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Pia Seidel
Guide

Can scented candles harm your health? What you need to know

Anna Sandner
7.1.2025
Translation: Megan Cornish

From relaxed evenings to festive occasions, candles are a popular way to add ambience. But not all candles are harmless. Read on to find out how to keep the risk as low as possible.

Whether you’re curled up on the sofa in winter or relaxing outside together on a warm summer’s evening – a (scented) candle gives the vibe that certain something. But you don’t want it to harm your health. So, should you avoid burning them? Or is there no health risk anyway?

Candles can also be made from stearin, which is extracted from palm or coconut oil. It’s more expensive than paraffin and its extraction is ecologically problematic. However, these candles burn longer, don’t drip and release less soot and fine dust.

Here’s an overview of the members of the RAL quality mark.

And I also have some good news. After weighing everything up, the German Cancer Research Center has concluded there’s no evidence of candles causing cancer and that, if they’re handled correctly, any potential risk can be largely ruled out.

Header image: Pia Seidel

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Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.


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