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Right now the classic candle season is underway. Candles are an inseparable part of the winter and spring seasons and we like to enjoy the coziness that lit candles can create. However, do you know that some candles can unnecessarily harm your health? Which candles should you avoid? And which should you buy?
Read the ingredients
Similar to food, with candles you should pay attention to what they are made of. It is therefore always necessary to be informed about what the candle contains. Burning candles is particularly risky in closed, unventilated rooms. In such moments they can be really very risky for health. And even though at first glance it may seem that the range of candles is really varied and sufficient, many of them are actually rather harmful to health.
Choosing a candle that is high-quality, ecological and does not harm our health is really difficult.
The quality of a candle is determined primarily by what kind of wax it contains, what kind of wick it has, and whether it contains dyes or fragrances.
Which not to buy?
The most widespread and cheapest candles are paraffin candles. Paraffin is only a by-product in the production of diesel and motor oil. So it is not something beneficial to health. Unfortunately, paraffin candles contain traces of petroleum products and when they burn they release toxic substances. They don’t necessarily produce black soot, but paraffin candles often also contain synthetic dyes and fragrances that release carcinogenic substances when burned. These are often formaldehyde, toluene or carbon dioxide. Scented candles also hide risks, as they are enriched with synthetic fragrances. If you’re wondering about gel candles, they are made from a certain type of petroleum oil.
Wick?
The quality of a candle is determined not only by what wax it is made from, or whether it contains synthetic dyes and scents, but also by its wick.
Cheaper candles are often fitted with a wick that is impregnated with a burn retardant and often also contains toxic lead.
Which candles to buy?
Ideally for you are of course candles that are harmless to health. Unfortunately, these candles are more expensive than classic candles. However, the deciding factor does not have to be only whether the candles are harmless to health, but also whether they are ecological. It is also ideal to choose candles labeled organic, which do not contain substances harmful to health.
Beeswax
A great choice in this case are candles made from beeswax. They are a variant of health-harmless candles that are fairly affordable and you can buy them at many Christmas markets. Beeswax candles smell pleasant and burn much more slowly than paraffin candles. They do not release any toxins during burning. You can purchase candles cast from molds or rolled from wax sheets. This type of candle is also ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers because it purifies the air. Their only drawback is that they are not vegan.
Palm oil candles
Candles made from palm oil are also harmless to health. You can recognize them at first glance by their crystalline appearance. These candles are made from pure palm oil. Their price is somewhat higher than that of paraffin candles, but they burn much longer and produce no smoke. Unfortunately, they are not ecological.
Soy candles
Another potentially harmless option are candles made from soy wax, which are already more expensive financially. Their advantage is that they can burn up to 50% longer than classic candles. During burning no additional harmful by-products are formed either. They are also a vegan candle. Soy wax is made from soybean oil. When buying a candle you should always check what kind of soy the candle was made from, whether it was not genetically modified plants that contain pesticides and herbicides. Always also check the candles for synthetic dyes and fragrances. Therefore it is ideal to choose candles in organic quality, which should exclude this possibility.
Vegetable oils
There is also the option of burning candles made from vegetable oils, such as coconut, olive, sunflower or rapeseed. Essential oils and natural colorants are also added to these candles. These candles are again more expensive, but harmless to health.
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Warning: This article is for informational purposes only and is a translation from foreign websites. It does not replace medical treatment, examination by a doctor, or consultation with another qualified healthcare professional. Contributions may contain information that does not agree with the opinions of the editorial staff.
We declare that the authors nor the website operator accept responsibility for any harm caused by using the treatment methods in this article.
Although the recipes, advice or treatment methods in this article are written with the best intentions of the author, their use is at your own risk and should be carried out only after consultation with a doctor.
