http://www.care2.com/greenliving/candle-soot.html
Candle Soot: An Air Quality Issue
Many are finding to their horror that some aromatherapy candles are producing a very tenacious black soot.
Unfortunately, an emerging air quality problem is soot from candles. The major culprits are scented and aromatherapy candles. Experts report that computers have been ruined, and in some instances there is so much soot generated from burning candles that it is causing severe damage to many homes and furnishings, and homeowners are mistakenly suing their builders, furnace and H/VAC companies for improper installation of the systems.
Unfortunately, soot from candles can also be toxic. Breathing soot is not recommended at all. The soot particles can travel deep into the lungs. Those with asthma, lung or heart disease are particularly vulnerable. To make matters worse, many scented and aromatherapy candles are made with paraffin and synthetic fragrance oils. Paraffin is a petroleum product - a byproduct of oil refining - and most fragrance oils used for candle making are petroleum-based synthetics. The soot from these materials can contain carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins. Testing and air chamber analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency has found the following compounds in a random group of over 30 candles tested.
- Acetone
- Benzene
- Trichlorofluoromethane
- Carbon disulfide
- 2- Butanone
- 1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane
- Carbon tetrachloride
- Carbon Black (soot) Particulate Matter <2.5 microns
- Trichloroethene
- Tetrachloroethene
- Toluene
- Chlorobenzene
- Ethylbenzene
- Styrene
- Xylene
- Phenol
- Cresol
- Cyclopentene
- Lead
- Lead (Inorganic Airborne Contaminant)
Besides these chemicals, Kaiss K. Al-Ahmady, Ph.D., P.E., of Indoor Air Solutions, Inc. of Tampa Florida, found in testing of over 20 candles, that 30 percent of the metal wire wicks used in some candles can contained lead.
The reason scented and aromatherapy candles are the usual culprits is because the fragrance oils are unsaturated hydrocarbons and they soften the wax so that it doesn’t burn cleanly. Container candles are even worse since the oxygen necessary for a clean burn doesn’t reach the flame properly.
Buy instead unscented candles made without petroleum, with wire-free wicks. Diffusers are a safer way to practice aromatherapy, and they are available in most health food stores.
Go to the Source
Petroleum-Free Stearine Candles
These attractive candles are made from pure vegetable stearine and are made with a melting process powered by solar energy. While burning they do not give off any toxic substance. Due to the material, candles do not soften or bend when exposed to warm environments. They have a lovely weight, and a unique crystalline structure. Packed in boxes of four - Yellow, White, Green, Red, Charcoal, Gold, Gray, and Brown. Measures 8" H x .875" D. Germany.buy nowrelated stories
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9 comments
add your comment »I learned about the hazards of paraffin candles back in the year 2001. I couldn't find any scented candles that I enjoyed so started making my own from 100% soy wax.
My husband and I founded Sally Lee Candle Co. in January 2009 and sell organic soy wax candles, no zinc or lead in the wicks and most of our fragrance oils are soy based instead of petroleum based. I can't imagine what the toxic fumes from paraffin candles are doing to people's lungs over time...probably covering them with soot just like walls.
Marie Rhoades - Founder/Managing Director
Sally Lee Candle Co.
www.SallyLeeCandles.com
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I discovered the problem with soot from petroleum candles years ago. It took me ages to remove it from the walls, appliances, etc. I have been using diffusers as I thought all candles produced soot. Thanks to Annie's article, I can now use pure beeswax candles. I love the warm glow from candles and it's great to learn that they can also be beneficial. Thanks Annie.
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Is there a way to tell if an older candle contains parrafin???
l_delplace@hotmail.com
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Who would breathe candle soot even if they didn't know better?
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MD Herbal www.mdherbal.com sells 100% lead free wicks and use 100% soy wax. The wicks are made of cotton and EOs are used whenever possible. MD Herbal is also going dye free.
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My company, www.Godscountrybotanicals.com, makes a wonderful soy aromatherapy candle that produces no soot. Another option are wax tarts, which we also make with pure essential oils. They are heated, not burned, producing no soot, like the earlier poster mentioned.
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What if you place the candle on a candle warmer and never light the wick? The warmer works like a hot plate. It smells wonderful and no soot.
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I've found that reed diffusers can be a lovely and healthy alternative to burning candles. The trick is to find natural ones that are scented with plant/essential oils and made without DPG and synthetic fragrance oils. I love the diffusers on the 'For the Home' page at Primitifnewyork.com. Funny that the most expensive ones like at Crabtree and so on are the most toxic...And these companies seem to avoid providing info about the ingredients, because they aren't required to do so for 'perfumes', I think? Is that right? Thank you so much for the detailed info on soot.
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soy candles are a safe alternative to parrafin candles.
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