Okay, SO!! I was a huge candle lover. Nest, Dyptique, Jo Malone, the Capri candles from Anthro … you know, the ones that completely transform the mood and atmosphere in your home in the best way possible! Those scents and that nice warm flickering light CAN actually be really good for your emotions. There is very strong connection to the scents you inhale and the limbic system in your brain (the emotional command center) which can trigger memories, emotions, behavior, hormonal function, motivation, sexual function and libido.
Above we have established that adding scents to your home is important on so many levels, but the method of how we can safely do so is where I come in 🙂
Candles are everywhere, but most candles, including all of the ones I mentioned above and more, contain harmful ingredients which if you’re lighting in your home every single day, could be problematic 🥴 And before I go on, let me explain, none of us can be perfect! We all have toxins in our life, many of which we can’t control. There are toxins in the air we breathe outside, they are hidden in our food, even in our furniture! BUT, that doesn’t mean we should throw our hands up in the air and say eff it, let’s do whatever we want. If we can control the toxins that enter our home, let’s at least TRY! We are the gatekeepers of our home.
So why are candles bad?
fragrance.
Fragrance is an umbrella term for a chemical bombshell created in a factory with thousands of ingredients that do not need to be disclosed because the FDA accepts the word “fragrance” as an ingredient. There are potentially many carcinogens in fragrance so it’s something I mostly try and avoid in the products we use on our bodies and in our homes. Occasionally using fragrance? I mean yes of course, it’s unavoidable, but everyday constant exposure? Why light it in your home around your family when there is a super healthy, beneficial to your body alternative?
paraffin.
95% of candles on the market today are made with paraffin. Paraffin is a petroleum waste product that is chemically bleached. Candles made from paraffin are suspected to release toxic chemicals including toluene and benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen and toluene is linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity. The chemicals released from paraffin wax over an extended period of time could contribute to the development of cancer, allergies and asthma 😫
phthalates.
Endocrine disrupting the results in: Birth defects, ASTHMA, Diabetes Cancer, specifically kidney and lung cancer
wicks.
Historically, the majority of wicks had a lead core in them in the United States. In 2003, the Consumer Safety Products Commission banned the creation of lead-core wicks, however, it’s estimated that as much as 30% of candle wicks still contain heavy metals, as the law states it must contain less than 0.06% lead by weight. Many candles can still lawfully get away with not being 100% lead-free.
Okay that should be enough of a reason to put away the candles, right?!
So because we know we don’t want to live without nurturting of sense of smell, we can use the beautiful scents from the earth. We have essential oils which are distilled PURELY from our favorite plants and flowers, Ever try combining Neroli and Orange in your diffuser? Find me a better candle!! And the best part? Essential oils are the lifeblood of the plant, aka the juice that keeps the plant alive and well, protecting it from bacterias, fungi, and disease. We extract that juice and put it in our diffusers and breathe it in!! They BENEFIT our bodies the same way they benefit their source. For example, diffusing lavender at night can support healthy sleep, you are essentially inhaling the calming chemical properties from the lavender plant, letting them into your body, to have a positive effect on sleep.
I hope you understand now why I choose to diffuse oils instead of burning candles! See? I’m not that crazy! Grab your essential oils starter kit here, today!
