Are scented candles bad for your health?

The short answer: for most people, a scented candle burned now and then is not a problem. The worry you run into online almost always comes down to two things, namely what the candle is made of and how cleanly it burns. And those are exactly the things you have control over. Below we explain honestly where the discussion comes from, and the choices we make.

Where does the worry come from?

Most standard candles are made from paraffin, a by-product of the petroleum industry. Paraffin is cheap and carries fragrance well, which is why it turns up in so many candles. What people worry about is what gets released when it burns. Any combustion releases small particles and gases, and paraffin in particular has been the subject of a lot of debate in recent years.

The honest picture is a nuanced one. For occasional use in a well-ventilated room, the risk is small. If you burn candles for hours every day in a small, closed room, it makes sense to look at the wax and at how cleanly the candle burns.

Soot and a clean flame

The most noticeable difference at home is soot. A candle that gives off soot leaves a black ring on the glass and spreads fine particles into the air. Soot comes mostly from a wick that is too long and from draught, not from the wax alone.

That is something you have a lot of control over. Trim the wick to about half a centimetre before each burn, and keep the candle away from open windows and vents. That keeps the flame calm and steady, and it makes an immediate difference to soot. Our candle care guide walks you through exactly how.

Why we choose sunflower wax

Our candles are made from 100% sunflower wax, without paraffin. That is a deliberate choice. Sunflower wax is plant-based, burns at a lower temperature and gives a clean, even flame. Combined with a well-trimmed wick, the candle burns down calmly, with little soot.

We are not promising a miracle, and we would never call a scented candle healthy. What we can say is that we make deliberate choices about what the candle is made of and how it burns.

What to look for

If you want a candle that burns cleanly, keep an eye on a few things:

• The wax. A plant-based wax such as sunflower or soy is a more conscious choice than pure paraffin.
• The wick. A cotton wick without a metal core, trimmed short, gives a calm flame.
• The fragrance. Our perfume oil comes from Grasse and is IFRA-compliant. Our candles are CLP-certified, which means the rules for classification and labelling have been followed properly.
• Ventilation. A fresh room is always nicer than a closed one, whatever candle you burn.

Frequently asked questions

Are scented candles harmful? For most people, burning a candle now and then is not a problem. Pay attention to the wax, a short wick and good ventilation. If you burn a lot and for long stretches, a plant-based wax and a clean flame are the better choice.

Is sunflower wax better than paraffin? Sunflower wax is plant-based and burns at a lower temperature, which gives a clean, even burn. We choose it deliberately, without claiming it is a health product.

How do I burn a candle as cleanly as possible? Let the first burn melt all the way to the edge, trim the wick to half a centimetre each time, and keep the candle out of the draught. There is more on that in our candle care guide.

Want a clean, even burn of your own? Discover our hand-poured candles in the candle collection, or keep your candle in top shape with the Candle Care Kit. Curious about the craft behind it? Read the history of the scented candle.