Candles are an essential element in creating an easeful, beautiful environment. Maybe it’s the living flicker of fire, the warm glow, or selecting a subtle scent that perfectly compliments a mood. But as we burn through each vessel and the wax line recedes, the contents don’t simply disappear.

As candle wax is burned, particles from the wax and wick are released into the air we breathe. So how can we ensure our loved ones and fur babies aren’t breathing in toxic chemicals? 

THE WAX

What makes candle wax non-toxic? First off, it’s important to know what type of wax was used to make your candle.

The most common wax that is used in candles is paraffin, which is a byproduct of refining petroleum (crude oil). While paraffin is the most cost effective and readily available wax to use for candle manufacturers, it is NOT sustainable, as it comes from a nonrenewable resource. Paraffin wax has also been shown to release toxic fumes that are chemically similar to diesel exhaust, and contain benzene, toluene, naphthalene and others that are known respiratory irritants and potential carcinogens—no, thank you!

Soy, palm, coconut and beeswax are excellent nontoxic options as they are made from natural, renewable resources. Plus, these waxes burn at a lower temperature than paraffin and other synthetic or gel waxes, which means they will burn more slowly and last longer, giving you more burn time for your buck!

As consumers continue to lean towards plant-based and eco-friendly candle waxes, they have become more readily available to meet the demand. However, you’ll want to note that candles labeled “wax blends” without indicating what was used in the blend, should be avoided as they are most often mixed with paraffin wax.

THE WICK

Lead core wicks were used by manufacturers to help strengthen the wick, keeping it upright as candles burned. Most manufacturers stopped using lead core wicks in the 1970’s, and they were officially banned in the US in 2003, so unless you’ve got 20-year old candles laying around, you won’t need to worry about this. But in the name of sustainability and avoiding as many synthetic materials as possible (both for our health and for the environment), we recommend purchasing candles that use cotton or wood wicks.

As the wick of a candle burns, it releases soot into the air. However, natural waxes including soy, coconut and beeswax have been shown to release much less soot than paraffin candles. To further decrease the amount of soot released into the air when burning a candle, the National Candle Association recommends burning candles in well-ventilated areas , and keeping wicks trimmed to at least ¼ inch. 

Tips On Shopping Clean Sustainable Candles

1. AVOID INGREDIENTS INCLUDING

• Paraffin wax

• Undisclosed wax

• Wax blends that do not indicate all ingredients, as they often include synthetic wax

• Parfum (fragrance) or other undisclosed fragrances

2. WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• Organic soy, palm or coconut wax

• Beeswax

• Cotton or wood wicks

• Natural fragrances including essential oils or plant/herb extracts

3. CHOOSE SUSTAINABLE VESSELS

• We love vessels that are made from glass or ceramic because they can be repurposed to hold makeup brushes, clippings of greenery or flowers, or even sent back to the candle maker to be reused!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Malia Noll  is a former public accountant turned self-employed copywriter who works with small businesses to build genuine connections to customers through strategic writing. Malia is based in Columbus, Ohio and specializes in promotional writing, email marketing and editing.