When you choose to bring a product into your home, you deserve clear answers about its impact on your health. Vague marketing and confusing labels are not enough. This is especially true when it comes to the air you breathe every day in your personal sanctuary.
We get a lot of specific health questions at our NYC studio, and we believe in answering them directly and honestly. We have compiled some of the most common concerns into a straightforward question and answer guide. Let's get right to it.
Q: Are candles bad for my lungs or for someone with asthma?
A: They certainly can be, if they are made from the wrong materials. Burning petroleum based paraffin wax can release fine soot and particulate matter into the air. These particles can act as respiratory irritants, which is a major concern for people with asthma or other sensitivities.
This is why we exclusively use 100% pure beeswax. It is a natural, hypo allergenic wax that burns cleanly with virtually no smoke or soot. Furthermore, beeswax is a known natural air purifier that can actually help remove irritants like dust and dander from the air, contributing to a cleaner home environment.
Q: Can candles cause headaches?
A: This is a very common complaint, and it is almost always linked to the fragrance, not the candle itself. Headaches are often triggered by essential oils, and oils that contain plastics and preservatives , particularly those containing chemical binders and enhancers like phthalates. These can be overwhelming and irritating to the senses.
Our commitment is to use only sophisticated, phthalate-free, cosmetic-grade fragrances. They are designed to be complex and pleasant, not overpowering. Many customers who typically get headaches from other candle brands find ours to be a completely different and enjoyable experience.
Q: Do candles release harmful chemicals like carcinogens?
A: This depends entirely on the wax fragrance combination. A paraffin candle can release harmful, carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and toluene as it burns. A pure, natural beeswax candle does not. The combustion of beeswax is clean, producing primarily trace amounts of water and carbon dioxide, similar to your own breath. The choice of wax is the single most important factor in eliminating the risk of releasing harmful chemicals.
Q: What about the "endocrine disruptors" I have heard about?
A: This is a valid and sophisticated concern. The primary endocrine disruptors found in candles are certain types of phthalates used in low grade fragrance oils. As we mentioned, we are a 100% phthalate-free brand, so this is not a risk with any Mbur Candle Co. product. By avoiding both paraffin and phthalates, we have eliminated the primary sources of potential hormone disrupting chemicals in candles.
The Mbur Verdict
As you can see, the answer to most candle health questions is the same: the ingredients are what matter. A candle is not just a candle. It is a product with a direct impact on your home's environment.
Our mission at Mbur Candle Co. is to take the worry and the guesswork out of the equation. We have obsessed over every ingredient so that you can simply light one of our candles, like the relaxing Wine Down Candle, and breathe easy, knowing you have made a safe and healthy choice.
Ready for a worry-free experience?
