Our Smoke and Pet Odor Eliminating candles are also phthalate and toluene free.
Very few companies can say that! That’s right, most Smoke and Pet Odor Eliminating candles are HARMFUL to your pets (and you!). All of us at Upland South Candles love our pets and we know that they are important members of your family too! We take the same care and concern in making our Smoke and Pet Odor Eliminating candles as we do our other products.
Most candle companies use fragrances that contain the harmful toxins phthalate and toluene.
Just because you’re burning a soy candle, doesn’t mean it’s safe! In 2003, researchers at the US Center for Disease Control documented widespread exposure to a high level of phthalates. Researchers have linked phthalates to asthma, ADHD, breast cancer, type II diabetes, low IQ, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders and male fertility problems.
According to OSHA, you can be exposed to toluene in several ways, including breathing it in. Symptoms of toluene exposure include: irritation of the eyes and nose, weakness, exhaustion, confusion, euphoria, anxiety, insomnia and may cause liver and kidney damage.
We closely work with our fragrance manufacturers to ensure any fragrance we offer does NOT contain phthalates or toluene.
What’s the difference between soy and paraffin wax?
Over 90% of candles are made with paraffin wax. If a candle isn’t labeled with what wax it’s made from, it’s likely made of paraffin. Even “soy blend” typically means soy wax blended with paraffin wax. What you may not know is that paraffin wax is PETROLEUM based. It’s a non-renewable resource that comes from, yes, petroleum. A 2009 study by South Carolina State University found that burning paraffin wax gives off harmful fumes, which are linked to asthma and lung cancer. This same study found that soy wax did NOT emit toxic fumes. Also, soy is a renewable resource that supports American farmers. Now that you see the importance of burning soy candles, you must look closely at the fragrances used.
Our goal is to bring you a safer, cleaner burning candle and to do that, we cannot use any dyes. When dyes are added to candles, it affects the burning qualities and scent throw. Larger wicks and additional fragrance would be required, reducing the burn time of the candle. Plus, our candles are creamy white and match any décor so you can be confident on buying our candles for your home or as a gift for anyone!
