Scent sensitivity occurs in about one in five people and includes symptoms like wheezing, headache, nausea, skin rash, itchy eyes, and even fatigue. This is often due to multifactorial reasons, including genetic factors, environmental change, benzodiazepine withdrawal, and hormonal disturbance.
From time to time we get new customers who love and enjoy the candle burning experience but may have some sensitivity to scents. While they indulge in diffusing essential oils, or the occasional electrical candle they are not ready to give up on candles because it is such a relaxing ritual for them and they do enjoy the scent throughout their homes and the ambiance, and let's be real- there is nothing quite like lighting your favorite candle and unwinding after a long day.
How to Combat Scent Sensitivity & Still Enjoy The Candle Burning Experience:
The key to combat candle sensitivity is to find out exactly what triggers you and avoiding these triggering ingredients as much as you can.
You will find some candles are made of benzene and toluene in the market. These chemical ingredients are synthetically made and may cause adverse reactions in many cases, and sensitivity is one of them.
Use natural wax based candles
It is best to purchase candles that are made of natural and pure ingredients like beeswax, coconut, or our favorite- soy wax. As you may already do with other products, read your labels to ensure your candles are natural and eco-friendly.
Opt for environmentally safer fragrances
When it comes to fragrances, harsh and synthetic fragrances can sometimes trigger an allergic reaction. It is a much safer option to opt for candle fragrances that are as clean and environmentally friendly as possible. Our candles are scented with a blend of essential oils and fragrance oils. Our fragrance oils go through a rigorous testing process to ensure they are safe and environmentally friendly. It also helps that our oils are phthalate-free and adheres to industry standards for safety and purity. We blend our oils for 2 main reasons, 1. there is not an essential oil for every scent you love and enjoy, for example, baby powder, pumpkin spice, so it is imperative you look out for companies claiming to be all essential oil-based when in fact they are not for this same reason. and 2. essential oil candles are not as fragrant and you most likely will not smell it throughout your entire home.
Opt for safer cotton wicks & skip the color
This is often overlooked but can be a trigger to your sensitivity when burning your candles. According to BLK+GRN "Lead wicks release five times the lead hazard levels for a child and “exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air”. Officially banned over 15 years ago, somehow, lead-core wicks still make it to the shelves of our stores. Chronic exposure can be directly linked to issues like “hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities” and many more health concerns." For these reasons, we work with only ECO wicks which are free from lead and zinc.
While we totally understand how aesthetically pleasing a colored candle can be, if you are experiencing candle sensitivity you may want to consider ditching candles with added dyes as they only add to the cocktail of hazardous chemicals freed by the flame.
Reduce your burn time
We recommend burning for 3-4 hours at a time in a well-ventilated area. This way you get to enjoy your scent and not overpower your sensitivities. This also will make your candle last longer.
Go for softer scents
Often times a softer scent may not be a big trigger, so opt for softer scents such as soft florals, such as our Ylang Ylang & Rose, Himalayan Bliss or something fresh and clean like our Citrus Bliss and Eucalyptus & Spearmint.
While these are tried and tested tips, you can apply for combating sensitivity to candles. It is to be noted that symptoms of sensitivity vary from individual to individual, and one must consult medical professionals if the symptoms do not alleviate when trying to combat the sensitivity without medications.
