Few things can create or shift a mood, or transform an environment or space, as well as candle light. And as St. Francis once quipped: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
But if you regularly use them in your home or office, or purchase them for gifts, think twice before buying bargain-priced candles—the ambience they produce can be costly when it comes to health. Here are eight tips for buying and using candles:
Be wary of paraffin wax
Candles were originally made from tallow (animal fat) or beeswax before paraffin wax came into wide use because of its cheaper cost. Paraffin is sourced from heavy hydrocarbon crude oil. Paraffin can burn on its own, but like cooking or motor oil it needs to get very hot to combust. In doing so it releases hydrocarbons. The fumes emitted by paraffin wax candles scented with synthetic fragrances are similar to the chemicals released by automobile exhausts. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, along with University of Michigan and South Carolina State researchers, some paraffin candles have been found to release benzene and ketones, both known cancer-causing agents. At the very least, they can trigger allergic reactions and even asthma attacks in susceptible people.
The secret is avoid “secret”
Avoid candles scented with “fragrances” or “secret ingredients.” For that matter avoid candles that don’t have ingredient labels. Burning petrochemical paraffin with synthetic fragrance oils, which alone can be irritating and even toxic, are doubly so when they’re burned. The synthetics chemicals that give these candles their aroma can trigger breathing problems in susceptible people.
Try Soy-based…
Soy-based candles burn cleaner (although also some say faster) as well as more evenly than paraffin candles. They also aren’t as combustible, and some say, as polluting. Only soy candle made from 100% soybean oil and scented with organic essentials oils instead of chemical fragrances (as many are) can be called an all-natural soy candle. Keep them in the fridge to prolong burning times. And try to let them burn at least four hours before you extinguish them, or they will burn faster next time.
…But make sure it’s pure
If you see black soot around a soy candle, it isn’t pure soy and likely contains some paraffin. Beware of soy candles that aren’t labeled 100% soy and made in the U.S. Also, keep your candle clean and trim it regularly.
Mind your beeswax
Burning beeswax candles is a good way to increase negative ions in your air space or environment. Known as nature’s air purifiers, negative ions help remove dust, mold, bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants from the air. Beeswax candles are virtually dripless and do not go rancid like soy can. They also produce a glow that’s on par with what nature provides in moonlight. And they help support beekeepers, and we all know how much we need our pollinators, right?
Have a safe scent
If scent is more important to you then “glow,” choose soy or beeswax candles made with all-natural or organic essential oils. Since both soy and beeswax have lower melting points than paraffin, you’ll often see a larger amount of liquid wax pool around the candlewick. This is unique to natural waxes and a sign you have the real thing. Also, natural wax candles scented with essential oils are more immediately aromatic (when you put your nose to them before they’re lit) and do a better job of filling a room with scent.
The trick is the wick
The best wicks are made from waxed natural fiber like cotton or hemp, and only need a tiny bit of wax to burn properly. Some of the mass produced candles you see in generic department stores are made with zinc wicks, but unlike lead, are nontoxic. They do, however, produce more soot than cotton or hemp wicks. Regardless, when you buy an American made candle, you can be sure you’re getting a lead-free wick. Federal laws stipulate that candles made and sold in the U.S. must be certified lead-free. If in doubt, check for lead by peeling back the wick. If you see any metal or wire in the wick, you might think twice before lighting it.
Make sure to ventilate
Don’t burn any candle without good airflow in your home or office, especially in a small room. Crack a window or door if needed.
