When I’m feeling stressed and anxious, lighting an aromatherapy candle helps soothe my emotions. As the fragrance slowly fills the air, my mood gradually stabilizes, and a warm, relaxing, and joyful feeling wells up inside me. However, many people are unaware that many aromatherapy candles on the market use cheap paraffin wax. While paraffin wax is not a carcinogen, it contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and burning it produces paraffin fumes, which contain harmful substances that can have serious health effects on the body (CAS number 8002-74-2). Prolonged exposure, especially for children, pregnant women, and the elderly, can lead to significant health issues.
It’s important to note that it’s not paraffin wax itself that is harmful but rather the use of cheap paraffin wax. Let me explain two cost-cutting strategies behind super-cheap aromatherapy candles:
Replacing “Plant Essential Oils” with “Chemical Fragrances”
Plant Essential Oils: Extracted from various parts of natural plants such as flowers, roots, stems, leaves, seeds, and fruits. Plant essential oils are widely used due to their natural origin and outstanding biological activities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Pros: Safe, various essential oils have different benefits.
Cons: Expensive!
Chemical Fragrances:
Typically consist of four main categories:
Base fragrances, forming the foundation of the fragrance with one or several substances.
Enhancers, mainly used to enhance the aroma of base fragrances.
Top notes, composed of volatile substances.
Fixatives, which slow down the evaporation of certain volatile fragrance components.
Pros: Pleasant scent, extremely low cost.
Cons: Safety concerns!
Replacing “Plant Wax” with “Cheap Wax”
Plant Wax: Wax extracted from natural plants.
Pros: Burns 30-50% longer than paraffin wax, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable waste.
Cons: High cost!
Cheap Wax: Generally low-quality paraffin wax or synthetically derived waxes.
Pros: Low cost.
Cons: Safety concerns!
So, how can you choose an economical and safe aromatherapy candle? In the case of our aromatherapy candles, consider the following:
Ensure that 100% plant essential oils are used in the fragrance (many sellers falsely claim to use plant essential oils even when they add just a tiny amount).
We use soy wax, but make sure it’s low-solubility plant wax. Many on the market use blended waxes, so be clear about the ingredients and ratios, and avoid vague information.
Our essential oil concentration is between 13% and 15%, while many sellers cut costs with concentrations below 8%, resulting in extremely slow fragrance evaporation and a poor user experience.
If you’re unsure about the safety of the aromatherapy candle you’re using, simply smell it. If the scent is overpowering, it’s best not to use it, as it’s likely made with solvents and synthetic fragrances. Plant essential oils create a much subtler aroma.
