Let's Talk about Candle Wax, Carcinogens and Healthy Alternatives.

Whether you are a candle lover, a candle maker or just know someone who loves to be gifted candles - It is important to know the difference between the candles you are buying. Especially where it pertains to your health, because of course one of your biggest concerns is your health and the health of your family and friends.

Below I will describe where the most common candle waxes come from, and their biggest positive and negative attributes and any major health concerns so that you can make an informed decision about what waxes you choose to seek out based on your needs.

1. Beeswax: is produced from a gland in the abdomen of honeybees and is excreted to create the hive itself, it hardens as soon as it hits the air and forms a wax scale.

Positive - Safe, Environmentally Friendly, Normally Unscented (But Nice Natural Beeswax Scent), Long Burning & Non-Toxic Negative - They have higher costs, they are not Vegan Friendly, they burn at a much hotter temperature than most fragrance oils can handle meaning that any scent in the candle will likely be burned off before it hits your nose.

Choose Beeswax if... You want a durable candle that has a long burning time - Bonus if you enjoy unscented or beeswax scented!

2. Paraffin Wax: is obtained from petroleum by dewaxing light lubricating oil stocks. Through a dewaxing process that crude oil undergoes, paraffin wax is derived and is then processed further for use in products. Yes - You heard that right - And what is even more frightening is that Paraffin is that 95% of the candles in the world today use paraffin wax. **HEALTH WARNING - paraffin has been found to contain known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) such as benzene.**

Positive - Paraffin is colourless and odorless so it is easy to make strong smelling and colourful candles as the wax does not naturally fight the process. It is also a much more affordable wax and therefore people and stores can sell them at a much lower price.

Negative - Though cheaper to make and stronger smelling, paraffin is derived from petroleum and has some serious health concern associated with it. These candles emit black soot and toxic fumes—similar in chemistry to diesel exhaust—containing poisonous chemicals such as benzene, toluene, naphthalene, tri-decane, tetra-decane, penta-decane, and hexadecane. These candles are also known to burn much faster than other wax options meaning they will not last as long.

Choose Paraffin Wax if... You are on a tight budget and want a candle with a very potent smell.

3. Coconut Apricot Wax: cold-pressed coconut meat or coconut oil mixed with cold pressed apricot oil when refined creates a vegan blend of natural wax. (In most cases - But be cautious as paraffin wax is sometimes added to this blend to help strengthen it)

Positive - Produces less soot, burns cleaner and exacts less of a toll on the environment - It also has a lower tendency to tunneling (Burning down the middle without melting all thee wax down the sides creating a little tunnel). It is also biodegradable, non-toxic.

Negative - It is a more expensive option and these candles are often referred to as luxury. They also have a lower melting point which means they will melt easily when exposed to heat during shipping or storage - Even if left in the sunlight you need to be careful.

Choose Coconut Apricot Wax if... You live in a lower temperature climate, wish for something non-toxic and have a higher price point to work with.

4. Soy Wax: Soy wax is a plant-based wax derived from soybeans. After gathering, the soybeans are washed, split, de-hulled, and made into flakes. The oil is then removed and processed from the grains. Most unsaturated fats in the oil are converted to saturate during the hydrogenation stage.

Positive - Soy Wax is non-toxic and cleaner-burning being made with no toxins, carcinogens, or pollutants. It is also biodegradable - Good for you, your pets, and the environment! They are also longer burning than most paraffin candles. Soy wax is also mid-range in price so it is a good option for your every day candles.

Negative - Cooler temperatures can cause shinkage (When it looks like your candle is not touching the glass in certain areas). This doesn't damage your candle it is just a cosmetic difference. Soy wax is also harder to work with because over time UV light can fade your colours and some slight discolouration over time is natural.

Choose Soy Wax if... You are looking for a mid ranged price point, a great smelling and non toxic candle that is good for you and is biodegradable. Soy wax is an all around great choice for the traditional candle lover that wants to make better choices for their health without breaking the bank.

Hey - If you made it to this point, I'm proud of you. It takes a really smart and caring person to research the items they are bringing into their homes and letting into their bodies, around their pets and kids!

I hope this helps you to make the best decision possible for you and your situation, the next time you see a candle online or in store you now know what you are looking for and what you want to stay away from!

And trust me - If your candle doesn't say ANYTHING on it about what wax it is made from or if you cannot find this information, its better to just say "thank you - NEXT"

Lots of love,

Karleigh Jennifer

The Biggest Wick Candle Co.