Earthly matters

Before the 19th century, a "wax" candle typically referred to a beeswax candle or one made from animal fat, tallow or even whale fat.

Following the trend of other products, manufacturers have opted for “cheap” ingredients in order to offer a better price and reduce product costs.

In today’s world, paraffin wax is the most common candle making material. Not commonly known, paraffin is a waste product of the petroleum industry. It is mixed with stearic acid and then bleached and texturized with acrolyn, a known carcinogen. When lit, it releases toxins that hover in the area where it is burned and if you are anywhere in the vicinity, chances are you are inhaling these toxins into your lungs.

When burned, paraffin candles release soot that contains many of the toxins that are found in fuel.

A Better Alternative

Soy candles are clean-burning and soot-free as opposed to their paraffin counterparts. It is said that burning soy candles can improve air quality by 90 percent. They give a softer light and are up to 50 percent longer burning, so in the end the price is comparable. Soy candles are also easy to clean up when the wax drips, as soy candle wax is water soluble (meaning you can clean its wax with a wet rag).