Why We Don’t Use Paraffin Waxes

Before we began formulating our Checked Out Candles, we knew from the jump that paraffin wax was not an ingredient we felt good using. We didn’t buy or burn paraffin candles, so it didn’t make sense to make our own candles with it either. Let’s jump into why we don’t use paraffin waxes.

So, what exactly is paraffin wax?

Paraffin wax is a by-product of petroleum, crude oil, or coal tar. Paraffin is found in crude oil and removed during a refining process called dewaxing. Once separated, it goes through additional refinement to prep it for use.

Paraffin’s first recorded usage was back in the 1830s by German chemist Karl von Reichenbach, and around 1867, the first paraffin candles were made. Before then, candles were commonly made with beeswax or tallow, discarded fat from animals. 

Paraffin wax quickly became the most commonly used wax for candles, in part because it was cheaper to manufacture than other types of candles. It’s also used a ton in beauty products like lipstick and lotion. It’s even used as a hydrating treatment at nail salons to help cracked skin.

Is burning paraffin wax dangerous?

We’re not here to fear monger. Short answer – they’re on par with other candle waxes, which all have combustion byproducts with levels that register far below the most restrictive indoor air standards.

In 2007, Bayreuth Institute of Environmental Research in Germany funded research to learn whether there were additional risks associated with burning paraffin wax.  The combustion reaction was almost identical to every other type of candle wax. 

That said, as a by-product, paraffin often comes from oil refineries, and the chemicals it releases aren’t exactly friendly.  When burned, they release benzene (a known carcinogen), toluene (a lung irritant), and xylene (also known as cumene or MTBE, which can be toxic). 

Paraffin wasn’t found to be directly cancer-causing when compared to other waxes in the studies we’ve read, but they can sometimes release more soot into the air than cleaner burning beeswax or soy wax candles. 

Is paraffin wax sustainable?

Everyone has a different definition of sustainable (shout out to greenwashing 🫠) but as a derivative of crude oil, paraffin wax is a non-renewable resource. 

While it’s often marketed as “natural,” (because oil is naturally occurring) paraffin is *not* biodegradable. In fact, letting products biodegrade when they have paraffin in them can release toxic chemicals into the environment.

How long do paraffin candles last?

There are a lot of factors that go into burning time. From wax and wick size, to container shape or length of burn times, any combination can affect how long your candles will last for. 

If everything else was the same, paraffin wax burned 50% faster than harder waxes like soy. It’s one of the reasons we leaned heavily on soy wax for the formulation of our candles. Not using paraffin wax guarantees you get longer burning times and purchase less often, which is fine by us!

What are the alternatives?

While all waxes have some sort of high manufacturing cost on the environment (paraffin, soy, palm, coconut, etc), we want to divest from crude oil products as much as possible for more renewable ingredients that are better for you. 

Ready to get your hands on one of our soy, coconut, and apricot wax candles? Click here to shop our best sellers!