19/04/2023
Candles are warm, cozy and soothing. Unfortunately, there are some things you need to be aware of when lighting up those seemingly harmless fragrance holders.
Many candles are made from paraffin. Paraffin is a flammable, soft, colourless, waxy solid derived from petroleum. But before it can be made into wax, it must be deodorized and chemically bleached. To put that into perspective, your household bleach at full strength is about 10% but to make paraffin wax, the bleach is at 100%, only adding to the chemical cocktail of toxins that candles already contain.
The dioxins from bleach have been shown to contribute to reproductive and developmental issues, as well as causing damage to the immune system. Also when paraffin wax is burned, it releases toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene and toluene which are known carcinogens.
Soy candles are often made from GMO soy that has been exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals. Beeswax is a much safer and cleaner alternative but it is an animal product for those wanting to avoid and be aware, that to be labelled as a beeswax candle in the US, current labeling laws only require a candle to be 51% beeswax, so make sure you are purchasing 100% beeswax candles.
Candle wicks can also be a source of toxins in scented candles. In the US, candle wicks are supposed to be made of cotton or paper, but lead-core wicks can still be found, especially in products manufactured in China or Taiwan. A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air. You don’t even need to light the candle to be exposed to chemicals, simple evaporation from an uncovered candle can release pollutants into the air and touching a candle can cause absorption of chemicals through the skin.
Synthetic fragrances, used in the making of candles, can contain anywhere from 3000-5000 different chemicals, many of which haven't been tested to ensure they're safe for humans. Both synthetic fragrance and dyes are also known to release dangerous VOCs (not all VOCs are bad but many are) such as formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol and esters. Each of these chemicals have been known to result in headaches, dizziness, allergy symptoms, asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections and cancer.
One Polish study showed that found the air quality around paraffin candles is similar to air quality around a combustion engine. And I’m pretty sure you’d never consider running a combustion engine in your home!
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So what are some alternatives?
*Buy some battery powered candles to give you that warm, flickering effect while diffusing your favorite essential oil scent.
*Use the flicker setting on your Desert Mist or other diffusers.
*Make your own homemade candles. The scent will not be as strong as a diffuser but you get all the warm and cozy.
*Make some reed diffusers with your favorite oil.
*Make a room spray with your favorite oils.
*Make a stovetop potpourri with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, fresh cranberries, cloves, and nutmeg.
* Purchase GMO-free soy-based or beeswax candles – they burn clean and don't contain any harmful fumes, but you have to watch very carefully for the fragrances. They can still contain problematic ingredients.
*Check out the Life Steps App for many recipes for all of the above in our Holiday Handbook and in many of our DIY resources.
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