Which candle is safe for your health?

Do you also like to enjoy beautiful candlelight during the winter in the cozy warmth of your home? Do you enjoy scented candles and the pleasant aromas that take your worries far away and caress your senses?

Have you ever wondered what you actually breathe in when burning a candle?

Have you ever wondered if burning candles is safe for your health?

Candles have been used in our daily lives for thousands of years. Before electricity was found, they were even essential to gain light. Today, however, we simply enjoy the pleasant aroma of the candle and the cozy light of its flame, especially on cold and dark evenings.

Candles usually consist of two to four ingredients: the wax, wick, aroma and colorant. Next, we will take a closer look at what raw materials can a candle consist of so that you can be more aware, what is safe burning and what is not.

The difference between candle waxes

Paraffin

Today, candles are mainly made of paraffin, because it is easy to produce and inexpensive. However, paraffin is a by-product of petroleum production. The fact that petroleum products are damaging our health has recently become increasingly relevant. They have been added to cosmetics, household products, and we can even eat them with fruit and vegetables sprayed with pesticides.

According to a study in 2009 by researchers at the State University of South Carolina paraffin releases toxic compounds during burning, such as benzene, which is known to be carcinogenic, and toluene, which may cause harm to the fetus. Of course, this concentration is not very high, but when paraffin candles are burned for a long time, they still have a detrimental effect on health.

Paraffin candles also emit the most carbon dioxide, which is why they are also harmful to the environment. They also emit nad naturaalsete vahadega küünaldega võrreldes 100 times more sootcompared to candles with natural waxes, which is harmful to health and leaves a mark on domestic surfaces when continuously burning them.

Stearin

Another relatively common raw material for candle wax is stearin. Stearin is mainly obtained from three sources: petroleum oil, animal fats, and plant-based fats.

Petroleum-based stearin is not healthy and animal fat-based stearin is not suitable for vegans. The last of these, plant-based stearin, is also called the palm wax. It is a natural but expensive raw material, as a large amount of rainforest is cut down to obtain palm wax. However, stearin candles have a longer burning time than paraffin candles.

Natural waxes

The following are the most common natural waxes:

Beeswax

Beeswax is obtained from the secretion of the wax glands of young working bees, and bees use it to build honeycombs. The wax is natural and highly valued since ancient times. Beeswax candles burn with an even flame, do not smoke or create an unpleasant odor. Rather, they have a slightly sweet scent of honey.

The disadvantage of this type of wax is its very expensive price and it is not suitable for vegans.

Soy wax

Soy wax is an environmentally friendly candle wax, which is derived from a renewable resource, soybeans. Soy wax candles burn slowly and evenly, for example, compared to paraffin they have approx. 30-50% longer burning time. They also have a low burning temperature, which makes them safer to burn than other candles, and they do not emit toxic substances during burning.

In addition, soy wax is completely biodegredable and its stains and debris are easy to remove from surfaces. It can be removed from clothes simply by washing with warm soapy water.

Soy wax candles are becoming more popular as they have a with a soft creamy texture and a beautiful smooth surface. In addition, the candles made of soy wax have a mild yellow flame, which creates a pleasant cozy light.

Soy wax candles are also suitable also for vegans.

It is worth mentioning, that it should be ensured that the wax is made from 100% pure soybeans and not mixed with paraffin to make the product cheaper. The disadvantage of soy wax is its price, which is higher than average. It is also important to monitor whether the soybeans used to make the wax have been grown in a GMO-free area.

Rapeseed wax

Rapeseed wax is a great alternative to soy wax. It is an environmentally friendly candle wax, as it is also made from a renewable natural resource - rapeseed. Rapeseed wax candles burn slowly and evenly.

Rapeseed wax is biodegredable and its stains and debris are also easy to remove.

On the plus side, the proximity of the location can be pointed out in the case of this wax, as rapeseed is also grown in Estonia. Unfortunately, rapeseed fields are sprayed with a lot of toxins to repel pests, which has a detrimental effect on bees as well as humans.

Palm wax

This was already mentioned under the description of stearin. It is a natural but expensive raw material, as a large amount of rainforest is cut down to obtain palm wax.

Coconut wax

The melting point of coconut wax is very low, so it starts to melt already at the room temperature. Therefore, it is generally not used as a candle wax on its own, but is mixed with other plant-based waxes. Mixing coconut wax with other waxes helps make the burning of the candle more even and prolongs the burning time. The downside, however, is the distance of the raw material, which makes it more difficult to access.

Candle wicks

In the past, lead was used in candle wicks - it helped to stiffen the wick so that it would stand upright when the melted wax was poured into the mold, and it also helped the candle burn better. However, most candle manufacturers stopped using lead in the 1970s, as it became clear that lead evaporation during burning candles could cause poisoning, especially in children. As a result, candles with lead wicks were also removed from the market and are no longer used.

Candle wicks used today are generally safe. Wicks are made of cotton, paper, hemp, or wood. Cotton wicks are soft, so paper or zinc cores are used to stiffen them.

When making candles and using pre-waxed wicks, it should be ensured that they are suitable to use with the selected candle wax.

Candle colorant and aroma

Health is mainly damaged by the synthetic colorants and aromatic compounds. This applies to all candles, no matter what wax they are made of.

Most of the products on sale use synthetic dyes, as they can be used with little effort for an effective result. Naturally, candles can only be painted with herbal remedies - with herbs, spices, flowers, and plants. In the case of natural coloring, the result remains mild and light, not highly contrasting and striking as with artificial colors. Although the colors are beautiful and nice to look at, it is easier not to add dyes at all if you prefer natural products.

Similar theme applies to the aromas added to candles - candles are perfumed with either synthetic fragrance oils or pure essential oils. The first option is usually more popular on the market because synthetic fragrance oils are much cheaper, can withstand higher temperatures, and are easier to handle. But if you prefer a natural and environmentally conscious approach, it is worth looking at the kingdom of plants and use pure essential oils extracted from plants to scent candles. The latter is much more expensive in terms of price range and require careful monitoring of temperatures when making candles, but at the same time burning candles with essential oils can help you benefit from the healing effects of aromatherapy.