Clearing the Air on Candles

Nothing can take the place of a candle for soft lighting, aroma, and setting the mood.

The gentle flicker of the flame can evoke a variety of emotions. There are many scented candles marketed as having the ability to clean the air and take care of odors.  The only emotion these candles evoke in me is anger!

© Johanna Goodyear | 

If you are trying to keep your air clean; if you have an odor problem; or if you have allergies or asthma you should not be burning candles.  Candles actually pollute the very air they are supposed to clean.

Ask a person in the HVAC duct work profession about burning candles.  They can tell you that the inside of the duct work in a home that frequently burns candles looks as if it has been in a fire.  The lining of the ducts will be covered in soot.  This soot only serves to collect dust.

In addition, candles emit a number of toxic chemicals into the air that can be as bad as second-hand smoke.  In addition, if that isn’t bad enough, may candlewicks contain lead and release lead into the air as they burn. Lead wicks were banned in the US in 2003, but many of the imported candles (especially from China) still contain lead wicks. If you haven’t burned the candle, you can rub the wick on a piece of paper.  If it makes a mark like a pencil, the wick has a lead core.  Take it back to the store where you purchased it and let the manager know why you are making the return. Remember, lead core wick candles are prohibited by law!

Most candles are made from paraffin.  This is a by-product of petrochemical processing.  When it is burned, it releases toxic chemicals into the air and can aggravate or even trigger asthma.  Many other chemicals can be mixed into the paraffin.  Just read the label on the candle.  If you cannot pronounce it, do you want to burn and breathe it?

© Bruno Pagnanelli

But let’s face it, sometimes the mood just calls for a candle.  So, here is what you can do:

Look for taper candles.  These release fewer candles than tea lights or other candles where the wick floats in the pool of wax.

Buy beeswax candles.  Be sure to read the label to see it is 100% beeswax.  Beeswax is expensive so many candles may be a blend of beeswax and paraffin.

Buy soy candles.  These will burn clean and you can avoid all the nasties found in paraffin.

Keep wicks trimmed short.  The shorter the wick, the less soot produced.

You can still have pleasing scents in your home by simmering potpourri or essential oils in a small amount of water on the stove top.  Alternatively, if you need personal aromatherapy just add a few drops of essential oil to a bath and soak.