This curiosity ignited a journey – one that led me to explore not only what I was bringing into my home but also how I could continue to enjoy the comforting vibe of candles without the worry of unfamiliar and potentially harmful ingredients.

So let's dive into the world of non-toxic candles and how you can enjoy your candle obsession without worrying about mysterious ingredients.

What's in traditional candles?

Wax in Regular Candles
When you stroll through the aisles of any store picking out candles, it's important to know what you're potentially bringing into your home. A typical store-bought candle is often made from paraffin wax. When you light these candles, it can put out some not-so-great stuff into the air of your home, like toluene and benzene, which aren't good for you to breathe in.

What Makes Conventional Candles Smell Nice?
The smell of these candles comes from synthetic fragrances. These smells are strong and last a long time, but they're made with toxic chemicals that could be harmful, like phthalates. Phthalates are used to make the scent last, but they're not the best for your health and can mess with your hormones.

What's in the Wick?
The part of the candle that burns, the wick, is another thing to think about. Many candles have lead wicks with tiny bits of metal in them to help them stand up straight.
But when they burn, they can send tiny metal bits into the air, and breathing those in might not be safe.

The Importance of Knowing Your Candle's Contents

Knowing what's inside your candles is crucial, and that's why ingredient transparency is important. You should look for companies that value full disclosure, listing every ingredient—fragrance included—that makes up their candles. When you do that, what you see is what you get.

The candle industry does not regulate the term "fragrance," allowing companies to gloss over synthetic ingredients that could be harmful to your health. This could potentially lead to allergic reactions or other sensitivities.

So, why does this happen? The fragrance industry often argues that revealing their proprietary formulas would compromise their competitive edge. While this may be true to some extent, it raises questions about consumer safety and the right to know what we're bringing into our homes.

That's why choosing candles from brands that tell you exactly what's in them is essential. With complete transparency🔎, you can light up your space and enjoy the fragrance, all while feeling secure in the knowledge that the air you're breathing is as clean as the candle's burn.

🔎 What to Look For When Investigating🕵️

Many candles out there use synthetic chemicals to create long-lasting scents, but these can contain phthalates, which have raised concerns over their effects for a couple of reasons:

1. Phthalates can disrupt the endocrine system, leading to hormonal imbalances. This is particularly concerning for pregnant women, infants, and children, as it can impact development.
2. Exposure to phthalates can effect respiratory conditions like asthma and cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
3. Some phthalates have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, particularly in animal studies.
4. Phthalates are not easily biodegradable and can persist in the environment, posing risks to wildlife.

By checking to see if your products use phthalates, you'll feel more comfortable about using them in your home.

You May Also Like: 3 Chemicals in Candles That Can Disrupt Hormone Balance

Navigating Essential Oils in Candles

The phrase "made with pure essential oils" is quite popular when it comes to scented candles. Essential oils do provide the fragrance, yet the presence of essential oils doesn't guarantee the candle's overall safety.

Many manufacturers include essential oils in their candles, but often these natural scents are combined with synthetic additives to extend or enhance the fragrance, reducing the purity of the product... Yikes!

You May Also Like: Why Candles "Made with Essential Oils" May Not Be as Safe as You Think

Understanding Candle Wicks

Curious about the role of a wick in your candle? It's the core that sustains the flame and helps the candle burn effectively.

Here's how it works: The wick transports the wax or oil to the flame, allowing it to burn. When lit, the heat of the flame melts the wax, which is then drawn up through the wick to fuel the flame. This process not only produces light but also allows the candle's fragrance to permeate the room.

While many candles have cotton wicks, some may come with unwanted chemicals like lead or zinc. These wicks will emit toxic lead fumes when burned, which is extremely harmful to your health, especially when inhaled.

How Do I Look For Clean, Natural Candles?

To start, look at the type of wax the company uses. For candles that use clean, natural waxes. Here are a few that you can use:

1. Soy wax is a popular choice for non-toxic candles. It's derived from soybean oil, making it renewable and biodegradable.
2. Coconut wax is a newer entrant to the candle market. It's made from the meat of coconuts and offers a clean, slow burn.

One thing to note: even though it's favored, soy wax candles cannot be certified as organic or non-GMO due to the hydrogenation process it undergoes, which involves a non-organic nickel catalyst.

Another thing to note: We do not have beeswax candles because it is not plant-based and also not a certified cruelty-free product by Leaping Bunny. Beeswax is also not as sustainable or eco-friendly as soy candles!

However, by selecting American-grown soy wax, from United States processed sources, and ensuring it's 100% plant-based through USDA testing, you can still enjoy high-quality, contaminant-free candles!

Also check to see if they're made from untreated natural fibers like wood wicks, hemp wicks, or cotton wicks that haven't been bleached. These wicks burn cleanly and do not release harmful chemicals into the air.