Can Candles Make You Dizzy? Find Out Here!

Updated on December 9, 2022

Table of Contents

Can Candles Cause Dizziness?

Candles are very useful items. They provide light at night, and heat during cold seasons, and they also serve as decoration. Candles come in various shapes and sizes. Some are even scented. There are several types of candles such as tea lights, pillar candles, votive candles, etc.

Some candles could make you dizzy or feel sick due to the chemical composition of their materials. This is especially true when it comes to scented candles. Different manufacturers use different materials and chemicals and if you have an allergy to any of them they could make you dizzy or sick.

Why Do Candles Make People Sick?

Candles are wonderful little gifts that bring warmth and light to our homes during cold winter months. However, there are several reasons why candles could be dangerous to your overall health.

First off, candles emit smoke. Smoke irritates the eyes and respiratory system. Second, candles produce carbon monoxide, which is toxic to humans. Third, candle wax drips down onto surfaces, creating a sticky mess. Fourth, candles burn at high temperatures, which means that they can cause burns and scalds. Finally, candles can melt plastic, causing fires.

Fragrances Made From Chemicals

You should avoid buying scented candles if you suffer from any kind of allergies. You may find yourself feeling dizzy after using them. The burning or fragrance oil may be not suited for you. Some may even use synthetic fragrances or manufactured oils for fragrance. There are plenty of natural alternatives to scented candles that won't leave you feeling sick.

For instance, there are lots of options available for making your homemade scented candles. All you need is beeswax, coconut oil, essential oils, and food coloring. Beeswax melts at a low temperature, so it doesn't burn easily. Coconut oil is great for moisturizing skin and hair. Essential oils are used to add scent to your candle. Food coloring gives your candle its color.

Once you've made your candles, you'll want to test them out to make sure they work properly. Once you've tested them, you can keep them in a cool place until you decide whether or not you want to sell them.

There are tons of recipes online for making your scented candles.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is used to make most candles. However, there are alternatives out there that are safer for our health. You should look for candles that are made from soybean oil, beeswax, coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, rice bran oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and/or grapefruit seed oil.

You may find that certain scents work better with certain types of oils. For instance, lavender works well with citrus oils, whereas rosemary works well with pine tree oils.

Cored Candlewicks

Candles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are tall and skinny, others are short and wide. Candles can also be shaped differently, including teardrop, pillar, cone, and taper. Each shape has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a tall, thin candle is great for creating a romantic mood, but it may not burn long enough for a party setting. A short, fat candle burns longer, but it doesn't give off as much light.

A candle's length is determined by its diameter. Diameter refers to the width of the base of the candle. Most candles have a diameter between 1/2 inch and 3 inches. The larger the diameter, the taller the candle. The height of the candle depends on the thickness of the wick. Wicks are usually made out of either cotton or paper. Cotton wicks are thicker and therefore produce a taller candle. Paper wicks are thinner and produce shorter candles.

Wicks is also made out of wood, bamboo, hemp, jute, linen, rayon, sisal, silk, and synthetic materials. Wood wicks are the least expensive option, but they tend to burn down quickly. Bamboo wicks last longer than wood, but they cost more. Hemp wicks are very strong and durable, but they don't burn well. Jute wicks are inexpensive, but they are flammable. Linen wicks are thick and sturdy, but they don't hold up well against heat. Rayon wicks are cheap, but they are fragile. Sisal wicks are strong and durable, but the flame tends to spread unevenly. Silk wicks are expensive, but they are soft and flexible. Synthetic wicks are stronger than natural ones, but they are less affordable.

To prevent dizziness, look for candles that have a wooden wick. Wooden wicks are naturally resistant to burning, so they won't fall over easily. Also, look for candles that are labeled as safe for indoor use. These candles should only be lit indoors. You shouldn't leave them unattended outdoors because they could start a fire if they accidentally catch on something.

If you're worried about safety, consider buying a candle warmer. These devices keep candles warm until they reach their optimal temperature. Then, they automatically shut off. This prevents accidents and keeps your house safer.

