Are Scented Candles Safe? What You Need To Know.

Scented candles are used to create an ambience and fragrance in any space. Despite concerns about their impact on indoor air quality, they are safe to use in your home. Understanding the research on candles' impact on indoor air quality and regulations governing their production can provide reassurance and ease those concerns. Here's a closer look at why scented candles are safe to use in your home. 

1. Candle Wax

High-quality candles are often made from various waxes, including soy, palm, paraffin, and beeswax. Each type has its benefits, and perform much better than when used independently. This study looked at the emissions of burning candles and found that the wax types ("fuel") palm, paraffin, soy and stearin all performed similarly in terms of emissions and "no individual wax was shown to have a consistently better emission profile than the others" (Salthammer et al., 2021). Each type of wax burns cleanly, and candle wax manufacturers choose waxes to achieve superior performance.

2. Indoor Air Quality

Candles do not negatively affect indoor air quality. Regardless of scented or unscented, high-quality candles are non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. An independent peer-reviewed study, funded by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Inc. (RIFM), found that "under normal conditions of use, scented candles do not pose known health risks to the consumer" (Petry et al., 2014). Common indoor air quality changes are often linked to cooking, smoking, and household plants. 

3. Scented vs unscented

There's no significant difference in safety between burning scented and unscented candles. All candles made by Hushwood Hollow utilise ingredients that are scientifically proven to be safe. Research indicates that "typical fragranced candle emissions are below the most conservative safe limits set by regulatory authorities and safety organizations" (Salthammer et al., 2021). Ensuring minimal disturbance to the flame and maintaining a proper wick length of 0.5 cm will provide the cleanest burn.

4. Regulatory Standards

The candle industry is subject to regulations that ensure consumer safety. Fragrance ingredients and mixtures are governed by laws and regulations established by international, regional, national, and local regulatory bodies.

International Fragrance Association (IFRA) is an association that advocates for the safe use of fragrance mixtures and ingredients. They cover about 80% of the fragrance industry's production volume and ensure that IFRA members are accountable for following all relevant laws and regulations.

At Hushwood Hollow, we only use IFRA-certified fragrances in our blends.

Conclusion 

At Hushwood Hollow, we care deeply about your health and safety. Our understanding of our ingredients ensures you can safely enjoy fragrance in your home.

References

1. Salthammer, T., Gu, J., Wientzek, S., Harrington, R., & Thomann, S. (2021). Measurement and evaluation of gaseous and particulate emissions from burning scented and unscented candles. Environment International, 155, 106590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106590
2. Petry, T., Vitale, D., Joachim, F. J., Smith, B., Cruse, L., Mascarenhas, R., Schneider, S., & Singal, M. (2014). Human health risk evaluation of selected VOC, SVOC, and particulate emissions from scented candles. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 69(1), 55-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.02.010

Other references you may find interesting

National Candle Association. (2023). Illuminating the Truth: Why Candles Are Safe to Use. Retrieved from Candles.org

International Fragrance Association. (n.d.). Inspiring trust: a Sense of Responsibility. https://ifrafragrance.org/fragrance-and-you/sense-of-responsibility