topic Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic! in Home

Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 19:20:30 GMT

I didn't know this but was looking up Root candles which another poster said they like and always uses these. They are made with beeswax and soywax, which are safe to burn. These waxes are non toxic.Coconut wax is also safe and non-toxic.

I started reading other questions and answers with many saying that parrafin wax emits chemicals like benzene and toluene that have been linked to cancer, respiratory problems, and asthma.

Slatkin candles are made with parrafin wax. Bath and Body Works, Yankee candles, Cheerful Giver and Woodwick, many others all have parrafin wax. Parrafin is "crude oil waste."

Some candles may use "Food grade parrafin wax," like Village candles do. Even though made from crude oil, it is supposed to have so little that it's considered fairly safe.If they do it will most likely say "food grade parrafin."If not it is just parrafin wax. Blended wax candles usually have parrafin included.

Oh wonderful! Why do they make candles with a wax and also synthetic scents that are known to be toxic?! I guess its the same with food, cosmetics etc etc.

1 of the candles I just got from Home Goods- Red Leaf Candles.

And Threshold from Target both have parrafin wax.

So disappointing that this is used.

Maybe some won't care but if something is easy to avoid that is toxic, I'd much rather not use it.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Sooner — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:10:49 GMT

Even if they are made from "safe" material, I don't burn them because I don't want to inhale the air from them and from the scents they use. It's just air pollution to me.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:21:17 GMT

I've always loved burning candles and usually have one burning more often than not.

I'll look for healthier ones now and I know there are a lot out there made by people who care about these things which I appreciate.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

1Snickers — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:54:43 GMT

That's a good reason to use battery candles, no scent and not a fire hazard! And, they're on timers!

🕯️⏲️❣️

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:58:09 GMT

@1Snickers wrote:
That's a good reason to use battery candles, no scent and not a fire hazard! And, they're on timers!
🕯️⏲️❣️
I love having them also

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Shelbelle — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:08:08 GMT

Isoparaffin C13/14 is used in many skin care products, just a fancier term for mineral oil.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Snowpuppy — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:15:00 GMT

That was likely my post regarding Root Candles. I always liked their scents and beeswax formula.They are pricier but they don't smoke or drip.

The main reason I don't buy imported wax candles is wicks from some have been found to contain lead.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Caffeina — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:36:27 GMT

"Validated scientific studies have shown that all major candle waxes exhibit the same basic burn behavior and produce virtually identical combustion byproducts, both in terms of composition and amount. To date, no peer-reviewed scientific study has ever collected or analyzed any emissions data on any candle wax, including petroleum-based paraffin, and proven them to be harmful to human health."

candles.org/faq

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:46:34 GMT

@on the bay I feel sure parrafin wax is probably the cheapest that can be used in candles as it's predominantly used in lesser quality candle products.

I had a really bad experience with Slatkin last year and would never buy another. I've bought a variety of jar candles for years and have never had a reaction to scent of any kind.

So last year during CIJ, I bought a set of 2 Slatkin candles but didn't light one until the holidays.

About 5 minutes after I lit it, I had a fit of coughing and sneezing with watering eyes and a tight throat. After a few minutes, I extinguished the candle and as soon as the fumes cleared out, I was fine. A couple days later, I tried it again with the exact same results.

There's no doubt in my mind that there was something toxic in that candle. No way would I ever buy another Slatkin Candle.

By the way, the scent was called "Over the River & Through the Woods". It was not as described nor was it pleasant.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 03:58:37 GMT

@Snowpuppy ,

I've noticed the ones I have now that I mentioned, both say lead free wick but it's ironic that they include parrafin-so ok not too much cancer🙄.

I know several years ago the lead in wicks was brought to the forefront in making people aware and now many do say lead free wics or cotton wicks etc.

So I'm hoping more candles will take out the other toxic ingredients.

It makes me mad that so much time or description is spent on how they perform and smell but never mention how harmful the ingredients can be.

I especially don't want to burn candles that harm others that come

and family with asthma and children. Well I guess really anyone. I'm just more conscious of it all now.

And I am surprised I didn't know.

I know so many times here posters ask is there parrafin in cosmetics or shampoos.

I guess you can only be aware of so much all the time. And it seems there are more and more things that aren't safe like all the recalls too.

I did read an encouraging article today that there are new laws being

planned to make the FDA responsible for all additives instead of letting food manufacturers and others list them as "generally recognized as safe, ("GRAS"). They may or may not test things and are allowed to put it on the market. A lot of people may think the FDA is regulating more than they are.

There have been so many things we consume or wear on our face, hair everyday that aren't safe and it is well known that they aren't.

We need more Erin Brokovichs and Vani Haris, the "Food Babe." And I'll just continue to read the heck out of labels!

