Animal testing agreement signed to speed up adoption of alternative methods

We were so excited to hear this news as Scandle doesn't use any animal by-products nor do we test on animals!

International agencies from the US, Canada, Japan and the EU have signed a co-operation agreement to speed up the process for adopting alternative testing methods.

The EU ban on the use of animals to test cosmetic ingredients came into force this year but animal testing is still common outside Europe and progress is still needed in the development of alternative testing methods.

William Stokes, the executive director of ICCVAM and director of NICEATM, told CosmeticsDesign.com that the European cosmetics legislation had been “a driving force” behind the agreement.

Slowness in the adoption of alternative testing methods had led some commentators to question whether the EU animal testing ban was enforceable.

Stokes said delays had been caused by a lack of international cooperation. He said different countries were producing different recommendations on the same testing methods.

The cooperation agreement aims to cut out unnecessary delays by preventing these differences and coordinating the review process so recommendations are harmonized. In independent peer review meetings and reports, the countries also intend work together to produce single papers together rather than multiple works on the same subject.

In addition, Stokes said the design of evaluation studies would be agreed on together to avoid duplication and guarantee that the most needed information is gathered.

To see the final document, click on the link below:

http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/docs/about_docs/ICATM-MOC.pdf

The international agencies involved in the agreement included:

The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM)
The Japanese Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods
Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau within Health Canada
US National Toxicology Program (NTP) Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicology Methods (NICEATM)
Commenting on the agreement, Hajime Kojima, Ph. D, director of the Japanese Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods, said: “Although we’ve had informal collaborations over the years, this more formal agreement will allow us to work more efficiently and effectively.”

The 7 Sins of Cosmetic Greenwashing

All too often cosmetics firms are guilty of committing one or more of the seven sins of greenwashing. Greenwashing here is defined as the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.

The seven sins of greenwashing identified from common to least common are:

*The Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off occurs when one environmental issue is emphasized at the expense of potentially more serious concerns.

*The Sin of No Proof happens when environmental assertions are not backed up by evidence or third-party certification.

*The Sin of Vagueness occurs when a marketing claim is so lacking in specifics as to be meaningless.

*The (new) Sin of Worshiping False Labels is when marketers create a false suggestion or certification-like image to mislead consumers into thinking that a product has been through a legitimate green certification process.

*The Sin of Irrelevance arises when an environmental issue unrelated to the product is emphasized such as claiming a product is 'CFC-free' when CFCs are banned by law.

*The Sin of Lesser of Two Evils occurs when an environmental claim makes consumers feel 'green' about a product category that is itself lacking in environmental benefits.

*The Sin of Fibbing is when environmental claims are outright false.

You Are What You Smell

It is often said that fragrances can affect mood. According to various scientific studies, lemon fragrances (like The Margarita scented Scandle) can act as an anti-depressant, orange and wood oils decrease stress and so does lavender (like The Scandle in Calming), which is also associated with happiness.

Studies suggested that certain odors may have medicinal benefits. Wood and fruit odors help patients recover from illness. So, if someone is feeling under the weather, burning a candle like The Scandle Uplifting Blend with grapefruit and peppermint essential oils may help!

In fact, in one experiment in which mice were given a combination of naphthalene and interferon, increasing the presence of natural killer cells in their bloodstream and therefore making their immune system stronger. (BTW, Scandle does not approve on testing done on animals...just FYI!)

So, if you want to change your mood...change your fragrance! What are some of your favorite mood enhancing fragrances?

We're on the Move

Scandle has recently relocated to our new, larger facility to accomodate expansion. Please make note of our new address. Our phone numbers, email, fax, will remain the same:

Scandle LLC
1404 North Corinth Street Suite 312
Corinth, TX 76208

Recognizing Nature's Purfume

The difference between essential oils and fragrance oils can best be described by the comparison of a real slice of orange to a piece of sugary orange candy. The real orange has health benefits for the body. The color,shape, flavor, scent, taste and vitamins come directly from nature. An organe was created to nourish our body as well as provide vitamin C and numerous other health benefits. A piece of organce candy, on the other hand, gets its sweetness from sugar and its shape from gums. It is artificially flavored and colored, has no health benefits whatsoever and is more likely tan not to negatively affect our health.

The law does not prevent products from being labeled or sold as "essential oils" even if they contain synthetic fragrance chemicals. The practice is perfectly legal and runs rampant in the beauty and spa industry. You can claim that you use "essential oils" even if you use fragance oils, reconstitutes, adulterated oils, perfume compounds, aromas, synthetic fragrance ingredients or diluted essential oils. It is legal to claim that a product is made up exlusively from essential oils, even when it contains added synthetics.

There are many manufacuturers, even massage and lotion candle manufacturers, claiming that their product is made from essential oils...even when it is not. Scandle practices honesty and integrity when marketing their product, which is why we have two lines: The Scandle Originals made from body safe synthetic oils and The Scandle Essentials made from pure, plant-derived essential oils.

It seems that the only safeguards against the misleading practice are an educated nose and knowing exactly what plants do produce essential oils and from what part of the plant. Fo instance, you can get an essential oil out of the leaves of a strawberry plant, but it won't smell strawberry at all. It would smell herbaceous and green rather than sweet and fruity. If you are being sold a cosmetic containing "strawberry essential oil" that smells like strawberries, the product is being misrepresented.

The only fruits that produce essentail oils that smell like the fruit itself are citrus fruits (like our Uplifting Blend with Grapefruit Essential Oils). Some plants produce a variety of essentail oils from different parts of the plant. The best way to know the difference so that even a poorly labeled product will not sneak past you is to educate your nose by smelling an essential oils next to fragrance oils. Once you smell the difference for yourself, it is unlikely that you will ever be misled again.

