Paraffin Wax FAQ

What is paraffin wax?

It’s a petroleum byproduct, white in color, soft wax used in candle making.

Does fully refined/highly purified paraffin wax (which is used all candles offered on the site) contain carcinogenic compounds?

No. No scientific evidence of this exists.

Is paraffin harmful to the environment?

This seems to be one of the most popular claims degrading the use of paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is a byproduct of heating/distilling petroleum. The process of creating paraffin wax involves taking unused “waste” and refining it to food grade standards which is then sold by wax suppliers. It is essentially upcycled from the environment.

Is burning paraffin wax harmful to humans?

Many household and body care products contain fully refined paraffin wax. The apples you buy from the store and mineral oil that you may use in your facial routine or ear care contain paraffin wax. Many of the wicks that other makers use in their "100% all natural soy wax" candles are covered in paraffin wax (and most likely, the maker is completely unaware). It is your choice as to what you put on your skin, in your body, or inhale in your home; however, no peer reviewed scientific study has found any correlation specifically between health hazards and paraffin wax.

Are other waxes healthier to burn than paraffin?

Short answer, no. Check out the study published in “Environment International” which compares the emissions of different candle waxes with different types of fragrances. It states, “No individual wax was shown to have a consistently better emission profile than the others.” Read the article for yourself here.

Does paraffin wax burn clean?

Because paraffin wax has a lower melt point than most other waxes, it is easy to “over wick” the candle. This causes the wick to burn too hot, emitting black smoke, or soot. Many people believe this to be a “dirty” burn, when in reality, all candles emit soot. Some waxes emit a more translucent, or white colored smoke when over wicked, which may be difficult to see, leading many people to believe that other waxes burn “clean.” It is also possible, just not as common, for other waxes to also emit black soot when burning a wick that is too big for their wax/jar combination. When wicked properly, paraffin wax will not produce visible soot.

CandleScience did a great FAQ video on their YouTube channel featuring a scientist who works in a candle lab. You can view the video here, and skip ahead to 52:55 for a soot related question.

Why are there so many negative claims surrounding paraffin wax?

Simply put, many candle makers (big and small) use these claims as marketing techniques. Paraffin wax is no more harmful to your health than any other type of wax. Refer to above article.

Why do paraffin candles give me a headache?

Paraffin wax is a potential allergen just as soy wax and fragrance oils may be allergens as well. Many people are also sensitive to strong scents. Always trim your wick and if a burning candle bothers you, don’t burn it! Paraffin may or may not be the culprit.