Not long ago, a friend told me that she bought a huge, stunning candle at a really funny price, I immediately went over to check what it was made of and how it was so cheap. Our market is flooded with impressive, huge candles, with enticing scents, but the question that arises is, when they are lit, do they have any effect on the breath our? And if so, how do we know it's really healthy for us?

So first of all and before anything else we will understand what options we have for making candles:

The main material in candles is wax, what is wax?

Quote from Wikipedia

"Wax is a general name for a group of materials Solids , which soften at a relatively low temperature and most of them melt at a temperature lower than 100 degrees. There are waxes of mineral , vegetable , synthetic origin , and also waxes of animal origin.

What types of wax are there?

Just as there are many wonderful scents for candles, you will also be surprised to hear that there are many types of wax that can be used to make candles, the wax is considered the "fuel" of the candle, when it melts, it evaporates and that's how it basically carries the smell all over the house.

The waxes used in candles are:

The most well-known and widely used, due to the ease with which it can be produced and also the most harmful of all types, is paraffin wax or by its other name mineral wax, there is also soy wax, beeswax, coconut wax. So how do you know which is the preferred wax? And what is the disadvantage or advantage of each

Paraffin wax

The most common and inexpensive wax there is, it can hold a considerable amount of smell and tone but... it is considered very harmful to the environment, since it is a product of the oil industry and even if it is not handled properly, it can create real soot, which also happens when the paraffin burns Gasoline and toluene are released into the air, both of which are known carcinogens

Soy wax

Wax that is considered very good for candles, the candle decays more slowly and is considered more environmentally friendly, but provided you choose the right type, it is better to purchase organic soy wax without pesticides or harmful substances, it is indeed more expensive, but this way you can ensure that it is indeed of high quality and good for breathing. The disadvantage of soy wax is that the smell is less strong, so you have to put a little more. I really like my candles with soy wax and it is the basis of all the candles I make

Bee's wax

Beeswax is one of the oldest waxes from which candles are made and it is produced from bees in the process of producing honey, beeswax is a great wax that if combined with soy wax creates durable candles with an aroma that can really help the air we breathe, but.. there are many objections to the entire industry surrounding honey and its exploitation The bees, so I chose not to use it

coconut wax

A relatively new type that is produced from the coconut fruit, can hold the color and smell well. Wax is expensive compared to the rest, but combining it with the rest of the wax can really be beneficial. After we got to know the types of wax available and you understood more about how each type is produced and whether it is harmful to us or not: there are other important components in a candle such as choosing the material that is used to scent the candle and the type of wick.

What is the difference between essential oils and essential oils?

There are a lot of essential oils that are considered excellent and even healthy, but.. and this is a big but. An essential oil is an oil that binds very quickly to the respiratory system and may also pose a real danger if it is not used in the right dose. There are also oils that pose a danger to pregnant women, such as cinnamon essential oil. Cinnamon is A great spice, warming and even recommended in the cold winter months, but less recommended for pregnant women. Regarding perfumes, it is also important to know what they are made of and where they are produced, there are cheap perfumes that are really unhealthy and there are perfumes that contain mixtures of essential oils, self-respecting companies publish an allergen profile for each name according to a standard. I read every ingredient and all the comments on it before I use it and all my perfumes are made in the USA and have a standard note. Also regarding the essential oils, it is really important where they are purchased from and who is the manufacturer of each oil.

The last thing is the wick

There are two types of wicks, the first is a regular cotton wick and it is also important here that it be of high quality without chemicals for a clean burn and the second is a wooden wick made of natural wood. The gentle crackling and unique flickering of wooden wick candles give a special atmosphere, but it is important to know that they burn differently than candles with a normal cotton wick. When you light a wooden wick, it is important to light it all the way, the heat from the flame pulls the wax through the wick, so at first you have to let the candle burn for enough time, because it turns out that candles have a memory, that is, the way the candle burns for the first time, will determine how it will continue for the rest of its life.

Why?

It turns out that if the candle does not develop a pool of melted wax that reaches the edges of the container, a depression or tunnel may form around the wick that will make it difficult over time. The tunnel effect can deepen until it is difficult for oxygen to flow in and the candle will have difficulty staying lit for a long time. So after you have understood a little more about the candles, I hope that the next time you are tempted to buy an impressive, large candle that smells good and really cheap, think about the type of wax, the perfume and the wicks and whether it is really healthy for you