5 Ways For Your Home To Smell Awesome Without Paraffin Wax Candles & Melts

“They never smoked a day in their life, I don’t know why they have/had lung cancer” 🤯

How many times have you heard this? Probably a lot right?

I have heard it more times than I can count. I usually have a come back to this question that makes people super uncomfortable...

Are you ready?

Did they burn paraffin wax candles? What about those fancy wax melts ?

Now, I can feel your eyes roll from here. You're thinking "Ah... well she does make and sell candles, she is probably just trying to get us to buy her candles and not other candles."

Okay, that is fair. Definitely fair. Here is the thing though, while yes, I'm the owner & founder of HBC Organics, I also am someone who studies Natural Health for a living. I've dedicated years of my life to learning about what causes issues with our health. 

I remember the first time I heard someone say "They never smoked a day in their life, but died of lung cancer." I remember it striking me as odd and I wanted to know more. I was a teenager at the time and my researching skills were limited, but I began looking into things. As I got older, I started learning about artificial fragrances- and remembered how they made my nose burn, gave me headaches, and at times would cause my asthma to flare. I grew up in a household where we had unscented EVERYTHING. Having any household or body product that was scented was a very rare occurrence because my step-father has COPD and severe asthma. Everything seemed to close his lungs up. So my research continued. 

In 2012, I officially founded HBC Organics. I had a wide variety of products that grew and grew as the years went on. I was asked about candles multiple times. I did so many trials and even more errors until I came up with a clean burning, healthy candle that was VEGAN. Side note-- I do make beeswax candles, but I had a large amount of customers who wanted vegan products. So we've been making candles regularly for about . Coconut-Soy Wax candles to be exact. More on that in a minute. 

So back to paraffin wax- 

What is paraffin wax?

Paraffin wax is a byproduct of the oil purification process. Through a dewaxing process that crude oil undergoes, paraffin wax is derived and is then processed further for use in products. Today, petroleum-based paraffin wax can be found in candles, wax paper, polishes, cosmetics, and electrical insulators, among other commercial items. Some of the most popular candles out there by the most popular companies (working on not naming them- please do your research to be sure that the candles you're purchasing are NOT parrafin) use parrafin wax because it is cheap and they burn a long time. 

Okay soooo.... what effect does it have on your health? 

In 2009, a study by South Carolina State University found that burning paraffin wax candles give off harmful fumes (toluene and benzene) which is linked to asthma and lung cancer.

❤️Soy candles, in the same research, were not found to emit toxic chemicals. 

It is also reported that frequent lighting of multiple paraffin candles in an non- ventilated spaces could lead to problems commonly associated with paraffin wax: irritation of skin and respiratory tract. Do you remember the news articles circulating a few years ago about babies having black soot in their lungs and nasal passageways?

Not to mention the FRAGRANCES that are used in these candles & wax melts
but that’s another post for another day. 

Like I said, I own HBC Organics & I make a different kind of candle... My company is small- so small in fact, that we are one of the only companies that makes candles with an All Organic Coconut-Soy Wax blend. This blend is safe to burn, vegan, and sustainably sourced. The “scent” we use are either Essential Oils, Hand-Made Organic Extracts, or a Blend of both. 

I even do beeswax candles by request- those are known to clean the air & are a great option for those with seasonal allergies and even asthma. 🥰

So here is 5 ways to "scent" your home without paraffin wax & protect your lungs. 

1. Invest in a quality essential oil diffuser. 
   1. These are the diffusers I use and I have been with this company for almost 8 years. 
   2. If you decided to sign up to get about 25-30% off your essential oils and favorite products/supplements- please consider using my code: 1537008 and I will send you a welcome packet & give you as much support as needed for Essential Oils and Essential Oils Safety (I've taken a lot of classes on them!)
2. Use organic soy wax melts. 
   1. Organic is key here. This is because 90% of the soy produced is produced from GMO crops. There isn't enough studies and research out there to know the potential side effects or dangers of burning GMO soy wax candles. 
3. Fill a pot of water with fresh cinnamon sticks, clove, rosemary, orange slices, and vanilla bean and bring it to a boil or simmer. 
4. Open your windows!
5. Burn Organic Coconut-Soy, Soy, or Beeswax Candles in your home! 
   1. Handmade are usually best because you will find people who care about the work they are doing. 
   2. These are really easy to find! Farmers Markets, Word of Mouth, and even in our online shop.

A great read on paraffin wax along with some studies:
https://essentials.banyantree.com/blogs/blog/no-love-for-paraffin-wax