A Guide to Safer Candles
- Alex Kelly
- May 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15
The Problem with Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a petroleum waste. When burned, it can release toxic chemicals, like benzene and toluene (known carcinogens) in the air. These chemicals have been linked to asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory conditions. Paraffin wax can also irritate the eyes & skin, and make existing skin conditions worse.
The Problem with Metal Wicks
While small amounts, there have been studies showing that metal wicks release lead. Many countries have taken action to prevent the use of lead and metal-cored candle wicks - Australia being the first in 1999.
Dr. Jerome O. Nriagu, a professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, measured the lead released from 14 brands of candles. He found that burning four metal-wick candles for two hours can result in airborne lead concentrations that pose a threat to human health.*
The Problem with Fragrance Oils
Many natural candle companies use “natural fragrance oil.” This is NOT the same as pure essential oils. Fragrance oils are synthetic fragrances created in a lab by isolating naturally derived fragrance components from a complex scent, where as essential oils are natural extracts from plants.
Not all fragrance oils are toxic, but it’s important to know their composition and source. When it comes to fragrance oils, many times companies do not release their full ingredient list in order to protect their “recipe” from duplicates. Instead, they may list “scent notes” or something of the sort. Whereas 100% essential oil based candles typically list the exact ingredients used, because the only ingredients are pure EOs.
Companies may list certain toxic chemicals that are NOT in their ingredients like parabens, phthalates, etc. While this is great, unless a specific ingredient list is provided there’s no way to know exactly what the product consists of. Again, this could be due to protection of the recipe - which is understandable. But I always recommend reaching out to the company, and make a decision you feel most comfortable with based on the transparency of their response and your gut.
What About Soy Candles?
Compared to paraffin candles, soy candles emit much less toxic soot, definitely making them a “better” option. However, there are a couple reasons why soy wax isn’t my top choice.
One of the leading U.S. soybean distributors is a company called Bayer. In 2018-2020 they (along with another company, Corteva) provided over half of the U.S. retail seed sales of soybeans (1).
Bayer uses glyphosate-based Roundup, and has faced approximately 167,000 legal claims that Roundup causes non-Hodgkins lymphoma (2). There is also evidence linking glyphosate to decreased immunity (3), increased inflammation (3), cell damage, hormone interference (4,5), and gut health disruptions (6).
Bayer controls the seed market by making “Roundup ready” seeds. If soy wax is derived from pesticide soy crops there can be residue left behind, which is then inhaled when soy candles are burned. That’s not to say all soy wax is derived from Roundup ready seeds, but with other options readily available they are not my go-to choice.
Why Choose Beeswax Candles
Bees secrete wax in order to protect their hives, making it an efficient and sustainable option. Beeswax also releases negative ions that ionizes the air and pulls toxins from it.
There is also less risk of direct exposure to pesticides. If bees pollinate in fields that have been chemically treated there can be very minuscule amounts that end up in beeswax, but it’s much easier for beeswax candle companies to ensure their bees are coming from clean sources - making most candles a non-issue.
Why Choose Coconut Wax Candles
Coconut wax is made by pressing the oil out of coconut meat and going through the hydrogenation process. It is 100% natural and biodegradable. It is one of the most eco-friendly waxes since it is a renewable and high yield crop.
Sources:
3 Peillex, C., & Pelletier, M. (2020). The impact and toxicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on health and immunity. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 17(1), 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/1547691X.2020.1804492
4 Ingaramo P, Alarcón R, Muñoz-de-Toro M, Luque EH. Are glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides endocrine disruptors that alter female fertility? Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2020 Dec 1;518:110934. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110934. Epub 2020 Jul 10. PMID: 32659439.
5 Maddalon A, Galbiati V, Colosio C, Mandić-Rajčević S, Corsini E. Glyphosate-based herbicides: Evidence of immune-endocrine alteration. Toxicology. 2021 Jul;459:152851. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152851. Epub 2021 Jul 8. PMID: 34246717.
6 USDA Crop Production 2023 Summary
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