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What's burning in your home?

Do you ever check the label to see what ingredients are in that wonderful smelling candle you are burning in your home?

I never did, as long as it smelled good and was inexpensive it was a win for me! Now that I started to make my own candles, I have realized so many things and I'll share what I know with you so you can make better candle selections. Our home is surrounded by other products such as plastic, different types of "wood", technology devices, and products we use for cleaning, beauty and etc., we don't want to add a toxic candle into the mix, right?


Minnieology candles use soy wax, which is made from natural vegetables while paraffin is a refined gasoline by-product. Soy wax is 100% biodegradable while paraffin wax is not.


So....would you rather burn something 100% biodegradable vs. a refine gasoline by-product? The other important thing to know is the quality of the fragrance that is being burned with the wax. I am also transparent about the brands (Candlescience & Golden Wax soy wax) used and you can also do your own research.


  1. The candle industry doesn't have many controls in the sense of what ingredients and additives that can or cannot be used. The only thing I really found is the warning label that is usually found on the bottom of the candle.

  2. Paraffin is the most commonly used candle wax today according to Candles.org. Other types of candle wax:

  • Beeswax - natural ingredients

  • Soy wax - natural ingredients

  • Palm wax - natural ingredients

  • Gels - 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin

  • Synthesized waxes (blends of waxes)

3. All candle wax types emit soot. This is why it's important to trim your candle wick to 1/4 inch. Organic compounds will emit some soot when lit. When you see soot burning (black smoke) or the wick has mushroomed (too long), blow out the candle and trim with a wick trimmer or let it cool and use a napkin to trim it. The wick will come off very easily.

4. According to Candles.org, there are no known health hazards when using scented candles or the type of wax used, however, there are concerns with the quality of man- made fragrances vs. "natural” fragrance materials and essential oils. The fragrances approved for candle usage – whether synthesized or “natural” – do not release toxic chemicals. Fragrance suppliers should provide safety information on each fragrance.

5. A fragrance’s safety level is determined if it's made in nature or a lab, it is also contingent on the concentration of the specific volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air. To ensure fragrances (VOCs) from candles are safe, fragrance formulas are reviewed against the safety standards established by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). Each ingredient in the fragrance and the finished product is required to meet the specifications set down by IFRA to be compliant with the standard. If the fragrance and product meet the standard, then the fragrance VOCs in that particular product is considered safe for human use. Minnieology candles and reed diffusers use fragrances that are approved by IFRA!



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