Candle Wax - Why is Paraffin Wax Harmful?

Candles – we all use them, we all love them, but what are they? The average candle is made of four main components: the wick, the fragrance, the wax, and potentially chemical additives to improve how well the candle burns.

Most store-bought candles will be made with either a paraffin wax, or a paraffin wax blend. These candles are going to be the least expensive on a store shelf because paraffin wax is the cheapest for mass-producers to buy in bulk. But what is paraffin wax, and why is it so bad?

Paraffin wax is a petroleum by-product made from the waste created by refining crude oil into gasoline. This process alone is environmentally harmful since the fossil fuels cannot be renewed.

Once a paraffin candle is burned, it produces much more soot than a soy candle. Soot has the potential to discolour the candle jar, walls, and furniture around it. Also, when airborne, paraffin soot can penetrate your lungs. Burning paraffin wax releases eleven known toxins, two of which are cancer promoting carcinogens.

Naturelle Candles are made from 100% natural soy wax, which comes from hydrogenated soybean oil. Soy wax candles emit less soot which make them safer to breathe in, and they also throw scent better than paraffin wax. Soy wax burns 30-50% longer than paraffin wax, so you end up with a longer lasting candle too.

Soy wax candles make for a happy body, and a happy planet.

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