I don’t burn candles anymore and I think you shouldn’t anymore either. Keep reading to learn why I think burning candles is no longer a good idea. As a way of reference I was in the candle business for 6 years, so for me to say that I don’t burn candles anymore and you shouldn’t either is saying a lot.
While there are a variety of reasons to stop burning candles, here are the main ones:
- Candles are toxic. (usually). There are some exceptions as there are some candles that are made from cotton wicks, with organic ingredients and with essential oils but these make up less than 5% of the candles on the market. Most candles contain wicks that have lead, or other unhealthy things in them. Most candles are also made from petroleum and other oils that create soot when burned. If you are burning candles that turn black or that release black soot into the air, then you are inhaling that soot into your lungs. Furthermore you are likely getting that soot into other parts of your body as well.
- Most candles have synthetic chemicals and perfumes in them. A few have organic perfumes and or essential oils. While there are much better choice, they are not most of the candles and they are a lot more expensive. For example, these candles average $20-$25 for a 6 oz. candle compared to $3-$5 for a 6 oz candle with petroleum and perfumes. So if you can afford the higher quality candles made from natural ingredients such as beeswax and essential oils, then burning candles can be okay.
- If you ever get a headache, start sneezing or have other unpleasant feelings when burning a candle , then you need to stop. Personally the only candles I’ve ever used- including the ones I used to sell where made from soy and beeswax and never caused me any real problems that I noticed. That said, sometimes candles can cause issues that you aren’t aware of.
- I also stoped burning candles because they can be a fire hazard and can leave residue on your walls, curtains and other parts of your house. Personally I never had big issues with this but nonetheless, I prefer to avoid these issues as much as possible.
So what do I do to get a nice smell throughout my house without burning candles? Most of the time I use an essential oil diffuser. Sometimes I do use higher quality naturally scented wax melts or air sprays but I’ve very picky about what I use and I only use them when I’ve got a very bad smell to get rid of immediately. For some other ways to use essential oils to get a pleasant smell without a diffuser, read this blog post.
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