What Is Paraffin? Geelong Candle Maker Reveals Dangers of Burning Paraffin Based Candles

With the mentality of the consumer world transitioning from ‘cheap’ products to quality and environmentally friendly products, people are beginning to question paraffin’s role in the candle industry. As a cost-effective alternative to natural ingredients, paraffin is a petroleum by-product used to make candles look shiny and appealing.

So, what is paraffin wax? In a nutshell, the product is derived from petroleum, which is one of the biggest environmental contributors of carbon dioxide. As a result, candles containing paraffin wax produce toxic petrol-soot that eventually stains interior surfaces and can trigger respiratory irritation due to the allergenic ingredients and poor indoor air quality. Using paraffin also passively encourages the discovery, collection, refinement, distribution and consumption of crude oil.

Pure paraffin is colourless, tasteless and odourless, and can cause nausea, vomiting and headaches if fumes or smoke from a candle containing paraffin wax are inhaled. Burning paraffin wax can even create benzene pollution, which can lead to lung cancer.

Geelong candle maker and found and director of Angel Sent – a soy wax candle company dedicated to producing natural, healthy and environmentally friendly products – Kirsten Macdonald says she’s always astounded by how many companies prioritise the bottom line over client or customer safety and satisfaction. “It’s easy to assume that if you spend a lot of money on beautiful products, the products will at least be safe. But that’s not always the case with candles,” Kirsten says. “There is an endless stream of arguments and articles around the difference between paraffin and soy wax based candles, and literally hundreds of different studies have been conducted. www.angelsentcandles.com

“But the paraffin industry is huge, so it’s difficult to get all bodies to agree about the dangers of paraffin. Really, what it comes down to is that soy wax is a by-product of soybean production. The wax is especially designed to release and throw scent beautifully, and the product itself burns cleanly. On the other hand, paraffin wax is a product of petroleum, and whilst it has some excellent uses, burning it in the home, office or any enclosed or small space shouldn’t be one of them.” www.angelsentcandles.com

Angel Sent uses essential oils, natural wax and botanical products. The company doesn’t use perfumes, paraffin, palm wax or other non-sustainable products, and purchases all raw materials from Australian small businesses, including for design and printing. Geelong candle maker Kirsten Macdonald is also committed to using recyclable and biodegradable materials in all company packaging as well as natural cotton wix in the candles.

To learn more about the environmentally friendly products the Geelong candle maker produces with her team at Angel Sent, visit www.angelsentcandles.com.

 
About Angel Sent

Angel Sent™ consists of a team of dedicated candle makers, aromatherapy experts and designers that produce natural candles as quirky gift ideas or as a natural addition to the home. Aromatherapy and aromatic products are their trade and they present the highest quality soy wax candles in Australia.

Creativity, imagination, design and giving back to the community in gratitude is what Angel Sent™ is all about.

Angel Sent™ specialises in private labelling too, for candles of all shapes and sizes and personalised corporate gifts, and can ship to any location on the planet.

Contact Information

Kirsten Macdonald

Director

Angel Sent

(61) 401 409 499

angelsoy@bigpond.net.au