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Candles, everyday objects with a history spanning thousands of years, are believed to have originated with the ancient Egyptians 5,000 years ago, crafted by soaking reeds in animal fat. They remain a staple in our lives, symbolizing romance and celebration. Candles play a role in religious rituals, commemorate the loss of loved ones, and are often stored in drawers for emergencies when the lights go out.
In recent years, their popularity has surged due to the Scandinavian concept of hygge—creating a cozy atmosphere at home with soothing candlelight. The candle industry has flourished, with luxury brands charging premium prices for a sensory experience that eventually melts into a pool of wax.
When you consider the impact of candles on our lives, the results can be surprising. Candles remain an essential part of life—imagine a birthday cake without them. While there’s no need to discard your new Belgian Waffles jar candle just yet, a closer look reveals that they may have profound implications for us all.
10. They Can Spread Disease
In 2019, social media exploded when US senator Mitt Romney shared his birthday celebration online. His office gifted him a Twinkie-based birthday cake covered in candles. Rather than leaning in to blow them out, he meticulously removed each candle and extinguished them one by one. He later clarified that he had a cold and wanted to avoid spreading germs in the office. Science seems to support his reasoning.
Most people don’t think twice about the tradition of singing and blowing out candles. However, in 2017, researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina decided to investigate the effects of this ritual.
First, they ate pizza to activate their salivary glands. Then, they spread cake frosting on a solid surface, lit candles, and blew them out. The frosting was then cultured to measure bacteria growth. The results showed, on average, 15 times more bacteria after blowing out the candles. They also discovered that some individuals transfer more bacteria than others. While most mouth germs are harmless, they can still spread illnesses, particularly respiratory diseases.
For party planners and germophobes, spit guards for birthday cakes are now available—or, like Mitt Romney, you can blow out candles from a safe distance.
9. They Drain Your Wallet
Scented candles are among the most sought-after and budget-friendly gifts, perfect for any occasion—be it housewarming parties, expressions of gratitude, birthdays, or festive celebrations like Christmas.
A recent survey in the UK revealed that nearly 60 million unwanted gifts are exchanged during Christmas, amounting to approximately £380 million. The study also found that 57% of participants receive at least one unwanted gift annually, with 16% identifying candles as their least preferred present. The charity “Send A Cow” used these findings to encourage people to rethink their spending habits, avoid wasteful gifting, and consider donating to charitable causes instead.
8. They End Up in Landfills
The US candle industry is valued at $3 billion. With the average candle providing about six hours of burn time, many consumers frequently purchase inexpensive options. However, once these candles have burned down and filled your space with fragrances like vanilla or bubble gum, their journey doesn’t end there.
Discarded candles often find their way into landfills, where they can persist for up to 1,000 years. While many households prioritize recycling paper and food waste, the remnants of candles—typically plastic or glass containers coated with wax—are often overlooked. Few people take the time to clean out the wax and recycle the glass. Even when recycled, the heat-resistant glass used in candles requires higher melting temperatures, which can harm recycling equipment. Scented candles, often bought on impulse, have a lasting environmental impact.
7. They Pose Significant Health Risks
Paraffin, the most affordable and commonly used candle material, is a petroleum byproduct. Burning paraffin releases toluene, a toxic substance linked to DNA damage and nervous system disruption. Additionally, the synthetic fragrances and dyes in scented candles emit soot particles containing harmful elements like zinc, tin, and lead when burned.
Dr. Amid Hamidi from South Carolina State University conducted a study revealing that paraffin candles emit “clear sharp peaks” of various chemicals when burned. This occurs because the burning process doesn’t reach temperatures sufficient to neutralize the toxic molecules released. Inhaling this carcinogenic soot can worsen conditions like asthma, lung disease, and heart disease.
Occasional candle users need not worry about long-term health impacts. However, those who frequently burn candles in poorly ventilated spaces might consider alternatives like listening to calming music instead.
6. They Are Produced From Genetically Modified Crops
Soy candles are often recommended as a healthier alternative to paraffin candles, promoted as vegan and cruelty-free. However, the production of soybeans, which totals 324 million tonnes annually worldwide, involves practices that are far from environmentally friendly.
Over 90% of soybeans are genetically modified, and these GM crops are heavily treated with harmful pesticides. Even soy candles, marketed as pure, often contain paraffin wax to aid burning, reintroducing the issue of toxic fumes and carcinogenic smoke.
