Why Soy?
Soy is superior to traditional paraffin wax for these 5 reasons.
1. Soy wax is derived from soybeans (renewable) and paraffin wax is derived from petroleum (non-renewable). Additionally, soy wax is biodegradable!
2. Soybean cultivation plays a role in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, the extraction and processing of petroleum for paraffin wax releases significant amounts of greenhouse gasses.
3. Soy wax is considered non-toxic as it is essentially vegetable oil. In contrast, paraffin candles can release harmful chemicals when burned such as benzene and toluene, which can irritate the respiratory system.
4. Soy wax candles burn longer because they have a lower burning temperature compared to paraffin wax. Since the amount of heat required for the flame to stay lit is reduced, the amount of wax needed to fuel the wick is also reduced. They also produce less soot!
5. Choosing soy wax products supports local farmers. Soybean production promotes sustainable agriculture and reduces dependence on non-renewable resources. We use wax that is made from soybeans grown exclusively in the Midwest!
Did you know the US is the world’s leading soybean producer?
How is Scent Tied to Memory?
How Is Scent Tied to Memory?
The other day I was using Listerine mouthwash and was randomly flooded with the memory of my great grandma and grandpa. I even had the sense of being in their old house, which I haven’t been in for 20 years or more. When I told my mom about it, she mentioned that they loved Listerine and used it religiously. This was not something I knew or remembered about them, but somewhere hidden in my brain, this information was stored away.
My Great Grandma and Grandpa’s House in Long Prairie, MN
This phenomenon made me curious so I did a little research…
It turns out the link between scent and memory is thought to be due to the architectural layout of our brain. When we smell something, the information gathered by our nose travels directly to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb has direct connections to the amygdala (portion of the brain responsible for emotional processing) and the hippocampus (portion of the brain responsible for memory).
Neuroscientists believe this connection may explain why smell can trigger memories we’d long forgotten.
Interestingly, our sense of smell is the only formed sense we have as a fetus still in the womb. It remains our most developed sense until about age 10 when our sense of sight becomes the strongest. As we get older, it is common for us to lose our sense of smell but some scientists suggest it is like a muscle. We can strengthen our sense of smell simply by using it! A good practice is to be mindful of the scents around you and consciously label them.
Has a scent ever triggered a memory for you?
Sources:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-smells-trigger-memories1/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/
https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/psychology-and-smell/#:~:text=The%20sense%20of%20smell%20is,a%20childhood%20picnic%2C%20for%20example.