Who doesn't love to walk in the door after a stressful day of work and light their favorite scented candle?
Seriously, everybody knows scented candles are …
- Just the thing to help you unwind after the kiddos are in bed
- Exactly what you need to rid your kitchen of the lingering smell of tonight's salmon dinner
- The perfect way to create a romantic mood; and
- Totally toxic
Wait, what?
Are scented candles toxic?
Want the tea on the dangers of scented candles? Here’s what you need to know.
Table of Contents
- Are Scented Candles Toxic?
- 4 Toxic Candle Ingredients You’ll Want Nothing to Do With
- 4 Perfectly “Lit,” Non-Toxic Candle Ingredients
- Aromasthesia Luxury Candles by Dr. Tiffany Moon: Captivating, Clever — and 100% Toxin-Free
Are Scented Candles Toxic?
They could be.
Some scented candles contain sketchy, toxic ingredients like paraffin wax and toxic fragrances.
But, are all scented candles toxic?
Nope!
Some candles, like Tiffany Moon’s luxury Aromasthesia line, are made from super safe, all-natural ingredients like soy and high-quality essential oils and fragrances.
4 Toxic Candle Ingredients You’ll Want Nothing to Do With
#1: Fragrances
For most of us, the main reason we even have a candle is that we want to fill our space with something that smells amazing.
But here's the deal. Most candles on the market use synthetic fragrances. In other words, they are fake. Phony. Cheap.
You wouldn’t be caught dead with a knockoff Louis Vuitton, so why on Earth would you even think about buying a knockoff candle??
But are candle scents toxic? They sure are!
Synthetic fragrances release dangerous volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, like …
- Formaldehyde
- Limonene
- Petroleum distillates
- Alcohol; and
- Esters
These toxic gases are released into the air and can cause all sorts of problems, such as …
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Headaches
- Loss of coordination
- Nausea
- Lung damage
- Liver and kidney damage
- Central nervous damage; and even
- Cancer
Need we say more?
That's why Aromasthesia candles are the real deal, scented with only the highest quality of essential oils and natural fragrances.
#2: Phthalates and Parabens
They’re in our …
- Cosmetics
- Nail polish
- Perfume
- Hairspray
- Moisturizer
- Lube
… and candles.
And these guys are especially harmful. Phthalates and parabens have been linked to a myriad of health problems, including …
- Endocrine disruption
- Reduced sperm counts
- Female reproductive damage; and
- Birth defects
This means, as you're wafting the scent of your artificially scented candle, you may also be getting a little daily dose of poison.
#3: Paraffin Wax
Most candles out there are made of paraffin wax.
It’s a form of wax that is …
- Cheap
- Easily accessible
- Odorless
… and can hold high amounts of color and fragrance.
Sounds great, right? But there’s more.
Paraffin wax is also a petroleum waste product that is …
- Chemically bleached
- Loaded with cancer-causing carcinogens, like benzene and toluene; and
- Famous for releasing black soot as it burns
And get this. The toxins coming out of paraffin candles match those found in diesel fuel fumes.
Definitely not what I want going down in my living spaces.
#4: Carcinogenic Components
How toxic are scented candles?
The truth is, they can be quite toxic.
Your typical artificially scented candles can release carcinogenic compounds.
Known to cause cancer in people and animals, these carcinogens can be found in the common components of most scented candles, including …
- Paraffin wax
- Chemical dyes; and
- Artificial fragrances
Carcinogens found in candles may include toxic chemicals such as:
- Formaldehyde, known for causing:
- Irritation of your skin, eyes, nose, and throat
- Wheezing; and
- Cancer
- Acetaldehyde, which can provoke:
- Elevated blood pressure; and
- Decreased respiratory rate
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which may cause:
- Cataracts; and
- Kidney and liver damage
4 Perfectly “Lit,” Non-Toxic Candle Ingredients
#1: Coconut Wax
If you're all about saving the planet, you’ll be in love with coconut wax candles.
Coconut wax comes from, you guessed it … coconuts.
And since coconuts are an easily renewable resource, coconut wax is highly sustainable.
Coconut wax also …
- Is super eco-friendly to produce
- Is totally non-toxic
- Burns clean, so you won't have any of that nasty smoke and soot floating around your home
- Is vegan
- Is slow-burning
- Holds scent like a boss
Plus, coconut wax has a superior “scent throw.” Scent throw, or candle throw, refers to the distance a specific candle, or type of wax, can distribute its aroma. Or in other words, how far the fragrance travels.
#2: Soy Wax
Soy wax is a vegetable-derived wax made from the oil of soybeans.
After they are harvested, the beans are:
- Cleaned
- Cracked
- De-hulled; and
- Rolled into flakes
Then the oil is extracted from the flaked soybeans and hydrogenated.
If reading the word hydrogenated causes you to get your panties in a wad, you can relax. While you want to avoid hydrogenated oils in what you eat, hydrogenated oil in your candle wax is nothing to sweat about.
Soy wax is …
- Non-toxic
- Clean burning
- Vegan
- Environmentally friendly and 100% renewable; and
… has a fantastic scent throw.
And soy wax is also slow-burning due to its high melting point. That means candles made from soy wax can burn up to 50% longer than those aforementioned cheapo paraffin candles.
#3: Beeswax
We won't insult your intelligence by explaining to you where beeswax comes from.
But we will tell you it is a 100% renewable resource that is derived from bees during the process of honey-making
Beeswax is also …
- Clean burning
- Hypoallergenic, so it's great for people with asthma or allergies
- Has a light, naturally sweet fragrance
- Non-toxic; and
- All-natural
#4: Essential Oils
We talked about the nastiness surrounding the use of artificial fragrances for scenting candles.
But now you’re probably wondering if there’s a way to make scented candles that are not toxic?
There is, and it’s by using essential oils.
Simply put, essential oils are compounds derived from plants. And they are the key components in aromatherapy — the centuries-old practice of using scent to enhance your well-being.
We could go on and on about the benefits of using essential oils for aromatherapy in candles, but here are just a few of the reasons why essential oils are the safest choice for scented candles.
Essential oils are …
- Non-toxic
- 100% natural
- Sustainable; and
- Highly concentrated
And since there are literally hundreds of essential oils, you can pick just the right scent combination that will naturally …
- Help you relax after a long day
- Soothe your stressed-out nerves
- Ease your anxiety
- Eliminate odors
- Create feelings of joy
- Give an extra boost of energy
- Lull you off to sleep; or
- Put you in “the mood”
You’ll be glad to know that all Aromasthesia candles are not only made with the highest quality essential oils and fall-natural fragrances — they are also triple scented, to give you the best possible fragrance experience.
Aromasthesia Luxury Candles by Dr. Tiffany Moon: Captivating, Clever — and 100% Toxin-Free
If you're thinking Aromasthesia candles are your basic run-of-the-mill lights, think again.
This line of luxury candles is triple-scented and made with …
- A premium soy wax
- The highest quality essential oils and natural fragrances
No dyes. No paraffin. No parabens. No phthalates. Just pure, unadulterated luxury and quality.
Tiffany Moon’s Aromasthesia candles come in captivating scents that are specially crafted to invoke feelings of …
- Relaxation
- Tranquility
- Homeostasis
- Energy
- Obtundity
- Serenity; and all-out
- Chillaxation
Each candle is made in the USA, and we even donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Aromasthesia candle to The Family Place.
Plus, shipping is free on orders of $150 or more.
Soy. Essential oils. Natural fragrances. And that's it. No fluff. No kidding.