Few feelings compare to the immediate sense of calm brought about by lighting a
scented candle
. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve chosen a high-end brand or a £4 supermarket dupe with suspiciously similar packaging: this simple act can soften the edges of the most stressful days (and make you feel like you just about have your life together at the same time).
Simply ignite the wick, watch the flame flicker to life, then let your fragrance of choice
waft through the room
while experiencing an equal mix of self-satisfaction and elegance. Bonus points if you catch this!
scent
is intended to recreate a highly specialized ambiance, similar to leafing through ancient volumes in a quaint bookstore, stepping into a bakery on a bright morning, or browsing a particular floral market as the sun sets.
For better or worse, they’ve become a shortcut to self-care and a quick fix for our frazzled nerves (plus, they’re the perfect prop for an artful social media post, which certainly hasn’t harmed their popularity). No wonder, then, that these delicately fragranced status symbols have become big business. Between 2021 and 2022, UK shoppers spent £418m on scented
candles
According to data analysts at Kantar, the global market is expected to increase from nearly $4 billion to $6.1 billion (£4 billion) over the coming ten years. While these indulgences may appear relatively innocuous as far as vices go—ignoring their sometimes exorbitant prices for premium versions—it could be worthwhile to scrutinize more closely just what we’re consuming here.
By this point, we’ve all become quite familiar with the risks involved.
air pollution
Moreover, the fumes produced from burning fossil fuels can harm both the environment and human health. In recent years, however, researchers have grown increasingly worried about indoor air quality as well. Since individuals in industrialized nations often stay indoors up to 90 percent of the time, monitoring our breathing space becomes crucial. Simple activities like cooking or lighting candles can create particles and contaminants linked to heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer. The World Health Organization reports that over three million fatalities annually result from exposure to poor-quality household air.
Several studies have particularly concentrated on the effects of indoor candle combustion, yielding some possibly concerning outcomes. For instance, research conducted in 2017 by scientists at Copenhagen University involved experiments on mice which revealed unsettling findings.
particles
Released by burning candles led to greater harm compared to the equivalent amount of diesel exhaust fumes. A separate study from Denmark examined exposure to ultrafine particles, capable of penetrating deeply into the lungs and worsening respiratory conditions, and discovered that approximately 60 percent of such exposures were due to candle combustion. You might wonder why numerous studies on candles come out of Denmark; well, they lead Europe as some of the highest consumers of candles, using roughly 6 kilograms per individual each year (credit—or perhaps blame—the “hygge” trend, centered around comfort and coziness at home).
Thus, how worried should we really be regarding our beloved minor indulgence? A candle can be considered “basically a tiny fire generator with an exposed flame,” according to Professor Christian Pfrang, who chairs the department of atmospheric sciences.
University of Birmingham
. Much like a fireplace, gas hob or wood burning stove, he says, it will produce nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, especially if combustion is incomplete. In case it’s been a while since your science GCSE days, incomplete combustion takes place when you burn something without a sufficient oxygen supply; sooty deposits around the top of your candle’s jar are a telltale sign of this. “Nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide are known to have major health impacts,” Pfrang adds, including lung and heart problems. But, he cautions, experiments tend to show that the levels released by a single candle are unlikely to exceed the amounts set out in the WHO guidelines on indoor pollutants.
In the previously mentioned Danish study, particulate matter is identified as yet another crucial aspect. According to Pfrang, burning a candle generates “various-sized particles,” particularly emphasizing the risks associated with smaller ones known as PM2.5 and ultrafine particles. He further notes that exposure to PM2.5 primarily impacts older individuals suffering from long-term heart or lung conditions, young children, and those who have asthma.
Moreover, emerging studies are beginning to investigate how these changes might affect brain functions as well. This year, researchers from the University of Birmingham, working alongside scientists from the University of Manchester, discovered that just one hour exposed to candle smoke could hinder cognitive abilities, reducing individuals’ capacity to concentrate and recognize emotional expressions on others’ faces.
When you begin to place
fragrances
Into the equation, matters get more intricate. When you burn any kind of candle, they emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs vaporize quickly and disperse into the atmosphere readily. As explained by Nicola Carslaw, an indoor air chemistry professor, “‘Volatile’ essentially indicates substances prone to turning into gas swiftly.”
University of York
Additional synthetic scents result in higher levels of volatile organic compounds.
