Paraffin is what remains in petroleum when asphalt is extracted. Burn it at 300 degrees and it releases 7 major toxins and 3 cancer-causing agents (toluene, benzene and naphthalene) in the microparticles of waxy soot that coat ceilings and walls at home. Unfortunately those same microparticles of soot coat the air sacs in our lungs as well, the entire time the candle burns.

The profits on imported candles are huge, so the temptation for retailers to stock them is great. Unfortunately the candles are usually produced with cheap labor in countries that don't regulate much of anything, let alone lead. In addition to the major toxins released by the paraffin, there is a good chance the wicks will have lead cores. 

Because of this inherent danger, our government collects hazardous product tariffs on such candles. Once they collect the tariffs, however, they allow the candles to be sold to us -- by stores such as Dollar Store, Wal-Mart, Christmas Tree Shops, Pier One Imports, Illuminations and Bombay Company, to name just a few.

In December of 2007, Specialty Merchandise Corporation (SMC) and AtHome America had candle recalls. Even Lenox was forced to recall over 4,000 warming dishes, because the flames from the tea candle could extend up the sides of the dish and cause burns to consumers. The tea candle!

In January of 2008, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn and the Wick & Petal Company all recalled imported wax candles due to fire hazards.

The list of wax candle recalls on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website is lengthy. If you'd like to see the result of retailers selling consumers cheap, dangerous and toxic candles imported from countries like China and India, please go to http://search.cpsc.gov/query.html?col=recalls&qt=candles 

It's too bad this caliber of product is ever allowed to be stocked in the first place, isn't it? There is a reason for those hazardous product tariffs, isn't there?

Just goes to show our government will protect corporate profits before it protects its citizens and will wait until disaster has struck before issuing recalls. Don't endanger yourselves and your families by listening to the siren song of cheap prices. The final cost to you will be anything but cheap.