Have you ever stopped to think about what's in the candles you burn at home and the impact they have on your health? You may have made the switch to low-tox skincare, cleaning products and personal care, but there's another household product worth taking a closer look at: scented candles. While many candles are marketed as natural or non-toxic because they're made with soy wax or cotton wicks, the fragrance itself is often overlooked. Synthetic fragrance blends can contain numerous ingredients that aren't individually disclosed, including, in some formulations, chemicals such as phthalates that have raised concerns about their potential effects on hormonal and reproductive health. Research has linked exposure to certain phthalates with changes in reproductive hormone levels and poorer fertility outcomes, including associations with sperm quality and female reproductive health. Although these findings relate to exposure across multiple everyday sources, rather than candles specifically, they provide a good reason to pay closer attention to the fragrance ingredients being brought into our homes. For those looking to reduce their exposure to unnecessary synthetic fragrance ingredients, candles scented exclusively with essential oils are the best alternative.
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