5. They Are Contributing to Rainforest Destruction
Palm wax candles were once touted as a natural and eco-friendly option. Palm oil, the most widely used vegetable oil globally, is a common ingredient in processed foods. However, the palm oil industry faces criticism for its aggressive expansion efforts.
Palm plantations now occupy 27 million hectares of land worldwide. Large areas of rainforest are being cleared to establish these farms, with 85% of global palm oil production originating in Asia. This deforestation is displacing wildlife like orangutans, elephants, and tigers, threatening their survival. Additionally, the burning of rainforests increases carbon emissions and forces indigenous people to abandon their homes.
While palm wax candles are marketed as a natural choice, their environmental cost may be too high to justify.
4. They Harm Bees
Although beeswax candles are considered a natural and eco-friendly alternative, they may have the most detrimental impact of all.
Bees play a crucial role as pollinators. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 90% of the world’s food supply comes from 100 crop species, with bees responsible for pollinating 71 of these.
A single worker bee can visit up to 10,000 flowers daily but only produce a teaspoon of honey in its entire life. To meet commercial honey demands, bees are often confined to factory farms, where they live in unnatural and stressful conditions.
Bees gather nectar from flowers to produce honey, which they store to nourish their hive. Farmworkers often extract the honey and honeycomb, substituting it with white sugar. The harvested honeycomb is then sold for various commercial purposes, including the production of beeswax candles.
Massive honey production has been a long-standing practice but is now endangered by colony collapse disorder. This phenomenon occurs when worker bees desert their hive, leaving the queen and immature bees without sustenance. Between 2007 and 2013, approximately 10 million beehives were lost due to this issue.
Honeybees are abandoning their hives for several reasons, including exposure to pesticides, climate change, and the varroa mite. However, stress and poor nutrition are among the most concerning factors.
A decline in bee populations not only threatens fruits and vegetables but also impacts meat and dairy production, as these animals rely on bee-pollinated crops. If bee colonies continue to vanish, food production will decline. Coupled with a rising global population, the importance of bees to our future becomes undeniable.
3. They Have the Potential to Cause Numerous Deaths
In 2016, a joyous celebration turned into a disaster at a basement bar in Rouen, France. A party attendee, carrying a birthday cake adorned with lit candles, stumbled and fell down a steep staircase. The flames rapidly spread to the ceiling, which was constructed from highly flammable polystyrene tiles.
The small space was engulfed in dense, poisonous smoke, leading to the suffocation of 14 individuals. Six others sustained severe injuries, and 50 firefighters were required to extinguish the fire at the Cuba Libre bar. The victims ranged in age from 18 to 25.
2. They Can Be Fatal
While most people are aware of basic candle safety, statistics highlight the potential lethality of candles when not handled with care.
Between 2012 and 2016, US fire departments responded to approximately 8,200 residential fires annually caused by candles. These incidents resulted in an average of 80 deaths and 770 injuries each year. Unsurprisingly, 37% of these fires originated in bedrooms, with 11% attributed to people falling asleep while candles were burning.
Tea lights are particularly hazardous due to their flat metal bases, which often lead people to place them on unprotected surfaces. When left burning, they can reach extremely high temperatures, causing them to melt into surrounding materials.
In 2014, a man from Chatham, UK, arranged tea lights on his bedroom floor to spell out his partner’s name. Unfortunately, his romantic gesture went awry when the carpet caught fire, resulting in significant smoke damage to his home.
1. They Finance Organized Crime
With the growing popularity of luxury-brand candles, the market is inundated with counterfeit imitations sold at significantly lower prices. Authorities at Heathrow Airport’s Border Agency counterfeit unit in London frequently intercept shipments of fake designer products, including counterfeit Jo Malone candles, which have been found to explode when lit and contain prohibited substances.
Purchasing counterfeit goods has a more sinister consequence: It fuels organized crime by providing a reliable revenue stream and a means for money laundering. Workers are often exploited in unsafe and unregulated environments, while criminal networks use the same trafficking routes for counterfeit goods as they do for drugs, weapons, and human trafficking.
The United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime has initiated the “Look Behind” campaign to educate the public about the hidden consequences of buying counterfeit products.