Other fragranced items — such as perfumes — similarly include volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, their usage differs significantly. Unlike perfumes which aren’t typically burned, candles release these VOCs into the air where “they react with substances produced during burning,” making them potentially more hazardous, according to Pfrang. When lit, candles emit dangerous VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene. As noted by Pfrang, “The levels of certain VOCs emitted from candles may surpass those deemed safe by the World Health Organization.” He specifically highlights acrolein and benzo[a]pyrene due to their association with numerous health issues, particularly cancers.
Proper ventilation is essential for eliminating interior air contaminants in your house.
Carslaw points out that aroma chemicals can be found in various items ranging from air fresheners to cleaning supplies to shampoos, “and the issue lies in their high reactivity upon release.” She further mentions that research indicates additional particles form as these compounds undergo oxidation in the atmosphere. For instance, recent investigations conducted at Purdue University in the U.S. reveal that such airborne contaminants are sufficiently tiny to infiltrate deeply into the respiratory system.
If all this makes you want to toss out your cherished candles along with their decorative containers, wait just a moment. There’s hope—you can continue enjoying them guilt-free with some simple adjustments. Start by focusing on proper airflow. As Pfrang points out, “Good ventilation is crucial for eliminating indoor pollutants.” This can be best accomplished via cross-ventilation, which involves briefly opening several windows to let fresh air circulate.
It may seem straightforward, yet how often have you lit an aromatic holiday-scented candle during cold weather only to keep your house tightly shut to maintain warmth? (I attribute this once more to the influence of hygge.)
Effective ventilation shouldn’t eliminate the candle’s aroma. Instead, it ought to aid in distributing the fragrance evenly throughout the space by enhancing what insiders refer to as “candle throw,” which describes how effectively the scent disperses within a room.
Although an occasional candle won’t cause you “to keel over and collapse,” as Carslaw mentions, the location where you light them matters greatly. You frequently notice this in major Hollywood films; there might be someone surrounded by twenty fragranced candles in a room during what seems like a romantic moment. However, lighting so many candles in a space with poor ventilation can lead to issues. In short, avoid trying to replicate Monica and Chandler’s proposal scene from
Friends
Although scented candles are frequently marketed as an essential component of any relaxation regimen, she warns against using them in cramped areas like bathrooms or keeping one alight for long durations in your bedroom right before bedtime.
And even though affordable imitations with comparable fragrances may seem appealing (these are essentially the scent equivalents of how fast fashion recreates designer dresses), it’s also important to understand the components of candles. As one expert puts it, “The price really reflects the quality.”
Gail Race
, an interior designer who has previously worked in product development for home fragrances. Cheaper candles, she says, “tend to be [made from] paraffin wax with an artificial fragrance” (even if that fragrance is something that sounds like it could have been naturally derived – a cut-price brand will tend to use, say, artificial lavender scents rather than sourcing the real deal).
As you go up the price bracket, people are using much cleaner burning waxes like beeswax and coconut
When burning paraffin, which comes from petroleum, harmful substances can be released into the air. “As customers move towards higher-priced items, they often encounter waxes such as beeswax and coconut wax, which burn far cleaner,” explains Race. Additionally, these alternatives are generally better for the environment. It’s also important to pay attention to the wick, an aspect frequently neglected amidst enthusiasm for specialized scents and attractive designs. In earlier times, wicks contained a lead center designed to maintain their vertical position; however, this was prohibited in 2003 because of health risks (a fact worth remembering should you come across old candles seeking sentimental value). Opting for cotton or wood-based wicks tends to offer safer and greener choices.
It’s important to remember that when “a candle is put out, it can release a significant amount of particles,” according to Pfrang. Thus, blowing out the flame becomes “the most contaminating part of burning candles inside.” He suggests using a candle snuffer as an alternative; although it may seem old-fashioned like something from a Charles Dickens novel, it effectively and safely puts out flames. These snuffers come in various styles—elegant designs available at upscale home decor stores or simpler versions such as those found at IKEA for around £1.50.
Pfrang essentially suggests that we shouldn’t worry excessively over “intermittently using a candle,” yet it’s crucial to recognize the possible pollution risks. This way, one can “reduce exposure while still relishing your favorite activities.” I often light up a Diptyque “Baies” scented candle as well, naturally with the windows open.
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