Inhaling Candle Smoke

Candles are great for creating ambiance, but if you're feeling dizzy after burning them, it might be because you've been breathing in too much of the smoke produced by the candle. Candles produce soot, and this can trigger allergies and cause dizzy spells.

So, the problem could just simply be that you've been breathing in the candle smoke for too many hours. Try reducing the amount of smoke you inhale by moving away from the candle and blowing out the flame. You should also avoid staying too close to the candle as it burns, since smoke bellows from its tip.

What Candles Are Good For Your Health?

Candles come in many shapes and sizes. Some are meant to burn longer than others, and some are meant to produce a certain scent. However, no matter what kind of candle you buy, you should still keep safety in mind. You never want to risk your health by lighting any sort of flame.

There are several types of candles available today. One of the most common ones is the soy wax candle. Soy wax candles are safe to use and won't cause any harm to your health. They are also inexpensive and easy to purchase at local stores.

Another option is the beeswax candle. Beeswax candles are very expensive, but they are considered safer than regular candles. They are also known to last longer than other options.

Natural candles are another great choice. These candles are made from plant oils instead of petroleum products. They are usually less expensive than traditional candles, and they smell wonderful. Natural candles are also safer than other options since they don't contain harmful chemicals.

No matter what kind of candle it is, you should always keep safety in mind. Never light a candle if you feel faint or dizzy. Instead, call 911 right away.

How To Use Candles To Prevent Dizziness?

Some candles are very dangerous. For instance, if you buy a tea candle, you may not realize that it contains chemicals called phthalates. These chemicals are known to cause health problems, especially in children. Other dangers include fire hazards, toxic fumes, and even burns.

To prevent yourself from getting sick or injured due to using candles, you should always check the packaging first. Also, keep in mind that anything you burn can be dangerous. So, make sure you only purchase safe products.

Consider Some Alternatives

There are lots of options available if you want to freshen up your home without using traditional candles. You can try potpourri, essential oils, and wax melts. Potpourri is a mixture of dried flowers, leaves, and berries that smells great and adds a nice scent to any room. Essential oils are natural scents that come in bottles and can be used to add fragrance to your home. Wax melts are candle substitutes made of wax that melt at low temperatures. They are safe for children and pets and won't leave behind harmful chemicals.

These products are great for adding a fresh scent to your home without using traditional candle wax. Try one today!

Ensure Adequate Ventilation

Candles are wonderful for adding ambiance to any room. However, if you light a candle without adequate ventilation, you may end up breathing in too much smoke. You should never light a candle inside a closed room. Instead, open a window or door to let fresh air flow through the room.

To avoid inhaling too much smoke, ensure that there is sufficient ventilation. This will go far in protecting you from inhaling too much smoke.

7 Health Issues Caused By Chemicals Found In Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is used to make candles. Unfortunately, it contains chemicals that can harm your health if you inhale them. These chemicals include toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, methyl naphthalenes, naphthalene, phenol, benzene, formaldehyde, acetone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, and hexane.

Exposure to benzene can affect your central nervous system and result in headaches, nausea, frequent headaches, painful headaches, and dizziness. You may experience these symptoms even if you light a candle that doesn't contain any of these chemicals.

You should avoid using candles that contain paraffin wax if you suffer from chronic headaches, migraines, or sinus problems. Also, keep away from candles that smell strongly of citrus fruits, flowers, or pine trees. Those scents might trigger allergies or asthma attacks. Plus, the soot with particles it emits can contain dangerous chemicals that can cause toxic chemicals to spread.

To protect yourself against headaches caused by paraffin wax, try making your beeswax candles instead. Beeswax does not contain any harmful chemicals.

1. Cancer

Benzene is a known carcinogenic substance. Large amounts of benzene cause cancer in humans. It has a toxic health effect that leads to a variety of health issues.

You should avoid using candles if you have any health conditions related to your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, immune system, skin, eyes, nose, mouth, stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, urinary tract, prostate, testicles, ovaries, breasts, uterus, cervix, vagina, rectum, bladder, brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, or connective tissue.

Avoid using candles if you have asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung disease, or other respiratory problems. Avoid using candles if you have diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, or other medical conditions that affect your ability to metabolize chemicals. No matter what pleasant aroma it may have, it is not worth the soot particles that it emits.

