I'll admit… I hesitated to write this one. 

Because who doesn’t love candles? The flicker of the flame, the cozy vibe, the inviting scent of sea and sand or fresh linen — it’s pure ambience in a jar.

But here’s the thing: I also care a lot about clean air. 

And unfortunately, the same candles we burn to create a comforting atmosphere are often not doing our air quality (or our health) any favors.

So what’s Actually in Most Candles?

Many popular candles - especially the mass-produced ones - are made from paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct. 

When burned, paraffin releases potentially harmful chemicals like benzene and toluene — both known carcinogens. 

Add synthetic fragrance and dyes to the mix, and you’ve got a pretty toxic combo drifting through your home.

While you know I'd much prefer to write about something that will put a smile on your face, I feel like lately I just keep coming across articles, books and podcasts with news on our toxic world.

So I figured I should address it.

It is a critical topic that impacts us all—the complexities of the world we navigate every day.

And while it's not the cheeriest subject, understanding it empowers us to make choices as informed, conscientious, smart and intentional consumers.

So let's get into it.

The Big Picture: A Toxic Load

In the past century, our country has seen an explosion of new chemicals —around 100,000 to be precise — present in various products.

Shockingly, most of these chemicals remain largely untested and unregulated, contributing to what experts call our "toxic load." This is particularly concerning given that babies born today carry an average of 200 toxins in their blood.