There's no denying that scented candles can smell beautiful, but many people have negative physical reactions when exposed to artificially fragranced candles (as well as many other types of scented products). If you, or someone in your home, needs to be protected from artificial fragrances, you can still enjoy the beauty of candlelight without being exposed to chemicals . There are chemical-free candles available, but you need to know how to recognize them.
Fragrance-Free vs Unscented: There IS a Difference
It’s very important to know the difference between these two terms. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the difference is determined by the following criteria:
Fragrance-Free: means that fragrance materials or masking scents are not used in the product.
Unscented: means that the product may contain chemicals that neutralize or mask the odors of other ingredients.”
The American Academy of Dermatology describes the difference between fragrance-free and unscented products as the following:
“Fragrance-free and unscented have different meanings. Unscented means that a fragrance is masked, so you cannot smell it. Fragrance-free means that the product is free of all fragrances, even ones that you cannot smell.”
“Free” is the word to remember!
If you are like many people and get confused by the two terms, just remember the word “free” is the safe choice because a fragrance-free product sets you free from unwanted chemicals. Free your lungs!
Are You 1 Out of 3?
Are you one out of three people that experiences allergy-like symptoms when exposed to products with fragrance? If so, you’re not alone! According to a 2016 study published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 37% of the US population report health problems when exposed to fragranced products.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety lists the following symptoms:
Exposure to the ingredients or chemicals in scented products has been blamed for adversely affecting a person's health, some or all of the following symptoms are typically reported:
- headaches
- dizziness, light-headedness
- nausea
- fatigue
- weakness
- insomnia
- numbness
- upper respiratory symptoms
- shortness of breath
- skin irritation
- malaise
- confusion
- difficulty with concentration
100% Pure Beeswax Candles are Naturally Fragrance-Free
Beeswax is the only candle wax that smells good in its natural state. Unlike other waxes made in factories, beeswax does not need added chemicals to mask or neutralize chemicals used to make paraffin, soy or even coconut wax. Unless a candle-maker added fragrance to the beeswax, a pure beeswax candle is truly fragrance-free and safe to burn.
All-Natural Honey Scent Made by the Bees, Not by Humans in a Lab
Natural beeswax develops a sweet scent when it is exposed to the honey inside the beehive. The bees make the wax into honeycomb shapes to act as a storage unit for the honey. No chemicals are used by the bees to make this wax and no perfumes are added by the bees when they make their honey. The sweet scent in the honey and wax comes from all the flowers and plants the bees have foraged on. All natural and bee-made; no chemicals needed or wanted. Nature’s fragrance-free wax.
References:
American Academy of Dermatology Association
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine
