Ascents' freshly scented candles are petroleum- and headache-free

I love candles, but when looking for new ones, I usually end up with a splitting headache. Because with shopping comes sniffing, and after a while, the synthetic fragrance oils and harsh artificial scents used in many candles cause my olfactory senses to revolt.

But on a recent visit to the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market, I discovered Ascents Candle Company, whose 100 percent palm-wax candles left me headache-free. The company was started by interior designer Julianna Batho, who had sensitivity issues of her own and sought an alternative to petroleum-based candles.

Ascents candles are soot- and smoke-free, scented with only pure essential oils and outfitted with 100 percent cotton, lead-free wicks.

This matters because candles are kind of nasty. Most are made from paraffin wax, which is a petroleum byproduct, so essentially, you're burning refined gasoline. Instead, Batho uses palm wax as her main ingredient, which she says is a non-genetically modified, renewable resource that is free of petroleum products.

The Ascents booth is an oasis amid the bustle of the market, and on my visit, I watched a steady stream of shoppers stop by -- many of them devotees of Ascents' signature aromatherapy blends, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A 3-inch pillar that burns for 60-plus hours is $16; votives, which burn for 12 hours, are $2.50.

"I love these candles," said Cait McGuire, who cradled a Celebration blend (ginger, orange and balsam) pillar in her hands. "They are so fresh and clean, and less overpowering than other candles. That's what I really like."

Her friend, Carrie Brennan, bought several as a gift for friends in Vietnam. "I buy these all the time. They burn a lot longer than other candles and they have these wonderful, clean scents."

You can purchase the candles online or at a retail location such as The Herbalist, but for the best selection and sensory satisfaction, I recommend visiting one of the local farmers markets or festivals listed on the Ascents Web site. Most likely, you'll go home with a new candle -- and no headache.

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