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
Rebecca Cs last blog post..Giveaways 9/19 – In Progress
I stumbled. USername: wastebasketsa
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
Rebecca Cs last blog post..Giveaways 9/19 – In Progress
Love the whole idea of eco-friendly candles. I like the 100% cotton wicks, and also that they are made in the USA. The gift sets caught my eye…especially the Wild Mint & Orange Spa Lites set ~~~
I had no idea that there was such a thing as sustainable palm wax- i’m going to look into what that means exactly!
These candles seem fantastic! 
Besides the wonderful scents, I love that they are hand-made in the USA!
I learned that Elite Essentials are hand-poured in our factory in Mantachie, Mississippi, using all-natural ingredients and Each candle is good for you, and good for the environment.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I blogged your giveaway:
http://grammyjanetsplace.blogspot.com/search/label/September%20Blog%20Giveaways%202
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Elite Essentials uses fragrances inspired by nature, i.e., spice, citrus, mint, and evergreen. Thanks for the offer!
candles made with 100% sustainable and renewable Palm wax
MaryBeth Isaacs last blog post..MB’s Favorite Things – Anything 80′s – Beauty
Entry #2 . I stumbled your Recycled Glass post, here is my home page:
http://bellacasa.stumbleupon.com/
Bella Casas last blog post..Some Exciting Garage Sale Finds!!!
Kaffir Lime & Tangerine sounds enticing. I like that the candles are made with all-natural ingredients and therapeutic essential oils
100% cotton wicks, no artificial dyes, and Made in the USA! Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
Excellent website thank-you for the link. I am impressed by the fact they are dedicated to creating sustainable farms and forests to help end poverty.
very nice candles, I like that they are Hand-made in the USA!
I LOVE the fact that they are such an Earth-friendly company! AWESOME!
I think the Kaffir Lime and Tangerine scented candle is an intriguing fragrance combination. I would love to give it a whirl! My favorite feature is that the candle wicks are made in the US of 100% cotton. This means that I don’t have to worry about lead in the wicks. That is a concern for me, as the mother of 4, including a preschooler and an infant.
I find it interesting and gratifying that they make donations to support sustainable farming.
great company, i like how eco-conscious they are
Parafin comes from petroleum? Holy cow, is petroleum the one resource we don’t waste a bit of? Everything comes from petroleum! If only we could apply that practice to resources that aren’t bad for us and the planet.
Thats the thing I learned from the site.
Jessicas last blog post..Long time, no write
love that they donate to help the environment!
I love the fact that they are made in the USA. I wish everything we buy could be made in the US and I wish there were more people out there who cared where our products come from. Thanks for the great contest and for promoting an American company!
Beautiful ! They are made in the good old USA and made with therapuetic essential oils
thanks bunches!
they are beautiful, and the scents are wonderful! all seem to be very fresh smelling
Elite Essentials natural candles made their debut on Earth Day
I learned that a portion of sales to be donated to non-profit in support of sustainable farming. And that they have some very interesting scents like Kaffir Line & Tangerine! Sounds great!
I was able to learn that Lemon Verbana is recognized for healing powers.
I like that a portion of every sale is donated to Sustainable Harvest International
I am a subscriber!
I blogged about your giveaway here: http://everythingupclose.blogspot.com/2008/09/tuesday-giveaways.html
I learned that throw is an industry term for determining distance and strength of scent. So please throw me some. Thank you!
I love that they support Sustainable Harvest International.
Wow the candles look great! I love that they are made of soy and right here in the USA.
I love the fact that the candles are 100% plant–produced renewable wax, free of dyes :O) Very interesting site!
JaimeSs last blog post..Holy Loot Batman!
Subscribed to your feed through RSS at Yahoo.
imanoptimisticbeauty[at]yahoo[dot]ca
JaimeSs last blog post..Holy Loot Batman!
Blogged your contest here: http://imanoptimisticbeauty.blogspot.com/2008/09/quick-contest-for-you.html
JaimeSs last blog post..A Quick Contest for You!
I like the idea of the” calming botanicals Unity candle”…super creative!!!
I think that is so so wonderful that this company supports Sustainable Harvest International! This world definately needs more companies like these… I love all your goodies as well, the candles are beautiful and sound so yummy
Andreas last blog post..16 weeks 5 days
This phrase puts it in a nutshell for me: “Each candle is good for you, and good for the environment.” Would simply love to win!
dlcwin[at]gmail[dot]com
I like that a portion of every sale is donated to Sustainable Harvest International. Thanks!!!
I like the fact that they are American Made and that a portion of the purchase price goes to a non profit organization to help with the environment.
micaela6955 at msn dot com
Made with therapeutic essential oils
Ohh that would smell yummy!!!
I learned that every purchase results in donation to a not for-profit organization to help build sustainable farming and forests.! Thank you for the chance to win such a great prize!
Millicent Cs last blog post..Oh I am so TIRED!!
I am a subscriber!
Millicent Cs last blog post..Oh I am so TIRED!!
I learned that the candles are made from 100% sustainable and renewable Palm wax which is great.
Elite Essentials uses 100% sustainable and renewable Palm wax in their candles.
i learned Elite Essentials natural candles make debut on Earth Day.
Portion of sales to be donated to non-profit in support of sustainable farming
I subscribed to you newsletter! I own a shopping portal that has over 600 merchants partnered with us. We have a very GREEN side of our business. I am currently using the washing machine ball instead of detergent! We love it! We don’t need to use hot water, so we are saving in that aspect as well.
Check out my Giveaway on my blog. It contains a link to my website, too. Once there you click on the EARTH button in the upper right of my blog.
Thanks for including me!
KJ – California
i like that they donate to charity and there made with all natural products that s important to me
cool, they made their debut on Earth Day!
also a subscriber!
I love soy candles 100% sustainable and renewable Palm wax is so important , we need to take care of our world for future generatios
thank you for this fine contest