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Natural Wax Coming Into the New Age
I am a true believer of “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” However, it is necessary to “improve” on many aspects of things in life.
This article is comprised of the factual differences between Natural Wax Candles and their competitor Paraffin Wax. Now, while there are several variances of wax used on the market today I would just like to focus on these two at this time.
The Natural Wax Candle I am speaking of has a propriety of Soybeans, Vegetables and Beeswax. These are all natural wax ingredients while their counterpart and competitor Petroleum based Paraffin wax is starting to lose it’s heat so to speak with Natural Wax is blowing at it’s heals cooling it off and telling it to take a back seat because Natural is making a huge come back and for Paraffin to stew in it’s own toxins.
Consumers today are looking and striving for a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their families. Whether it is the food they eat, the air they breathe, the organics of their fabrics they wear right down to what type of personal products and yes, even the types of candles they buy.
There is an old adage “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”, remember that one? For the most part this is true but when it is in regards to Natural Wax Candles I believe I shall prove to you that you CAN have your cake and eat it too in this case.
So, what exactly IS Paraffin Wax and what is the big deal about it anyway? First of all it is a Petroleum based and Petroleum is derived from waste. Yes, you read that correctly. Waste. It is put through a bleaching process followed by a textured substance called Acrolyn. Acrolyn you ask? Well, what is that? It is a carcinogen or in layman’s terms a cancer causing agent. Paraffin is a residue of gasoline and motor oil. All that black grimey mess around the jars of candles, votive holders, walls and whatever else it comes in contact with emits Petrol Carbons which carries 11 known harmful toxins. Two of which are well known as Toulene and Benzene all of these 11 are burning in your home and you, your family and your pets are breathing it in.
When a Paraffin candle is lit and as the heat grows it puts out these harmful fumes that can iritate the eyes causing them to itch, redden and burn and in rare cases even swelling of the eyes. The petrol fumes burning can effect the soft lining of your nose and throat causing them to feel raw and irritated. Headaches are another common “side effect” of paraffin candles. Another rare side effect of petrol fumes is Dermatitis (skin inflammation) with irritation accompanied by a rash. Ask any car mechanic. They’ll tell you. They work around those exact fumes 8 hours a day or more, 7 days a week. One would think they would be paid better or get hazard pay. Okay that is another article waiting to be written.
Well, I surely (you say) don’t burn my candles that much to cause any of this harm so why stop burning them? Well, that is entirely up to the consumer and I am not here to say who can and who can’t have whatever candle they want to burn just laying down the facts.
How many people do you know that burn candles? Probably a lot including yourself. Constant exposure over time and building up is when problems occur and often, we have no clue why our bodies are reacting the way they are. Generally it’s from some foreign unknown chemical and it never crosses our minds. The average household candle connouissuer burns their candles between 1-3 hours per day. That adds up.
Paraffin has been around for AGES and was the only means of light and heat. I mean why not? It was what was available and paraffin burns super HOT. In this day and age people are waking up to the fact that our carelessness of the environment (myself included) has to come to a screaching halt before there is nothing promising to leave our legacy’s behind us.
While discussing this with many people I had one lady who was an avid paraffin candle user and she did so because she could get them “cheaper”. One day she called me and said she paid attention to what she was informed of and noticed especially that black sooty grimey mess and how oily the air around the jar candle she’d blown out was and noticed she coughed after blowing them out. I just let her talk and she said “Well I guess I might as well stick my head under a hot car and breathe in the motor oil huh?” She no longer buys them by her choice.
This next section I must express my feelings towards Animal Testing: I do not condone, agree nor participate or have anything to do with using animals and filling them full of harmful chemicals to “better mankind”. However, we all know it’s done and another article for later.
Proven animal studies have shown through testing and research of animals paraffin causes tumors and commonly in the bladder and respiratory system. Cats are especially prone.
As most of us know, if it physically alters, maims, kills, produces tumors in an animal then common sense says it can happen to humans as well.
On To The Comparison. We will start with the Natural Wax Blend our company uses
Contrived of Soybeans, Vegetables and Beeswax
Biodegradable with Renewable Materials
Derived From Natural Resources Of What Our Earth Gives Us
Grown In America and Supports Our American Farmers
Non-Toxic (no cancer causing agents)
Highly Scented
Burns Cleaner, Even and 50% longer(even burn time creates larger pools of wax which is what produces a large scent throw)
They liquify and completely burn until completely gone (always follow candle instructions)
98% Soot Free and that is as close as anyone has gotten! The very little burn off is from the natural cotton wick)
Better Breathable Air Quality
Environmental user Friendly
Low melting point which means these burn cooler and with a smaller flame (also helping scent throw and even burn)
No wasted wax, more economical
Water Soluble cleans up with warm soapy water
Paraffin Wax contrived of petroleum based by product of gasoline refining
Often produced from a foreign country or domestic oil
Emits 11 known cancer causing agents/toxins two well known ones are Toulene and Benzene
Emits High quantities of soot into the air and your home
NOT Biodegradable
NOT Water soluble and very hard if not impossible to clean up entirely especially in carpets
Burns much HOTTER, faster and uneven. Paraffin candles will burn directly down the center and leaving a tunnel
Wicks die out before candle wax is gone
Throwing candles away half burned
Not economical / Not environmentally friendly
Wicks also have a lot to do with the candles we burn. There are two types.
Non-Cored (lead and zinc free) generally made up of twisted plant fibers mostly cotton or braided. ( This is what our Company uses)
More and more manufacturers are switching over to the Non-Cored joining in on the healtier alternative.
Cored – these do have lead and zinc and are still commonly used especially in the “less expensive” brands. Ahhh but do not be fooled larger companies sitll use Cored as well. Use cored wicks in toxic wax and you get the “Double Whammie”
About the Author
I’m a writer, researcher and business entrepreneur. Reading and writing became a passion of mine at the age of 8. Love to write articles of meaning, for fun and poetry. Knowledge is power to learn is to Empower~Jamie Volner
Paraffin Wax