Advertisement
Let's Settle This: Is Burning Candles & Incense At Home Bad For Air Quality?
Last month, Harvard University's School of Public Health released a comprehensive list of 36 research-backed ways anyone can nix toxins at home.
The Healthy Home report contained a lot of advice that you've heard before in mbg headlines: Kick your shoes off at the door, add plants to your space, be mindful of your humidity levels, etc. But its warning on candles gave us pause: "If you use candles or incense, you are creating small combustion sources inside your home," the report reads. "The evidence is clear—in homes with candles or incense burning, there is a sharp increase in airborne particles, sometimes reaching levels that are higher than what is typically measured outside in US cities."
It's common knowledge that chemical-laden cleaners, sprays, and certain textiles can mess with air quality at home—but candles and incense? There's a wide spectrum of ingredients in these products, and admonishing all of them feels harsh, especially to matchstick-hoarding, scent-addicted folks like myself. With the image of my leaning tower of unused candle jars flashing in my head, I reached out for a second opinion about when, if ever, burning scents at home is safe.
The science on candles, incense, and air quality.
But first, a little background research: One commonly cited chemical of concern in scented candles is limonene, which is naturally found in citrusy notes. While totally safe on its own, when limonene comes in contact with nitrogen oxide—a common pollutant in indoor and outdoor air—it has been shown to lead to byproducts like formaldehyde and acetone. Formaldehyde, in particular, has been identified as a chemical of concern by the Environmental Protection Agency, linked to an increased risk of developing certain cancers.
However, another comprehensive report from the EPA found that in order for candle smoke to surpass the EPA's "excess cancer risk level," you'd have to burn 30 of them in an enclosed room for three hours.
The agency considers a candle's wick to be far more important to its overall safety, writing that wicks made with lead "generate indoor airborne lead concentrations of health concern." Though technically banned from U.S. markets in 2003, you might still find lead wick candles on shelves.
The other important part of candles is the type of wax. Paraffin wax candles (extracted from petroleum) have been found to produce higher levels of alkenes and toluenes than other wax types, though it's unclear whether they emit enough to be a human health concern.
Basically, for every study1 out there that says burning candles is dangerous, there's another that says it's totally safe in moderation2. With such inconclusive evidence, your best bet is seeking out candles and incense from makers that prioritize healthy ingredients.
How to choose better candles and incense and use them safely.
"They probably weren't looking at natural candles and incense," Rhea Mehta, Ph.D., a molecular toxicologist and mbg Collective member said when I told her about the Harvard report. Mehta hesitates to tell anybody to stop burning candles and incense altogether—especially people who use them for religious or spiritual practice.
Instead, choose candles with a "soot-free" wick made of cotton or wood; clean-burning waxes like soy, beeswax, or coconut; and a transparent ingredient list. (Here are a few that pass the test.) As far as incense is concerned, choose ones that have been dipped in natural oils.
Mehta adds that no matter what kind of candle or incense you have, you should be careful when putting it out.
"Usually with candles, the issue is when you blow it out. I tell people to open their windows so smoke doesn't end up in their space—especially if they're about to go to sleep," she says.
Finally, people who are predisposed to respiratory issues or allergies should be extra observant when burning anything at home. "If you notice a headache or drop in energy when you burn a candle, you might not want to keep it close to you," she says.
And with that, I'm ready to go and light up my candle collection—mindfully, of course.
Watch Next
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
What Is Meditation?
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
What Breathwork Can Address
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel