Toxic truth about popular brand candles

June 13, 2018

Written by Aija Lam

June 13, 2018

Written by Aija Lam

Burning candles are something that most of us enjoy, that warmth and cozy ambiance they create plus a nice scent that comes along.

A scent of store bought candles and that dark spot on my parents sealing, just above the place where they burn candles every day, made me wonder. Is it really healthy? Turns out there is a lot to know. Most of the store bought candles put off chemicals that are as bad as second-hand smoke, pollute your house.

What are those chemicals?

• Paraffin
Most candles are made of paraffin wax, which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned (both are known carcinogens). In fact, the toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes. Paraffin fumes have been found to cause tumors in the kidneys and liver of lab animals.

• Lead
Many scented candles also have wicks that contain heavy metals like lead, and even a few hours of burning them can create levels of airborne heavy metals that are much higher than the acceptable limits. In the US, candle wicks are supposed to be made of cotton or paper, but studies have found that as much as 30% of candles contain heavy metals in the wicks.
Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems.

• Phthalate and dyes
Most candles on the market made from paraffin may also contain other chemical additives in the dyes and fragrances that can be toxic when inhaled. Fragrances that are formulated in a petroleum base, have toxic properties when burned. Some scented candles have been found to emit toxins such as acetone, tetrachloroethane, chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, xylene, phenol, cresol, cyclopentene, lead, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and soot.

Our households are already filled with plastic, plywood, electronics and all the chemical cleaners that toxify your home every day. Throwing in "bad" scented candle is just gonna create a gas chamber. No one wants that.

It all sounds scary, I know, but there is something you can do
Be mindful of what type of candles you burn. Here at AIJAdecor we use only clean and premium materials for eco- friendly burn, as you can see I have done my research.

Next time when you're in a store, get an eco-friendly house cleaner. Dr. Bronner "Sal Suds" is a great one, has a ton of great reviews. The cleaner is multi purpose so it will save you not only your money but space. You can check out the dilution sheet here.

Also, Introduce some plants into your home. NASA has created a list of houseplants that effectively filter indoor air and absorb toxins, according to their research: