I have to smile to myself when I see people picking up scented candles and going, “mm” as if it was good for them or healthy in some way. The other day I walked into a shop full of scented candles to have a look and I almost choked – but there they were, people picking them up and a look of glee on their faces, “Oh June,” said one to her friend, “smell the cinnamon” I felt like going up to them and telling them they weren’t that healthy for them or their families – that paraffin is made from a base of petroleum sludge – but hey, who am I? Just a humble beeswax candle maker – but I can tell you…
Beeswax – the only “safe” candle!! We use only 100% pure organic Australian beeswax with no additives. Many candle makers who realize the appeal of the health giving benefits of pure beeswax mix perhaps 10% – 20% beeswax with cheap paraffin and then advertise it as BEESWAX CANDLES FOR SALE, what a cheek! Beeswax is perhaps 50x more expensive than paraffin – so people who aren’t informed can fall for this “lie” and suffer the negative consequences of burning paraffin, not only for themselves, but their families and loved ones..
Time to wake up and smell the coffee, I mean the pure beeswax!
Are scented candles dangerous?
The FDA has ZERO regulations on chemicals used for scent, and the manufacturers aren’t even required to put the ingredients on the labels. Yet some of those very chemicals have been known to trigger allergic reactions and asthma, and others have been linked to problems in the immune, reproductive, and central nervous systems. Synthetic musk’s have even been linked to cancer! Great!
Some of the worst offenders are chemicals named phthalates which can cause changes in the reproductive system, endocrine system not to mention the liver, kidneys adrenal glands. So the ladies inhaling the supposed “wonderful scents” and considering buying them and burning them near their families are not doing anyone any favours, except the people who make these candles.
Paraffin – it’s a sin
95% of all candles sold are paraffin based. Which is a bit sad and I’ll tell you why
Paraffin as said is a petro chemical by product which emits a toxic smoke when burned. Paraffin is an inexpensive sludge waste product then bleached and texturised with acrolyn, a carcinogenic product. Once burned it produces carcinogens such as benzene and toluene – great to inhale eh! Not really. Soot from paraffin candles has many of the toxins found in diesel fuel.
When I first met the nuns who inspired me to make the beeswax candles, they knew what they were talking about. Why would anyone use anything else?
Paraffin candles are as dangerous to the lungs as second-hand smoke and even more so if you are in the habit of burning many at the same time. It is also a non-renewable resource. Ever smell one in the raw? They stink. That’s why they started adding chemically based scents to disguise the natural smell of burning paraffin.
Soy candles
Relatively new on the candle market, but it is understood by many in the candle market that the soy used for candles comes from mostly genetically modified soy (GMA) which is a highly debated topic at present. Why would anyone take the risk? They also are thought to have a “cold like” flame, or not as warm as beeswax (nothing is) and often stearic acid is added to the wax to harden it. Great. As well many soy candles are scented with chemically based fragrances – a no no!
Wait there’s more…the lead wick
Yes although lead has been banned from Central Europe and the USA, Canada and Australia for many years, most candles imported from developing economies in Asia and Latin America can still contain lead in their wicks. It is quite common. When an unsuspecting buyer burns these candles the lead levels in a room can increase to over 10x the acceptable level recommended for health.
So you want to burn any of these aforementioned candles near your loved ones? I don’t think you do really. Knowledge is power, the power to choose the right way and I will elucidate the many benefits of burning beeswax candles in other blogs
Until then
Best to you and yours, Linda
Bee happy Bzzz!!
