Quick takeaways

• ✓ Paraffin and some wick/fragrance choices can release unwanted compounds; “completely clean” combustion isn’t possible.
• ✓ Coconut wax + trimmed, unbleached cotton wicks help achieve a cleaner, more even burn.
• ✓ Essential oils are preferred over artificial fragrance; dyes and preservatives are avoided.

We’ve come a long way from the days of using candles for light. Nowadays, candles are used primarily for scent and ambiance, and education around the potential impact of candles in the home has advanced.

We know a lot more about the impact on our health, from potential breathing problems to disruption of the endocrine system. Despite there being a lot more information about the dangers posed by many scented candles, these still remain popular with lots of people.

Scented candles are often brightly coloured, beautifully scented and cheap to collect. From the multi-pack of paraffin wax tealights to the jars of seasonally scented and brightly hued candles available at the checkout line of your favourite stores, they’re certainly not hard to get hold of.

If you’re concerned about the risks associated with these widely available candles, you might be looking for a way to enjoy a cleaner burn. A completely clean burn is impossible, as combustion will always result in particles being released into the air.

However, your choice of candle can greatly reduce the risk of introducing the most harmful substances into your space. This includes endocrine disruptors, potential carcinogens and known allergens and irritants.

We’re going to take a deep dive into what makes a clean burn, and how you can make better choices when it comes to selecting candles for your home.

Why does candle composition matter?

Any time you are burning something in your home, you want to make sure that it isn’t going to do any harm to the inhabitants. There are also environmental and ethical considerations to think about when choosing your home scents.

Perhaps most importantly, you want to make sure you aren’t burning ingredients that are going to cause irritation, allergic reactions or wider health issues. Examples of these include artificial fragrance, parabens, phthalates, preservatives and artificial dyes.

Paraffin, which is a popular candle wax, can release volatile organic compounds (also known as VOCs) while some wicks are also known to release trace amounts of toluene and benzene. These are compounds more commonly associated with diesel engines.

There is also the risk of releasing endocrine disrupting chemicals into your home. The most common EDCs include parabens and phthalates. These are commonly included in candles to help sustain the scent for longer, but they are linked to thyroid dysfunction.

How to enjoy a cleaner burn

If all of the above sounds less than desirable, you might assume that you need to banish all scented candles from your home to avoid the risks. Thankfully, this isn’t the case. You simply need to look for ingredients that offer a cleaner burn. In our case, clean also relates to the environmental and ethical impact of the ingredients used.

Start with the wax

The bulk of the candle is made up of the wax, and the choice of wax will have a huge impact on the compounds released when burning the candle. In general, it’s wise to avoid paraffin wax, as this is a byproduct of the petrochemical industry. While refined paraffin is generally safe, low quality candles with untrimmed wicks can release soot into the air which can cause irritation.

We opt for coconut wax as this offers a clean and even burn, while also being a sustainable choice. Coconut is one of the few crops that offers multiple uses from its harvest. And since the tree isn’t chopped down during harvest, it also doesn’t contribute to deforestation.

While some manufacturers might be content with the clean burn of soy wax, we believe that the environmental impact makes this unsuitable, as the majority of soy grown is genetically modified and farming results in a loss of biodiversity.

Next comes the wick

A candle without a wick is just a jar of wax, so next we need to think about the wick. In the past, wicks contained a lead core to help them to stay upright and stop them from drooping into the molten wax after the candle was blown out.

Thankfully, this practice has been banned due to the health threats of lead. So, if you find a vintage candle, your best bet is to not bother burning it.

The biggest risk when it comes to wicks is that it will be too long, and this can contribute to greater soot production. You can avoid this by choosing unbleached cotton wicks, and keeping them trimmed to avoid this common issue. This will ensure a cleaner burn.

A note on fragrance

As we mentioned above, candles are rarely used for lighting anymore, and you’re far more likely to be using it for fragrance or ambiance. One of the worst culprits for allergies and irritation is artificial fragrance.

If you’ve ever experienced a headache or migraine as the result of a candle, it’s likely to be a sensitivity to the fragrance that has caused this.

Artificial fragrance should be avoided in scented candles, as this is a catch-all term for a range of chemicals that can cause irritation and disrupt the endocrine system.

Instead, we opt for essential oils in our candles. While these might not have the same throw as an artificial fragrance, they are far less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. Essential oils are often well tolerated.

Preservatives, dyes and other ingredients

Dyes are often added to candles to make them more attractive on the shelves. This is an unnecessary step, and we prefer to leave it out. There’s something naturally beautiful about pure candle wax, so there’s really no need to add dyes.

Preservatives might also be used to make the candles last longer. We don’t use preservatives in our candles as we create small batches according to demand. This is far more environmentally friendly, as it means we never have to waste product.

We also avoid any binding ingredients like stearic acid, which is commonly taken from animal sources. This can help the candles to last longer, but we believe that candles are made to be used, so we’re confident they won’t be sitting around for long.

At a glance: Wax & Wick choices for a cleaner burn

Prefer a cleaner burn and fewer additives? Explore our non-toxic candles made with coconut wax and essential oils.

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