Hi friend,
Most people don't read candle labels. And the candle industry is counting on it.
Many mass-market candles still rely on an ingredient most people would never knowingly burn at home: paraffin. And most brands are not required to tell you what is in them.
What is paraffin?
Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum refining. The same process that makes gasoline also makes the wax in most candles. When you burn paraffin, it releases chemicals like benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde into your air. The same toxins found in car exhaust and paint thinner.
Why do brands use it?
Because it's cheap. Paraffin is abundant, easy to work with, and costs a fraction of natural waxes. For big candle companies, it's also a profit decision. For you, it's a health decision.
Curious as to why paraffin is easy to work with? Because natural wax candles — soy, coconut, rapeseed, and beeswax — are more temperamental than paraffin wax, particularly during the candle-making process. Natural waxes offer cleaner burns, better environmental sustainability, and longer burn times, and their temperamental nature stems from their sensitivity to temperature, curing times, and fragrance loads.
How to avoid paraffin
Read labels. If a candle doesn't say "100% soy," "70% coconut and 30% soy," or "100% beeswax," it likely contains paraffin.
"Soy blend" usually means soy plus paraffin. "Soy blend" is not regulated — it could mean anything.
Look for transparency. Brands that care will tell you exactly what's inside.
What we use instead
At Chiije, every candle — including Nº4 Echoes of Oud, Nº11 Cedar & Pine, Nº20 Scandalwood, and Nº87 Fire — is made with 100% natural waxes — soy, rapeseed, coconut, and at times, beeswax. We work with thoughtful and clearly specified blends, for example 70% soy and 30% coconut, and we list every ingredient on the full ingredient list because you deserve to know what you're breathing. Unsure where to start? Smell first with the Discovery Set.
We will never use paraffin. When it comes to your home and your health, shortcuts are not an option.
The takeaway: You wouldn't cook with petroleum. Don't burn it in your home.
With care, Chiije