Avoid using candles near children. Children may breathe in fumes from burning candles.

Don't burn candles indoors. Burning candles indoors creates air pollution.

Burn only clean, dry, unsoiled candles. Don't burn used candles.

Use only approved candle waxes. Never use paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is not recommended because it contains petroleum products. Petroleum products are toxic to animals and humans.

If you're concerned about the safety of your family, don't use candles.

2. Kidney Damage

Exposure to toluene can lead to permanent damage to the kidneys. According to the NIH, toluene exposure through inhaling or skin contact can cause kidney damage. You'll never know what dangerous chemicals or cancer-causing chemicals the lit candle can emmit.

To avoid getting sick from toluene, keep your distance away from open flame sources. Avoid using scented products containing toluene. Keep children and pets out of rooms where there are open flames. Don't smoke near any open flame source. Wear gloves when working with chemicals that may contain toluene.

3. Birth Defects

Candles can make you feel dizzy if you inhale enough of them. However, there are no known cases of babies being born with birth defects due to candle fumes.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, toluene is not considered hazardous to human health. Toluene is used in the production of plastics, rubber products, paints, adhesives, synthetic fibers, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and explosives.

However, according to the National Institutes of Health, toluene can affect fetal development. Exposure to toluene during the third trimester of pregnancy may lead to low birth weight, delayed bone formation, congenital malformities, and postnatal developmental delay.

There are no known cases of newborns developing birth defects due to candle fume inhalation. However, if you do decide to light a candle, please keep it away from children and pets.

4. Bone Marrow Damage

High levels of benzene cause bone marrow damage, which results in decreased production of red blood cells. As a result, your body doesn't receive enough oxygen, which can cause dizziness and headaches.

You may think that using candles is harmless, but there's a risk involved. Benzene is found in most types of candle waxes, including paraffin, soybean oil, beeswax, and palm oil. You should avoid burning candles made with any of those ingredients. Instead, opt for natural soy wax candles, which are safer.

Natural soy wax candles are safe to burn because they don't contain any harmful chemicals. However, if you still want to enjoy the benefits of burning candles, try placing them outside instead of inside. Burning candles indoors increases the chances of inhaling smoke and fumes.

5. Respiratory Issues

Candles can be dangerous if used improperly. You should never burn candles near anything flammable, including curtains, furniture, clothing, paper products, etc. Candles can also pose a fire hazard if not properly stored. Keep candles away from children and pets.

OSHA recommends that you wear protective gear when using candles. Wear gloves, long sleeves, pants, and closed shoes. Avoid inhaling candle fumes. Also, avoid touching hot surfaces after handling candles.

Keep candles away from any flammables, including curtains, furniture, and clothing. Don't smoke or drink alcohol while using candles. And keep candles at least 3 feet away from heat sources, such as radiators, space heaters, woodstoves, and fireplaces.

6. Nausea

Paraffin wax candles are made from petroleum products and are used primarily for decorative purposes. Paraffin wax candles are not recommended for burning indoors since they release dangerous toxins into the air.

To avoid headaches, fatigue, and nausea caused by candle fumes, try using alternative lighting sources instead. You can even purchase LED light bulbs that don't contain any hazardous chemicals.

Are Wax Melts Dangerous?

Wax melts are dangerous if they contain certain types of waxes. Paraffin wax is a petroleum product that is used to produce candles. While paraffin wax itself isn't harmful, it does contain carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These PAHs are found in coal tar and oil shale.

Paraffin wax is commonly used in candle making, but there are safer alternatives available. Beeswax, soy wax, and coconut oil are all-natural, renewable sources of wax that are considered safe for human consumption.

Candles made from these alternative waxes won't cause any harm to your health, but they might not smell quite as nice. You'll still enjoy the scent, though, since they burn cleanly without producing smoke or fumes.

Smell is one of the human senses which can flow through the whole body. I am the Founder of NeoCandle.com where we talk all about scented candles. Known as Candace the Candle Girl, I know pretty much all there is to know about scented candles. I make and sell them on Etsy and Ebay - so be sure to ask if you have any burning questions :) (pun intended ;) )

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