Ask TreeHugger: Do Scented Candles Stink?
by Helen Suh MacIntosh, Cambridge, MA, USA 
on 04. 5.07
Question: I have scented candles in my bedroom and living room, which I like to burn when I come home from work and want to relax. Lately, I have noticed that my walls look a little dingy. Is this from the candles? Why?
Response: In addition to leaving a nice smell, scented candles can also leave black soot and other pollutants (such as formaldehyde and acrolein) inside your home. The soot (especially) can deposit onto your walls, ceilings, and other indoor surfaces, leaving these surfaces looking dirty and dingy.
Not all candles are equally polluting. Several scientific studies have shown scented candles to be more polluting than non-scented varieties, producing more soot as the result of more incomplete combustion that may occur from the presence of additional chemicals in the candle. The amount of soot produced can vary depending not only on the type of candle, but also the type and length of the wick and how drafty your house is. This variation can cause one type of candle to emit 100 times more soot than another type of candle. As you are probably seeing, emitted soot can mean more cleaning and interior home maintenance for you. In addition, it is also possible that soot and other chemicals emitted from the candles may harm your health, since soot from outdoor combustion sources has been linked to bad health outcomes. However, the health impacts from candle-produced soot are not known.
One type of candle that has been linked to bad health outcomes is candles with lead core wicks, which are used to make the wicks stand up and to prevent them from falling in the candle wax. Several scientific studies have shown candles with lead wicks to emit lead when burned, often resulting in indoor lead levels higher than EPA-recommended limits, making leaded wick candles an important public health concern. As a result of these concerns, lead-containing wicks have not been used in candles made in the U.S. since 1974; however, imported candles with lead wicks can still be bought in the US and other countries. Clearly, you should avoid buying these candles. As a precaution, you could avoid all candles with shiny metal wire inside the candle wicks. [As a note, some candles with shiny metal wires do not contain lead but contain zinc or tin, which have not been linked to added health risks.]
In addition to avoiding candles with lead containing wicks, you may also want to take other steps to minimize pollutant emissions from candles. For example, you should keep wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and keep candles out of the wind or other drafts, both of which will allow for more complete combustion. You should also consider switching from scented to non-scented candles, especially to those that are made from beeswax or other natural materials. Finally, you should only use candles that burn cleanly (without the tell-tale trail of black smoke from your candle) and use a snuffer to put out the candle.
Previous Ask Treehugger columns can be found here.
Helen Suh MacIntosh is a professor in environmental health at Harvard University and studies how pollution behaves in the environment and how it affects people's health. Please keep in mind that her answers are just her interpretation of available information and should not be taken as the only viewpoint or solution to a problem. Use this column at your own risk. Having said this, please feel free to post any of your environmental health questions to Helen@TreeHugger.com (please use a descriptive email subject line and mention if you want to remain anonymous or not).
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I have heard from a testing lab rep that there has been concern aobut lead in the wax from candles sourced in China, not just the wicks. Apparently, there is enough lead in the environment for the bees to concentrate it in their wax. Not sure if this is something that is routinely tested for by all producers.
So you might add to your list: don't buy candles from China.
Sorry I can't cite my source.
I thought I would add some current facts to the questions above. For any true treehugger the thought of burning a parafinn wax candle should make their stomach turn. Parafinn wax candles are derived completely from petroleum. They leave a black residue even during the cleanest burn. Light a can of motor oil and it will leave the same black "smoke" look on walls and ceilings.
On the other hand a Soy Candles is natural wax that is derived from soy beans. When it burns it does not naturally leave the dark residue on walls that parafinn wax candles do. Soy candles are capturing more and more of the market each day and people understand it does not require petroleum but uses a renewable resource, the soy bean.
Scents are derived from combinations of differant oils. A parafinn candle requires you to use pertroleum based oils for scents so they would naturally throw extra soot into the air for you to breath and to stain walls.
Soy Candles on the other hand can use newer scents that are not necessarily petroleum based and use more natural oils so they do not emit the "burn" that petroleum based scents do. Natural candles from Soy and other vegetable based candles burn cleaner and reduce air pollution and our dependance on foreign oil. There are many companies using Soy Blended Wax with parafinn wax to help with customers requests for a more natural candle. I would recommend only considering 100% soy candles to be sure that the candles is not emitting any unknown chemicals into the air.
How about using lead free wicks and plant based wax such as soy?
LiveGreen has plant based wax candle made by a local San Diego artisan.
Your article mentioned nothing about gel candles?
I presume they are petroleum based as well. Any comments?
I have never experience any soot aftrer burning my soy candles, so I tatolly agree with the second blog. Just wish I could fing more Kathy Ireland cnadles for men.
I agree with the soy. Nowadays scented soy candles are the leading selling candles because of the clean burn. They also last longer too. More people are concerned about the wicks too, to see if they are lead free. I haven't heard debate about fragrance/essential oils.
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I have a branded perfume i bought far ago,...Its end now and now i want this again but it is not in the market... can anybody tell me from where i can do shopping...i wanna know any online perfume store...i shall be very thankfull if any body let me know......
I make candles at home on my own and have found that scented soy candles have less pollutants and are cleaner burning. If you don't want to take the time to make them yourself they sell naturally scented soy candles at http://www.illumecandles.com