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:53:42 GMT

@Kachina624,

I remember you talking about that and I thought of you when I got a Bath and Body Works candle a few weeks ago. As much as I love pine, this was so overwhelming and not in a good way, but an irritating way. I know I won't get anymore of those.

I'm sure you are right that parrafin is a less expensive way to make candles.

The ones I've had from Slatkin were either very good, or too strong, or most recently in the 12 little candles that were on sale

(not the recent ones), there were many that had absolutely no scent at all. A lot of the reviews said the same thing.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

rockygems123 — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:23:16 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
I've always loved burning candles and usually have one burning more often than not.
I'll look for healthier ones now and I know there are a lot out there made by people who care about these things which I appreciate.

@on the bay

In the last couple years I stopped burning except for a treat, like after dinner to add scent.

Even if paraffin wax isn't used the fragrances and soot can be an issue. Inhaling chemical scents isn't a good idea. Big deal made recently for those plug-ins and to avoid those too.

It's a shame all the fun things, candles, chocolates, carbohydrates lol aren't the best for us. At least as we age.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 04:02:41 GMT

@Caffeina wrote:
"Validated scientific studies have shown that all major candle waxes exhibit the same basic burn behavior and produce virtually identical combustion byproducts, both in terms of composition and amount. To date, no peer-reviewed scientific study has ever collected or analyzed any emissions data on any candle wax, including petroleum-based paraffin, and proven them to be harmful to human health."

candles.org/faq

There actually have been studies that measure the pollutants in the environment after burning toxic candles. Also a study showing direct correlation, cause and effect with a woman's pneumonia after inhaling vaporized parrafin from a candle.

This is all based on an editorial in NIH called:

"The Unkown Risks of Scented Candles! What science has to say:an Editorial." It is not just opinion but cites different studies on this with proof of toxicity.

I think that is the problem with so much-

We assume things are safe otherwise we think or hope, why would they keep selling it? Well less cost to make perhaps $.

And some just won't believe there is enough risk or problem to not continue using or like it enough to have the risks, and disregard anything that may say otherwise.

Everyone has to decide what is ok for them. I just never want to ignore warnings like this when it's easy to discontinue.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

chrystaltree — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 03:18:30 GMT

Irrelevant for me. I don't burn candles. I use candle warmers. I also use scented wax melts.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

on the bay — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 04:12:35 GMT

I also have a candle warmer and wax melts but I just threw out the rest of the melts. Next time I get any I'll get ones without parrafin.

And like someone said, I think I'll start lighting a candle or turning on the candle warmer on special occasions instead of so frequently, even with the safer non toxic ones

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

KKJ — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:17:30 GMT

@on the bay wrote:

@1Snickers wrote:
That's a good reason to use battery candles, no scent and not a fire hazard! And, they're on timers!
🕯️⏲️❣️
I love having them also

Unless you're like me and want the scent from a candle. I live in an older home that can get that terrible musty smell especially if I've been gone awhile. I'm always burning candles/melts for that reason. I have however found a company--Scent Fill--that has the plug-in scent cartridges. Unlike the ones you get at WM (AirWick, Glade) they're made with natural oils and not chemicals.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Meme to Lucy — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:09:48 GMT

My daughter like candles and wax melts from Fontana Candle Company.
Supposed to be paraffin free and use only natural essential oils.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

Meme to Lucy — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:10:46 GMT

My daughter like candles and wax melts from Fontana Candle Company.
Supposed to be paraffin free and use only natural essential oils.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

gardenman — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:40:08 GMT

It pays to keep things in perspective. In general, breathing in any smoke is bad for you, even the "medicinal" kind. But the only negative result they mentioned was a woman who developed pneumonia after breathing in candle vapors. Pneumonia is typically either viral, bacterial, or fungal. Candle smoke would tend not to house viruses, bacteria, or fungi.

Would I recommend living in a house with a thousand candles burning twenty-four hours a day nonstop? No. But as risky behaviors go, you're far more likely to die in a fire started by a candle than from candle vapors, and no matter what kind of "real" candle you use, the fire risk remains.

According to the NFPA, on average, candles start over 7600 fires per year and those fires kill 81 people per year. The risk of dying in a fire started by a candle is far, far higher than any risk from the candle vapors.

A "safe to breathe" candle wax still burns and can still cause a fire and poses a greater proven risk than any potential risk from the paraffin wax candle vapors. Burning candles, and any open flame, are inherently more dangerous than any vapors emitted by the product being burned. I'd worry far more about the fire risk from a burning candle than the vapors.

Re: Parrafin Wax in Candles-toxic!

goldensrbest — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:43:02 GMT

I buy goose creek candles,soy wax.