Another dead give-away is price point. Synthetic fragrances are cheaper and always smell consistent because they are lab created. Nature does not produce the same exact scent for each and every harvest of plant material. Essentail oils can vary due to environmental differences from year to year and varying countries of origins of plant material.

I think it's high time that manufacturers quit misleading customers with false product information. But, until that happens, I think the only thing we can do as consumers is to educate ourselves and, in this case, our noses.

Scandle Hersday Hotlist Product

The Scandle was a Hersday Hotlist Product on WBLI-106.1 FM NY. Click here and listen

Scandle Featured on Style Network

Know of Any Good Bath Products? Part II

Did You Know?

Did you know that we absorb 60 percent of what we put on our bodies through our skin, depending on pore size? On average we consume one to four lipsticks/lip-gloss products in our lifetime, so choose them carefully. In fact the average woman absorbs 30 pounds of ingredients contained in moisturizers over a 60 year period! All the more reason to be informed and know what you are putting onto your skin.

Let us know about some of your favorite natural products (Scandle included).;-)

Toxic Stuff

We have heard of the "dirty dozen" for the foods that we eat. Well, there is a also a dirty dozen for cosmetics/skincare. Here are the 12 ingredients that professionals say to avoid:

1.) Coal tar is know to be a human carcinogen.
2.) Diethanolamine (DEA) is a possible hormone disruptor. It can also show up as a contaminant in cocamide DEA.
3.) Antibacterials such as triclosan have been detected in breast milk and can prevent the body from fighting off salmonella and e. coli.
4.) 1,4-dioxane is a possible human carinogen.
5.) Sulfates - skin irritants in many skin and hair products (Scandle is free of sulfates)
6.) Parabens have estrogenic effects on the body. (Scandle is free of parabens)
7.) Formaldehyde has multiple health effects on the body and is extremely toxic.
8.) Petroleum is a possible human carcinogen (Scandle is free of petroleums)
9.) Fragrance is an endocrine disruptor.
10.) Lead and mercury are neurotoxic and brain damaging
11.) Nanoparticles may penetrate through the skin and cause brain damage.
12.) Hydroquinone may cause cancer in lab animals.

Do you know of any toxic stuff found in beauty products not listed here? Comment and let us know!:-)

Barneys New York to Carry Scandle® Body Candle at Retail Stores in Japan

Scandle® LLC announced today the availability of their Scandle® Body Massage Candles at leading fashion retailer, Barneys New York, in Japan. Click here for more information!

Going Green with Body Products and Cosmetics

Going "green" with cosmetics and body products is more than just switching to mineral makup. It's about being aware of the ingredients that are incorporated into the products' formulations. What is the packaging made of? How safe is the product? How will it affect the environment?

Be sure to read the labls and look for specific ingredients. Steer clar of parabens and fragrances. Try to avoid talc when possible, as it has been linked to lung damage and certain cancers. Try to find cosemtics that have fewer than 10 ingredients and understand what you are looking for in the ingredients. Invest in a cosmetics dictionary - it will be your best friend. Do not buy products that are tested on animals. Make sure that when you discard your old cosmetic you recycle any containers that you can.

The Scandle for instance does not test or use animals or animal by-products, has fewer than 10 ingredients (i.e. soy, shea, jojoba, vitamin E, & essential oils), is paraben free, and utilizes reusable canisters and packaging made from recyced materials.

In our next post we will feature the "dirty dozen" for cosmetics that professionals say to avoid.

Share Your Experience and Get FREE Scandles!

Are you a spa that currently uses Scandle Massage Candles in your treatments? Or a retail store that sells Scandle Body Candles in your retail area? Tell us about your favorite Scandle treatment or selling tip and win a case of Scandle Candles!

Simply post a brief description of your treatment or selling tip and we will select one experience to feature a month on our blog and newsletter. We'll make sure to mention your business and your website, etc. giving you exposure as well!

So tell us about your Scandle treatments and selling tips and get some FREE Scandles for your business. We look forward to hearing from you!

Why Make the Switch to Soy Candles?

The Scandle was recently featured in Organic Spa Magazine. Check out the following blog post on Organic Spa Magazine on why we all should make the switch to cleaner burning soy candles:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/burning-soy-brightly.html

Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

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Natural Beauty and Your Wallet

Today, there are so many various companies anxious to sell their version of wrinkle cream. Because there are just so many choices it can be hard to decide which one is best for you. Never the less, these creams are in high demand and the prices remain very expensive for these types of creams.

Most of us or can I say all of us want to look beautiful, appealing and would like to have heads turn as we walk down. We would like to have our skin glow. We turn almost every page of the magazine and imagine ourselves to be the beautiful lady on it who has used the Best wrinkle cream in the market. But the question is at what price? The second question is can I afford it?

The companies claim that the best wrinkle creams include ingredients made from aloe vera, cucumber and other natural ingredients, but is it actually true? Actually most of these lotions contain cream. Does anyone ever stop to consider if putting these store bought creams on their face are actually harmful? Also, consideration should be given that these creams may not even be worth the price.

Many of these creams are really very good for the skin but at times these erupt allergies. Sometimes if these creams are used by youngsters with avery soft sensitive skin these may cause wrinkles or rashes.

Scandle believes that natural beauty, spa and skin-care products are your best bet. All natural products are the best thing you can apply to your skin. They have no synthetics and are the easiest on your wallet...and we can all use the help these days!;-)

What are some of your favorite natural spa, beauty, and skin care products?