Toxic Candles under Fire this Valentine’s Day
Turn on the romance, not the toxins with candles. The seemingly innocuous candle can be a source of lead poisoning, indoor air pollution, and cause long-term damage to your house along with the environment. So here are the top things to know about candles to make any romantic venture a safe one.
Wax and Waning
There are seven candle waxes used to date: beeswax, palm wax, paraffin, soya, synthetic gel, tallow, and vegetable oil. Tallow, at one time the most widely used wax, is made essentially from animal fat. As you may have guessed, production of tallow-based candles has significantly declined since the industrialization of food, in particular the meat industry so these candles are rare in developed countries. Palm wax, harvested primarily in Southeast Asia, undergoes a refining process prior to being used in a variety of body products including candles. It is not a major candle resource, so there is little research on its impact but it is expected to be small. Vegetable oil has a similar story to palm oil, yet is more readily available locally.
Paraffin is the most common and least expensive wax available. It is a petroleum byproduct, although is more commonly produced synthetically today. It is linked to non-renewable resources and a global supply chain. Studies by the EPA and American Lung Association link these candles to poor indoor air quality and Black Soot Deposition. There are other particulate emissions linked to these candles. Since manufacturers are not required to provide an inclusive ingredient list, it is uncertain whether the carcinogens found in the candle emissions are due to paraffin or other additives. The bottom line is to avoid buying these candles, and if you have some in your household, do not burn several at one time.
The synthetic gel candles, although intriguing to look at and play with, are severely understudied regarding their health and environmental impacts. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has on record several issues with gel candle containers exploding. I use the precautionary principle on this one, if there isn’t enough research to prove that it is safe for me to use, I avoid it. This gel is also non-renewable and typically manufactured in several different locations adding to its overall footprint.
Soy candles have exploded in popularity, yet they are not without their own hazards. Soy candles are considerably better for human health and the environment than paraffin and synthetic gel candles. Yet, as a monoculture that is quickly catching up to corn, it is also not as renewable as it once was. Studies on adverse health effects have proven the candle benign, but there are new studies analyzing “White’ Soot Deposition, so the jury is out on damage to the home. As for the age old concoction of beeswax, well there is only good news except for the bees. It is believed with a few supporting scientific documents that burning beeswax releases negative ions that improve an individual’s health. As for being renewable, the debate continues as bee populations are in flux. So time will tell if this resource will continue to renew itself.
Here is a wax guide to help you choose:
| Wax | Renewable Resource | Supports Local Economy | Negative Health Benefits | Cost | Green Rating |
| Beeswax | Yes | Yes | No | $$$ | #1 – Greenest |
| Soya | Yes | Sometimes | Unproven | $ | #2 – Green |
| Veggie Oil | Yes | Yes | Unknown | $ | #3 –Green |
| Palm Wax | Yes | No | Unknown | $$ | #4 – Green |
| Tallow | Somewhat | Sometimes | Unknown | $$$ | #5 – Green |
| Gel | No | No | Unproven | $$ | #6 – Not Green |
| Paraffin | No | No | Yes | $ | #7 – Not Green |
Wicked Wicks
Lead poisoning is back in a big way when you burn a lead core wick candle for an hour. Lead, zinc, and tin are added to provide support to the wick, but after health studies urged the National Candle Association to voluntarily ban lead from wicks, their use has declined significantly. Unfortunately, a study of a few US candles and the majority of candles from Asia revealed lead core wicks that could be lethal. So perform this simple test on all your candles: rub a piece of paper on the wick and watch for a pencil-like residue. If you see this result, immediately dispose of the candle, otherwise you could be exposing yourself and family to carcinogenic levels of lead poisoning.
Scents
Be aware that there is a difference between fragrances and synthetic scents versus essential oils. Essential oils can be therapeutic, while the others are fillers. There are a few studies conducted that have found adverse health effects from various fragrances. It was unclear whether these were tied to specific cases or overall sensitivities to the fragrances. So if a product advertises calming sensations and the like, check for the use of essential oils. If they are fragrance based it is unlikely to have this effect.
Colorants & Containers
Au natural is best when it comes to colors, although the majority of dyes have been found to be benign. If you are fortunate enough to buy your candles from a local artisan feel free to enquire to learn more. As for containers, beware of plastic containers. The US Consumer Safety Commission has documented several containers melting or imploding due to excessive heat, these studies were typically linked to the container and the synthetic wax.
So what now?
Top Tips
Here is a quick tip list to help you make the season of romance healthy and eco-friendly.
1) Check your Wax
2) Do the lead wick test
3) Do not burn several synthetic candles at one time
4) Check the claims of the company
5) Enjoy your romantic dinner for two!
Sources:
National Candle Association
EPA Candle Report
Palm Wax
Encyclopedia Britannica
Spirit of Change
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Comments
I have several friends who make soy candles and they do burn much cleaner than traditional paraffin candles. Some of the mass produced candles like Glade and AirWick really stink anyway.
Wow … wonderful information! I learned a lot in this post, especially the way to check for lead in wicks. I also appreciate the table that gives us the best and worst in candles.
Thanks, again!
I use beeswax candle and I think it works great! I’ll definitely have to try out those soy candles though…it’ll be interesting to see how they work out compared to beeswax candles.
great info about candles i also liked the graphic showing the different candles as always good post thanks
I have stopped using candles in my home because of the toxins they release in the air. Besides, there are ways you can freshen your home naturally. For example I save any citrus peels and spices that are too old to use and boil them in a pot with a little hot water. They make the house smell lovely for next to nothing. I also ground up cinnamon sticks for cinnamon and saved the bits that were too big for my spice bottle for a simmer pot.
Thanks, glad it is helpful! And Alicia, great ideas for natural scents and homemade potpourri.
This post was especially dedicated to those living in dark areas during the winter time to alleviate the “darkness”.
As for the soy vs. paraffin, I read that soy candles don’t retain scents as long, but haven’t ever noticed it myself. I will leave that to the “chandlers” or candlemakers to decide. Soy wax tends to be a bit softer, so some are kept soft so you can use it as massage oil according to the Farmer’s Market gurus.
We are all for anything that is natural! We like Alicia’s idea with the orange peels. Sometimes our mom simmers cinnamon sticks on the stove and that smells really nice.
Beeswax all the way! I thought it was just a family secret until this post
I am so ashamed, most of my candles are paraffin, time for a change! Thanks for the information, will have to be on the lookout for beeswax!
I don’t know about toxic candles. Thanks.
Thanks for information about toxic ingredients of candle.
They make the house smell lovely for next to nothing