Thanks for your comments! We actually don’t disagree with anything you said and appreciate you throwing your two cents in about essential oils and soy candles and green furniture.

Just to clarify further, the reference to Pier 1 WAS absolutely a style reference only (there’s nothing green about the company or the furniture) and when Stephanie was talking about burlap furniture she was looking to rid people of the notion that green furniture is ugly and unappealing.

The object, here, is to educate one another about the numerous factors and choices that can present themselves even in the greenest of products so we greatly appreciate any information and/or resources that help to empower and educate!

A few points of clarification: Soy candles with “essential oils”still may contain toxins. Naming something an essential oil does not preclude the manufacturer from adding synthetic fragrance. Most natural essential oils are unstable, the scent doesn’t last. So to make customers happy with the smell, chemicals are added. These chemicals aggravate your respiratory system at best and can be carcinogenic at worst. Also watch for wicks containing lead. Just buying a soy candle won’t make it healthy. Labeling for “organic” is better, knowing how manufacturers cut costs and increase shelf life with chemicals is best.

And to my knowledge, Pier 1 has never sold green products. I realize you’re making a style reference, but even their “burlap” looking furnishings are far from green, the bamboo products are not sustainably harvested, the fabrics all contain toxic sizing and nearly all the furniture is made from MDF board (usually outgasses toxins like formaldehyde).