Do You Know What Toxins Are In Your Candles?

By: Alexis Atkins

Whether you are in the mood to do some spring cleaning or looking to have a little self-care time, lighting your favorite candle is often the first step. Not only do candles cleanse the air, but they set the tone for peaceful energy in your space.

But did you know that your favorite candle might actually be causing you more harm than good?

That’s right, your favorite scented candle could be emitting harmful chemicals into your home without you even knowing it.

Let’s discuss the differences between traditional candles, commonly found in stores, and the more eco-conscious soy-based candles.

What’s in a Traditional Candle?

Traditional candles are typically made with paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is a by-product of petroleum. Specifically, this wax is produced when crude oil (also known as fossil fuel) is being refined into gasoline. Yes, the same gasoline that we use to fuel our cars!

If that isn’t scary enough, a team of researchers at South Carolina State University examined the potential effects of petroleum-based candles (paraffin candles) to vegetable-based candles (soy candles) and found some shocking results. In their testing, the paraffin wax candles were shown to emit…