Something about the beautiful glow that a flame casts over a darkened room just perfectly compliments my already overzealous desire for wintertime coziness. But, it has come to my attention that the candles I have been so comforted by are, well… killing me. And chances are they’re being lit in your home, too, not just this time of year but all year round! The culprit? Paraffin-based waxes.
Paraffin is a word we’ve been throwing around for years. It sneaks its way into body care products as a supposed ‘skin softener’, and more frequently as the premier ingredient in candles, from the tapers that grace your dining room table to those lovely scented contraptions that fragrance your home.
But the less attractive truth is that paraffin is actually just a chemical byproduct of the process through which we refine petroleum oil, which, as you can imagine, causes a slew of harmful side effects. Plus, as I learned from the Epicurean Table’s website, paraffin is processed and texturised with acrolyn, a carcinogen. Then, of course, there is a synthetic petroleum wax that is created from coal gas, used for heavy-duty floor waxing and in some leather-tanning agents, but that’s a different story for a different day.
When burned, the petroleum derived, paraffin-based candles give off toxic carcinogens like benzene and toluene amidst their soot. Ever notice those black smears on your walls where you most often burn a candle? That’s only a fraction of the waste they’re giving off with each use. And, in addition to the negative effects of the paraffin alone, most of these candles are heavily scented with synthetic fragrances that give off similarly harmful fumes when burned, as I learned on one blogger’s site about her journey into organic, natural health and well-being.
So what is it that makes major candle companies opt for these toxic elements when they could be taking advantage of nature’s bounty? Elementary economics, dear Watson. Paraffin and synthetic fragrances are far cheaper to use and produce than those that are all-natural. But never fear! As per usual, nature has provided us with a perfect alternative to the paraffin nightmare— beeswax.
Beeswax candles are superior for myriad reasons. Though they are slightly more expensive than paraffin candles, they burn FAR longer, and they don’t drip. Beeswax is a renewable resource, unlike paraffin, and they don’t produce the thick soot that paraffin candles emit. In fact, some sources (like the Santa Fe Candle Company) attribute an air-purifying effect to beeswax candles, because they claim that the beeswax produces filtering negative ions. And, aesthetically speaking, beeswax candles burn a much brighter, warmer light than paraffin OR soy candles, and they are naturally honey-scented!
Beeswax candles come in all the same varieties as paraffin-based candles, from tapers to tealights! And while some people are advocates of other non-paraffin alternatives to candle burning, consumers should keep in mind that the sources of these alternatives (like soy, for example) are prone to genetic modification and other unethical cultivating procedures. So don’t let your lungs despair for one more second—toss those paraffin-laden monsters and dip into some beeswax. Just consider it nature’s little apiary treat.