Why essential oils can be dangerous.

Contrary to what one might think, essential oils are not always an ideal natural solution. Some of them can emit gases similar to that of vapes if introduced in too large quantity in a candle recipe. These essential oils, when subjected to high flame temperatures, can release pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and toluene into the air.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is common in air and is often emitted from household products and building materials. It can restrict the respiratory tract, and cause burns to the eyes and nose if present in too large a quantity. If you are exposed to this gas frequently, there is a possibility of damage to your airways. You can recognize the presence of too high of the product by brown or black nasal secretion, a pain in the throat similar to the symptoms of a flu or even pain in the eyes similar to a drying of them.

Benzene

Benzene is a gas that occurs naturally in low quantities and is also used in the industrial environment. Exposure is extremely dangerous for the whole human system because of its carcinogenic properties. This gas is found in the exhaust of gas vehicles or in cigarettes. Benzene is dangerous when inhaled and touched, and even more so when exposed to heat and light.

Toluene

Toluene is a volatile flammable and explosive liquid. This gas is commonly used in the industrial environment as a solvent for paint, varnish, rubber, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, printing inks, greases, waxes, epoxy or epoxy resins and other resins. This causes, in a closed environment, irritation to the eyes, nose and throat without counting on headaches, dizziness and a feeling of drunkenness.

To conclude, essential oils and candles are not exactly good partners if they are poorly calibrated in a recipe and can even be dangerous to the point of being carcinogenic. So you should shop well when you are selling a candle with essential oils. A little tip for you, if the candle smells essential oils or irritates your eyes when you smell it, it contains too many essential oils. Nevertheless, a candle with essential oils can be functional if it does not smell of essential oils for most of them.