Most candles today are made of paraffin wax which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned (both are known carcinogens). In fact, the toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes and are linked to asthma and lung cancer.

What are the disadvantages of paraffin?

It's great for adding fragrance as it burns at a hotter temperature than many natural waxes and the scent molecules fill the air well. However, it also has a lot of its own toxins which when inhaled can have adverse reactions including nausea, vomiting, headaches or even benzene pollution that can lead to lung cancer.

Why is paraffin bad for the environment?

In most forms, paraffin wax is not biodegradable since it is a by-product of crude oil. The wax itself can take years to biodegrade, especially in large quantities. In addition to taking a long time to biodegrade, paraffin wax has the potential to release harmful chemicals into the environment.