Toxins in Candles
- Alayne
- Aug 18, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
'Wick'ed
Paraffin is derived from petroleum. Candles made from paraffin wax can easily be classified as one of the most toxic candle options. Paraffin candles release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from their wax, fragrances, and wicks, with potential exposure to these compounds being highest while burning. Let's look at some VOCs.
In This Post:
VOCs Released by Candles
Acetaldehyde
A reactive colorless compound (liquid or gas). Probable human carcinogen. Linked to cell/tissue damage in the liver, pancreas, and brain. May cause permanent DNA damage.
Acrolein
A highly reactive and highly flammable chemical. Potential long-term effects. Eye/throat/nose/lung irritant. Possible carcinogen.
Benzene
A carcinogenic gas that increases the risk of leukemia and other blood cancers. Respiratory irritant.
Benzopyrene
A carcinogenic airborne contaminate in the form of a gaseous byproduct or powder attached to soot/smoke particles. Linked to skin, lung, and bladder cancer, red blood cell damage, and anemia.
Formaldehyde
Pungent colorless gas. A well-known carcinogen. Released from paraffin and synthetic fragrances. Industrial uses include resins for particleboard, plywood, and foam and preservatives in embalming fluid.
Toluene
A colorless volatile liquid that easily turns into a toxic gas. Found in paint thinners and adhesives. Skin/eye/respiratory irritant. Can cause headaches and dizziness. Linked to cancer.
Additional Bad Actors in Candles
Soy, vegetable, and soy blend waxes
Rarely organic or non-GMO, so they may contain traces of pesticides and GMOs. These ‘safer’ waxes still release the same VOCs as their paraffin counterparts, only with lower levels of emissions.
Synthetic Fragrances
Contribute to toxicity by releasing VOCs (yes, more) and phthalates (semi-VOCs) which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream. Phthalates are known endocrine/hormone disruptors and are linked to cardiovascular disease, child development issues, and decreased fertility.
Synthetic Dyes
Derived from petroleum or coal tar. Contribute to VOCs. Synthetic fragrances are to blame for higher levels of VOCs than dyes, but they each play a role in the toxic cocktail that is released into the air.
Toxin-Free Candles
Hemlock Park handcrafts premium non-GMO 100% pure organic coconut wax candles made from natural cold-pressed coconuts and coconut oils. Each Hemlock Park candle is fragranced with premium essential oils, is free of dyes, and is paired with an FSC-certified wood wick harvested from sustainable fruit trees. Their scent-throw and burn times are phenomenal (trim the blackened wood from the wick before each burn).
Non-Toxic Alternative
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Free of the Toxins Listed Above
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Coconut Wax
Coconut wax candles burn significantly cleaner and produce minimal to zero soot. Candles made from coconut wax are also vegan, plant-based, sustainable, and Eco-friendly (no harmful toxins are released into the air). Coconut wax provides a longer burn time and better scent throw than other waxes. When selecting your coconut wax candles, be sure you are choosing a brand that is 100% coconut wax and not a blend, otherwise, you will negate all of the wonderful and clean traits of pure coconut wax. Do they smell like coconut? Pure coconut wax is odorless and colorless, so only if you pick a scent that is made with coconut fragrance oils will your candle smell like coconut. What could be better than 100% coconut wax? 100% pure organic coconut wax.
Beeswax
Beeswax is another excellent non-toxic wax option. Beeswax candles burn cleaner and longer than paraffin, soy, vegetable, and blends, but are not vegan if that is a concern for you. What could be better than beeswax? 100% pure beeswax... however, in my experience, beeswax does not hold a candle to the burn time of coconut wax. If you worry about stressing out the bees during harvest and you want a longer burn time, coconut wax is your candle. Either way, both are great non-toxic options that I think you'll appreciate.
Make it Make 'Scents'
Equally as crucial as choosing the wax itself, pay just as much attention to the ingredients that are scenting your candles. If you've cleared the hurdle of finding a candle without 'fragrance' (detailed above) on its ingredients list, you are already winning. Next in line, choose a brand that uses phthalate-free, plant-based oils (not synthetic) specifically designed and tested for candle safety. Pure essential oils are natural, but that alone doesn't make them safe for burning. Essential oils break down when exposed to flames and high heat causing them to release VOCs even if these toxins weren't originally present in the oils.
Dyes & Wicks & More... Oh My
You will typically find most non-toxic candles in their Birthday suits... no dyes, synthetic or natural, to give them color (detailed above). If your candle looks to be more than creamy (coconut) or slightly golden (beeswax), you may need to look a little further to be sure that the color you see is from a natural and safe source. Some natural fragrance oils may contribute to a subtle color in the wax, but nothing more.
Wicks are also guilty of releasing VOCs and other chemicals. If your candles have natural cotton or FSC-certified wood wicks, you did your homework.
Look at us... beeswax or coconut wax, understood. Phthalate-free, plant-based premium essential fragrance oils designed specifically for candle safety, of course. No synthetic dyes, check. Natural cotton or sustainable FSC-certified wood wicks, indeed. To polish this off, 100% pure beeswax or 100% organic coconut wax, we're on fire.
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