Candles: which wax is the best?

I'm not even ashamed to say it: I really, really love candles!

For no particular reason, the last time I bought a candle, I looked at the ingredients. I saw that the candle was made of soy wax. "Oh, really!" I thought.
But I didn't stop at my "Oh, really!". When I got home, I checked the ingredients of my other candles and discovered paraffin, among other things.

Being curious by nature, I did some research to answer the question: what is harmful and what isn't for me when it comes to candle wax? Every candle burns down, but where does the evaporating wax go, and is it harmful when I breathe it all in? Why are most of my candles made of paraffin? In short, I had a thousand and one questions!

The wax

There are three types of wax that can be used to make candles: mineral wax, animal wax and plant wax.

Mineral wax

Mineral wax, the most common being paraffin, is without a doubt the most widely used wax. Far from the best option for your health, paraffin is a petroleum by-product. And petroleum means a non-renewable material, so not a very ecological resource. Even though mineral wax candles are the least expensive, they are not the best options for our health (especially our little ones'). When burned, paraffin wax can release toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, including acetone, benzene and toluene, known carcinogens. A study by the University of South Florida even showed that paraffin wax candles emit low concentrations of benzene even when they are not lit. Definitely worth thinking twice before buying.

Animal wax

Animal wax, as the name suggests, is a wax produced by animals: bees. Beeswax, also known as cerite, is very natural and gives off a gentle scent if it is not deodorized.

Beeswax is also known to have benefits for people with respiratory problems. That said, I should point out that I'm not a respirologist. Still, given all the benefits of bee products, I wouldn't be surprised if it were recommended.

Plant wax

Based on what I know and my latest research, this is the wax that will now be my wax of choice whenever I buy a candle. It is considered a clean, vegan wax.

Plant wax generally means coconut wax, soy wax and even apricot wax. Who would have thought you could make wax from apricots! Besides being made from natural, renewable and vegan ingredients, plant waxes burn cleanly and naturally. They therefore release no toxic fumes as they burn.

Moodgie

And then...

The wick:

A candle isn't only wax, there's also the wick. The two most common types of wicks are cotton and wood.

Cotton wicks are definitely the most common. However, it's important to pay attention to where the cotton comes from, to make sure it is grown in good conditions for workers and the environment. Hemp wicks are also increasingly common on the market.

Wooden wicks, for their part, require more attention than cotton wicks. They need to be properly maintained. In return, they offer a pleasant crackling sound as they burn! Once again, favour wicks made from FSC-certified wood, which reassures us about how forests are managed.

Wick trimmers:

I thought they were a fad and not essential, until the wick of one of my candles almost made its glass container burst.

The instructions on candles aren't just there to look pretty! Of course, part of it is common sense, like not leaving a lit candle unattended. But they also include care tips, such as trimming the wick to avoid an unfortunate accident. It is essential to trim a candle's wick before each lighting, first and foremost to avoid any drama, like an exploding container or worse, a fire. Firefighters are great, but I prefer to see them in action in movies rather than live in my living room.

Our natural wax candles currently available

Oli & Eve: Basil and Grapefruit Candle

Hand-poured in Montreal, this candle is made with 100% natural soy wax and a cotton wick.

Feu & co: Coconut Candle

Handmade in Quebec, this candle is made with 100% natural soy wax and a crackling wooden wick.

Groom: Sandalwood Scented Candle

Poured in Montreal, this scented candle is made with soy wax.

So it's time to stock up on natural candles, which, on top of smelling good, are good for you and the planet! Just saying, but there are plenty in the Signé Local online store. Not only are they high quality, they are made here!

Edited by Rédaction MF

Cover photo: Moodgie