Let’s talk about candles!⠀
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They smell amazing, right? And who doesn’t love the glow of candlelight?! ⠀
But are candles safe to burn?⠀
As always, everyone has to decide for themselves and do their own research. But here are some tips that may help. ⠀
Candles are made of a combination of some type of wax & fragrance. ⠀
Most candles you buy from the store are made with paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct. ⠀
When these candles burn they release VOCs into the air including acetone, benzene, and toluene (to name a few), which are known carcinogens. These compounds can cause allergies, asthma attacks, and skin problems (to name a few). ⠀
But even if you’re using a soy or beeswax candle vs paraffin, the fragrance is still something to be concerned about. ⠀
Fragrance is a blanket term to refer to any concentration of scent. Many synthetic chemicals in fragrance are derived from petrochemicals and can be harmful to our health. In fact, often the fragrance includes phthalates, which are endocrine disrupters. Just because it smells good doesn’t mean it’s good for you. That’s often why people get headaches when they are in homes or stores that are burning candles. Or even why people develop chemical sensitivities. Breathing in those toxins just isn’t good for our health. ⠀
A safer alternative to burning (smoke is also a concern!) candles is diffusing. ⠀
A diffuser requires water and oils. That’s it. As long as you’re using 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils. Not the ones you buy from the stores…those are not regulated and the vast majority contain some pretty scary stuff as well. ⠀
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Ditching and switching can benefit us in so many ways. Why not start today?
