Wax melts are a great way to add a pleasant scent to any indoor area. Some people prefer them to candles because they are safer. How much safer? Well, that depends. Sure, the fire hazard is much lower with a wax melt. However, depending on what your wax melt or tart is made from, it could be dangerous for you.
Most commonly used as a base for wax melts are beeswax, paraffin wax, and soy wax. There are a few others but usually, the aforementioned are used most. Beeswax is just that. Wax made by bees. It is foundation of their hives. It is totally natural and non toxic. Soy wax is also non toxic. It is made from the oil of soybeans. Paraffin wax comes from petroleum. Yes, like as in gas.
Thing about that is, paraffin wax can be FDA approved and made food grade. The problem is that when heat is added to it, when it is burned, Houston, we can have a problem. Toluene and benzene are released into the air you breathe. Toluene is a hydrocarbon. Hydrogen and carbon molecules are not dangerous across the board. However,in most instances, they are. Toluene has a sweet scent. Inhaling it can cause irritation to your eyes and nose. It can cause fatigue, insomnia and even mess with your internal organs. The CDC has reported that it can negatively impact your liver and kidneys.
Benzene also has a sweet scent. As with Toluene, it has a negative impact on the respiratory system. The CDC reports that with long exposure, blood cancers like leukemia can develop.
Have you ever burned a wax melt and suddenly started sneezing? Have you ever walked into a house that had them melting and suddenly got a headache? What about this? Have you burned that calming/relaxing tart before bed but found that you had a hard time falling asleep? Or maybe you just didn't wake up feeling refreshed? It could very well be that your wax tart was made with paraffin.
Some popular businesses use paraffin wax. As of my writing this blog, Scentsy and Yankee are two companies that use paraffin. Before I go on, I must admit, I bought enough Scentsy, I really should have invested in their stock. Don't get me wrong. These companies that use paraffin have really good scents to offer us. The wax is food grade. As any smart consumer knows, sometimes companies sell us things because they can. Not because they should. Now I am not saying stop buying from these companies. I am saying stop buying paraffin. This is also true of candles.
Now why do these companies and others use paraffin? Just as with most businesses, they are taking the cheaper route. Beeswax has a high price point. Also there is some controversary over messing with anything bee related. We gotta save our bees. Paraffin wax not only is cheaper but it melts faster. That returns you back to the store quicker.
I am not living a perfectly healthy lifestyle. I do try to improve. Baby steps. I started making my own wax tarts just to expose myself to fewer harsh chemicals. I only use soy wax, mica powder for color (if I color), and essential oils for scent. You can conveniently shop my website for wax tarts and candles. No matter where you buy, please, just make sure the wax you burn not paraffin.
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