And Why Do You Need Them In Your Life?
If you’re a candle addict (welcome to the party, by the way - you’ll fit right in here), then you’ve probably tried a bunch of different brands and types of candles over the years looking for the perfect one. And there are a lot out there to choose from! But as you’re searching for the right candle, have you ever thought about what’s in the candles you’re burning? Lately, lots of people have taken an interest in phthalate-free candles because they just might offer a whole host of important benefits, from cleaner air to a healthier you.
So what’s the science behind phthalate-free candles, anyway? Read on to find out.
What are Phthalates?
Before we go much further, let’s take a look at what phthalates are. Essentially, phthalates are man-made chemicals that are used to soften plastic and manipulate several of its different properties. Phthalates can increase the flexibility of plastic products, alter their transparency, and boost their durability and longevity. They are most commonly found in PVC, but are also in many different plastics and other household products that we use every day, including:
- Cosmetics
- Soaps, lotions, and shampoos
- Flooring
- Clothing
- Toys
- Food storage containers
- Candles
- And more
In short, phthalates are very common in our everyday environment, but research is starting to show that that may not be such a good thing. Since they’re pretty much everywhere, it may be impossible to cut them out of your life entirely. But if you’re interested in decreasing the amount of them in your household, it’s not a bad idea to start where you can - with your personal care products, clothing, food storage containers, and yes, maybe even looking into phthalate-free candles.
Are Phthalates Bad For Your Health?
As we previously mentioned, the research is still ongoing, and not all phthalates are created equal. They’re not just a single chemical - rather they’re a class of chemicals, with different properties that make different ones more useful in different circumstances. For example, this might mean that the ones in your shampoo are a type that aren’t as harmful as the ones you might find in fast food containers (or possibly vice versa.)
However, we know that there are some specific phthalates that can be very damaging to the health of animals - and likely humans as well. Most of these have been banned in places where they can easily get into a human body (e.g. food containers, children’s toys, etc.), but we still don’t know the long-term effects of many of the ones that are generally considered safe. Our bodies have a very sophisticated system for filtering out toxins, but even so, phthalates are something you may want to be proactive about until more research comes in.
What’s Special About Our Phthalate-Free Candles?
Lots of things! For one, you can burn them with complete peace of mind, knowing that you won’t be releasing potentially harmful chemicals into the air of your home. This is especially true if you have young kids or pets who may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of phthalates. Additionally, we take special care to make sure that our candles have all clean-burning ingredients - it’s not just phthalates that you won’t find around here! Finally, our all-natural waxes help our candles burn longer, so that you can enjoy them for much longer than their more processed counterparts.
Questions? Want to try one of our candles? Browse our online store or get in touch with us today