Candle Facts

What kind of candles are non toxic?

Are candles actually toxic? What is the healthiest candle to burn?

A gift for you or someone else, candles are one of the most enjoyable and affordable luxury items available to everyone. They are beautiful and evocative and infuse the home with colour and fragrance. Candles create a special warmth and ambience to bring a special sense of calm and well-being too. Most importantly, Ambiance Fragrances are unique, inspired by ancient scents and not found anywhere else.

How are Ambiance Candles made?

Ambiance London Candles are made using traditional techniques involving the timeless process of placing a cotton wick into wax and hand-pouring into glasses.

Candle Values: find out more about our premium quality candle craftsmanship >>>

What sort of chemical reaction occurs when a candle burns?

When you light a candle the heat of the flame melts the wax near the wick. This melted wax is then drawn up into the wick by capillary action. The flame’s heat vaporises the liquid wax to produce water vapour and carbon dioxide (the same byproducts that humans produce when exhaling).

Does the industry have standards for candles?

Yes. The British Candlemakers Federation has set standards for candles made within the UK, as well as the Association of European Candle Manufacturers, which promote the safe use and enjoyment of candles. The National Candle Association (NCA) in the US has also played a leading role in the development of industry standards through the ASTM International standards organisation.

Ambiance London abides by the standards of the British Candlemakers Federation, the Association of European Candle Manufacturers and the National Candle Association (NCA).

What causes a candle to smoke & what can I do to correct it?

A well-made candle will create virtually no smoke when burning properly. However, if the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame’s teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed (Follow our Candle Burning Tips >>>)

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Is candle soot harmful?

No. The minuscule amount of soot produced by a candle is the natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. Candle soot is composed primarily of elemental carbon particles and is similar to the soot given off by kitchen toasters and cooking oils. These everyday household sources of soot are not considered a health concern, and are chemically different from the soot formed by the burning of diesel fuel, coal, gasoline, etc.

Do scented candles produce more soot than unscented candles?

The oils found in certain fragrances may slightly increase the small amount of soot produced by a candle, but wick length and flame disturbance are the primary factors that impact sooting in a properly-formulated candle.

Are scented candles safe?

Yes. When a candle burns, the wax is drawn into the wick, where it is ‘consumed’ by the candle flame to produce water vapour and carbon dioxide. The only difference with a scented candle is that fragrance is released as well.

Ancienne Ambiance only uses the finest premium quality fragrance oils approved for burning in candles.

Is there a limit to the amount of fragrance used?

There is a maximum amount of fragrance that can be added to a candle before it no longer burns cleanly or properly. Candles containing too much fragrance, or fragrances not approved for use in candles tend to burn improperly or unsafely.

Are candles made with natural ingredients or essential oils safer?

Some natural ingredients are not necessarily any safer than manufactured or synthetic ingredients. Ancienne Ambiance abides by the NCA standards and is committed to producing candles that use only the finest ingredients known to be safe and approved for use in candles.

Are our candles biodegradable?

Yes, studies have shown that beeswax and vegetable-based (natural) waxes are biodegradable (View our Candle Wax & Wick Facts below)

Are scented candles triggers for asthma or allergies?

Although millions of people regularly use scented candles without any negative effects, it is always possible that a particular fragrance might trigger a negative reaction in sensitive individuals. Individuals with known sensitivities to specific fragrances may want to avoid candles of those scents. In addition, consumers should remember to burn all candles, whether scented or unscented, in a well-ventilated area.

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Candle Wax Facts

* No candle wax has ever been proven to be toxic or harmful to human health
* There is no such thing as a soot-free wax. All organic compounds when burned will emit some carbon (soot) due to incomplete combustion. Sooting is primarily a factor of wick length and flame disturbance (Candle Burning Tips >>>)
* All candle waxes, when provided in premium quality format like ours, have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner
* The chemical composition of all waxes used for candle-making is similar and all candle waxes burn in the same manner. All waxes are primarily hydrocarbons, whether the wax is of animal, vegetable, or petroleum origin
* Contrary to popular belief, even paraffin wax is non-toxic. In fact, paraffin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in food, cosmetics and medical applications. Food-grade paraffin is commonly used for manufacturing candles
* Waxes burn with a yellow flame due to the presence of carbon

Candle Wick Facts

* Many candle manufacturers would probably agree that it’s the candle wick that makes the candle
* The purpose of a wick is to deliver fuel (wax) to the flame. Acting like a fuel pump, the wick draws the liquefied wax up into the flame to burn. Different wick sizes allow for different amounts of fuel to be drawn into the flame. Too much fuel and the flame will flare and soot; too little fuel and the flame will sputter out
* All wicks consist of a bundle of fibres that are either twisted, braided or knitted together. These fibres absorb the liquefied wax and carry it to the flame by capillary action.
* The type of wax used in a candle, as well as the candle’s size, shape, colour and fragrance materials all impact wick choice. Selecting the correct wick is critical to making a candle that burns cleanly and properly
* Quality candle wicks are made of all-cotton (like ours) or cotton-paper combinations. The remainder are primarily metal and paper-cored wicks.
Lead wicks were banned from the U.S market in 2003 and for several years before that were found primarily in inexpensive candle imports
* It is important to be aware that the metal-core wicks sometimes found in candles, are typically zinc or tin-core wicks and are most often used in container candles or votives to keep the wick upright when the surrounding wax liquefies. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown both zinc and tin-core wicks to be safe

 

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Helpful Source: National Candle Association (NCA)

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