What's In Your Candles?
I don’t know about you, but there is something about that feeling when I light a candle after tidying up my living space that makes everything seem manageable.
So many of us have come to find comfort in the ambiance a well light candle creates and the home fragrance that settles in.
It seems counterintuitive that a candle that brings you both peace and joy can also be making you sick.
The problem with a lot of candles is that they are made of paraffin. Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum. Petroleum waste is chemically bleached, deodorized and then made into the wax that makes your candle.
Remember VOCs? (we talked about them here) Well when you burn your candle, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are released. Some of those include: acetone, toluene, benzene, etc.
In addition to the harm breathing in petroleum vapors can cause (nervous system & respiratory issues), there is also the concern of carcinogenic soot.
The soot is a result of burning both the candle and the wax (think about those little black puffs you see coming from candles from time to time). This soot can carry with it any number of carcinogens. In addition, it can aggravate asthma, and encourage lung & heart problems.
Are you side-eying your candles yet??
At first you may think I’m loopy for suggesting such a small thing can cause such issues, but it’s the size of the particles that is the issue. Think about how much easier it is for smaller particles to enter your bloodstream.
What if I told you such chemical residue was found in our brain (think Alzheimers) and in the placenta of women (think low birth weight and birth defects)?
The reality is that candles can burn enough chemicals that their side effects are comparable to second hand smoke. Some candles release more chemicals than a running diesel car.
Further, aromatherapy candles that use synthetic oils release microscopic particles that can cause cancer when inhaled.
So, what can you do?
Because giving up our home fragrance is not an option!
Look for candles made from beeswax.
Choose candles with a cotton wick. (lead free is the aim)
Use a diffuser or essential oil room spray.
And check out these Crystal Bliss candles from Emanate Essentials.