The Problem with Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a petroleum waste. When burned, it releases toxic chemicals, like benzene and toluene (known carcinogens) in the air. These chemicals have been linked to asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory conditions. Paraffin wax can also irritate the eyes, skin, and make existing skin conditions worse.
The Problem with Metal Wicks
While small amounts, there have been studies showing that metal wicks release lead. Many countries have taken action to prevent the use of lead and metal-cored candle wicks - Australia being the first in 1999.
Dr. Jerome O. Nriagu, a professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, measured the lead released from 14 brands of candles. He found that burning four metal-wick candles for two hours can result in airborne lead concentrations that pose a threat to human health (*).
The Problem with Fragrance Oils
Many natural candle companies use “natural fragrance oil.” This is NOT the same as pure essential oils. “Natural” fragrance oil gets its name because they are made by isolating naturally derived fragrance components from a complex scent. They are still man-made in a lab.
When it comes to any kind of “natural fragrance,” many times companies will not release their full ingredient list in order to protect their “recipe” from duplicates. Instead, they may list “scent notes” or something of the sort, whereas 100% essential oil based candles will list the exact ingredients used, because the only ingredients are pure oils.
Often times they will also list certain toxic chemicals that are NOT in their ingredients like parabens, phthalates, etc. While this is great, there are thousands of chemicals that could compromise a scent, so unless a specific ingredient list is provided there’s just know way to know. I always recommend reaching out to the company, and make a decision you feel most comfortable with based on the transparency of their response and your gut reaction.
What About Soy Candles?
Compared to paraffin candles, soy candles emit much less toxic soot, definitely making them a “better” option. However, there are a couple reasons why soy wax isn’t my top choice.
PESTICIDES IN SOY CROPS
One of the leading U.S. soybean distributors is a company called Bayer. In 2018-2020 they (along with another company, Corteva) provided over half of the U.S. retail seed sales of soybeans (1).
Bayer uses glyphosate-based Roundup, and has faced approximately 167,000 legal claims that Roundup causes non-Hodgkins lymphoma (2). There is also evidence linking glyphosate to decreased immunity (3), increased inflammation (3), cell damage, hormone interference (4,5), and gut health disruptions (6).
Bayer controls the seed market by making “Roundup ready” seeds. If soy wax is derived from pesticide soy crops there will be residue left behind, which is then breathed in when soy candles are burned. That’s not to say all soy wax is derived from Roundup ready seeds, but with other options readily available they are not my go-to choice.
SOY CROPS STRAIN THE ECOSYSTEM
Soy crops are a leading cause of deforestation. 82.4 million acres were used to produce soy in 2023 (6). A 2015 study found that over 7 million acres of uncultivated land in the United States were turned into farmland between 2008-2012. The conversions for soy and corn crops alone could have released as much CO2 as 34 coal-fired power plants running for a whole year (7).
Why Choose Beeswax Candles
Bees secrete wax in order to protect their hives, making it an efficient and sustainable option. Beeswax also releases negative ions that ionizes the air and pulls toxins from it.
There is also less risk of direct exposure to pesticides. If bees pollinate in fields that have been chemically treated there can be very minuscule amounts that end up in beeswax, but it’s much easier for beeswax candle companies to ensure their bees are coming from clean sources - making most candles a non-issue.
Why Choose Coconut Wax Candles
Coconut wax is made by pressing the oil out of coconut meat and going through the hydrogenation process. It is 100% natural and biodegradable. It is one of the most eco-friendly waxes since it is a renewable and high yield crop.
Sources:
3 Peillex, C., & Pelletier, M. (2020). The impact and toxicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on health and immunity. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 17(1), 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/1547691X.2020.1804492
4 Ingaramo P, Alarcón R, Muñoz-de-Toro M, Luque EH. Are glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides endocrine disruptors that alter female fertility? Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2020 Dec 1;518:110934. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110934. Epub 2020 Jul 10. PMID: 32659439.
5 Maddalon A, Galbiati V, Colosio C, Mandić-Rajčević S, Corsini E. Glyphosate-based herbicides: Evidence of immune-endocrine alteration. Toxicology. 2021 Jul;459:152851. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152851. Epub 2021 Jul 8. PMID: 34246717.
6 USDA Crop Production 2023 Summary
7 Tyler J Lark et al 2015 Environ. Res. Lett. 10 044003DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/10/4/044003
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