Are Bath and Body Works Candles Toxic?

There is nothing like enjoying a bath after a long day and adding scented candles into the mix adds all the more relaxation to your bath.

You just lie down in the bathtub and listen to the most soothing tunes as the foam exfoliates through your body and the aroma of scented candles adds that finishing touch to your most stress-relieving time of the day.

Candles add to the mood and attract you to stay so much longer in the bath and you just never feel like letting go of those little moments of pleasure.

The popular brand bath and body works manufacture candles especially designed with a generous scent to pamper you in your baths.

The real question is whether or not breathing in the aroma of these candles is the safest thing to do for you?

Are Bath and Body Works Candles Toxic?

The short answer would be yes.

Bath and Body Works candles are usually manufactured with paraffin which, being a byproduct of the petroleum industry, is a good cost reducer but can prove toxic for regular users of candles.

The brand claims to have a signature paraffin-free product, but this product is neither found on the website and a customer care representative was found to have no satisfying response when asked where someone could find them.

Why Would Bath and Body Works Candles Be Toxic?

Considering the fact that you can’t find the paraffin-free candles on their website and that they advertise a “soy blend”, which can hardly be recognized as a soy candle, it would be a fair assumption that most of their products contain paraffin and that is where the problem lies.

You see, paraffin is a byproduct of the oil refining industry and is derived from petroleum. It’s no secret that products derived from petroleum are a health hazard and pretty much like inhaling burning petrol.

Regular or long hours of burning the candle can cause respiratory problems, headaches, uneasiness, and even congenital disabilities.

Are Bath and Body Works Candles Safe to Use?

When you burn candles with paraffin in them, toxic chemicals like benzene and toluene get released into the air and you end up inhaling them. These are known carcinogens that are harmful to both you and the environment.

As a general rule, candles that produce a lot of soot also cause problems in your lungs. Think of it as similar soot being formed in the insides of your body.

Of course, you can take precautionary methods like ensuring proper ventilation and only burning candles occasionally or after lengthy intervals, but all the same, it would be a bad idea to consider their candles “safe”, no matter how good their fragrance may be.

Are Bath and Body Works Candles Toxic for Babies?

Only organic candles that produce minimal soot are considered somewhat safe to burn in front of babies because they burn relatively a lot cleaner.

Using pure soy or beeswax candles would be a different matter but Bath and Body Works only claims to produce a soy “blend”, which really means that paraffin will be burning in the air around you and your baby, which is obviously a toxic environment for them, and it would be best to avoid it.

Are Bath and Body Works Candles Toxic for Pets?

Just as the intoxicated air affects humans, they are harmful to pets such as cats and dogs. In fact, pets can show more immediate symptoms of distress when they are not comfortable with the Bath and Body Works candles, or any other candle for that matter.

As far as the scent goes, there isn’t a hard and fast rule that you can follow. Most pets dislike citrus candles, but other than that, you are going to have to pay close attention to the actions of your pet each time you light up a new candle.

Your pet may sneeze, be overly itchy, or just be acting crazy in sometimes subtle ways. If this is the case, then it is time you put out your candle and start thinking of another alternative.

Even if the pet does not show symptoms, the chemical nature of the bath and body work candles, which usually contain paraffin, give clear indications that the candle is not good for your pets. Long and regular uses may gradually develop respiratory problems in pets, just like it could for you.

Better Alternatives to Bath and Body Works Candles?

When you go to the store to look for candles, you need to think much more than how it smells. Don’t fall prey to devious marketing tactics that could trick you into thinking the candles are organic. Soy “blend” and pure soy are different things, and you need to be careful what you are buying.

The best alternative to bath and body works candles are organic candles, and it does not matter what brand is offering you this alternative.

Look for pure soy, coconut, or beeswax candles that are not only good for you and your pets, but also for the environment.

Final Remarks

Bath and body work creates many products, including candles. In fact, it may be difficult to find a house that does not own even a single product belonging to bath and body work. Their brand is well developed and offers the pampering that you most dearly desire.

The issue is not with the brand itself, but with the fact that the brand uses paraffin in the manufacturing process of candles. The issue is simply with burning a petroleum-devised product and breathing the same air that is contaminated with this product. You, your children, your pets, and the environment all suffer from the paraffin candles and the chemical nature of bath and body work candles.

This does not mean that you need to give up on the pleasures of a bath with a candle or refuse yourself the pleasure of coming home to a majestic scent that freshens out your home.

It simply means that you need to be careful in making your purchases and do your research before you fall for tricky advertisements. Buy the right organic candles and enjoy your scents in the bliss that candles have to offer.