Behind the Glow: The choices behind the candles we burn?

There's something lovely about lighting a candle.

The flame flickers, the fragrance fills the room and, for a little while, everything can feel just that bit more cosy.

But have you ever wondered what actually goes into the candle you're burning?

What is the wax?
What's in the fragrance?
And what do words like natural, clean and non-toxic really mean?

I wanted to write Behind the Glow because I believe you should be able to understand the choices behind the products you buy.

Not to frighten you.

Not to tell you that one candle maker is right and another is wrong.

And certainly not to suggest that every candle made differently from mine is unsafe.

Simply because I believe informed choices are good choices.

Are candles safe to burn?

Let's start with the question many people ask.

A properly made candle, used responsibly and according to its safety instructions, can be enjoyed in your home.

But there is something I don't want to claim.

I don't describe my candles as “toxin-free”, or “chemical-free”

Why?

Because a candle is designed to burn.

Burning is combustion, and combustion produces by-products. That's simply part of what happens when something burns.

I don't think we need to be frightened by that. I just think we should be honest about it.

For me, responsible candle making isn't about making the biggest or most reassuring claim possible.

It's about being honest about what I know, making thoughtful choices about what I can control and giving you the information to make your own choices too.

You can choose what you burn

This is probably the simplest way I can explain my approach.

You can choose what you burn.

As a maker, I can choose the materials I work with.

I can choose my wax.

I can choose my fragrance suppliers.

I can look at the information and documentation available to me.

I can decide which ingredients fit with my brand and which don't.

And you can decide which candles you want to bring into your home.

That's where Behind the Glow comes in.

Why I choose my fragrance oils carefully

Fragrance is at the heart of what I make, so choosing the fragrance oils I work with is something I take seriously.

I don't simply choose a fragrance because it smells beautiful.

I look at the information given by the fragrance supplier and consider the ingredients and documentation available to me.

There are certain ingredients that I have deliberately chosen not to have in my range.

These include:

• Parabens

• Phthalates

• PEGs

• Acrylates

• CMR substances

There are valid reasons behind each of those choices and, importantly, they are choices I have made for my own brand.

I'm not saying that every candle containing one of these ingredients is unsafe.

I'm not here to tell another candle maker that they shouldn't use them.

I'm simply saying:

I've looked at them, I've considered them, and I've decided they aren't right for Mamó's Candle Co.

I think you deserve to know that.

What does that actually mean?

Some of those names may sound rather alarming when you first see them.

But I don't want to turn this into a list of scary-sounding chemicals.

Chemistry is much more complicated than that.

A chemical name doesn't automatically tell us whether something is safe or unsafe. The substance itself, the amount, the way we are exposed to it and the available scientific evidence all matter.

Even natural ingredients are made up of chemicals. I use essential oils in some of my products because I love their beautiful, natural aromas, but being natural doesn't mean they are free from allergens.

Essential oils, contain many naturally occurring chemical compounds and can have their own safety considerations.

So I don't believe in:

Natural = good
Synthetic = bad

It's simply not that straightforward.

What I do believe in is knowing what I'm choosing and why.

Why can a candle affect one person differently from another?

This is something I think is worth talking about because fragrance affects all of us differently.

You might light a candle and adore it.

Someone else might find exactly the same fragrance overwhelming.

And for some people, strong smells can trigger headaches.

That doesn't necessarily mean that the candle is “toxic”, and it doesn't mean that the person enjoying it is somehow unaffected by something dangerous.

Our individual sensitivity to smells varies enormously.

Some people are simply more sensitive to particular fragrances or strong odours than others.

I've experienced this myself, which is one of the reasons I think it's important to acknowledge that there isn't one fragrance experience that suits everybody.

I would never promise that choosing the ingredients I choose means that nobody will ever experience a headache or sensitivity to one of my candles.

I couldn't honestly make that promise.

Fragrance itself can be enough to be overwhelming for some people.

If you know that you are particularly sensitive to fragrance, you might prefer a lighter scent, shorter burn times, good ventilation or simply choosing not to burn scented candles.

And that's absolutely fine.

Your home should feel good to you.

What about the wax?

Wax is another part of the picture.

I choose plant-based waxes because they fit with the direction and values of Mamó's Candle Co.

But I don't believe that gives me a reason to criticise somebody who chooses a different wax.

In particular, I would never bash a candle maker because their wax contains a mineral-derived ingredient.

There are good reasons why different makers choose different materials.

And there is another important point that we sometimes forget:

Natural doesn't automatically mean sustainable

The environmental impact of a material depends on much more than whether it came from a plant or a mineral source.

Where it comes from, how it is grown or extracted, how it is processed, how much energy is used, how far it travels and how much is required can all contribute to its environmental footprint.

So I don't believe that “natural” automatically means “better for the planet.”

I choose the materials that I believe are right for my brand.

Someone else may make different choices.

That's okay.

What should you look for when buying a candle?

You don't need to become a chemist.

You don't need to understand every ingredient on a technical data sheet.

But there are a few things worth looking for.

Look beyond the marketing words

Words such as natural, clean, eco and non-toxic can sound reassuring, but they don't necessarily tell you everything you need to know.

Ask about the wax

What type of wax is actually being used?

Ask about the fragrance

Is the maker open about where their fragrance oils come from and the standards and information behind them?

Look for sensible claims

Be cautious of absolute statements such as “100% chemical-free” or “completely toxin-free.”

Look for safety information

A responsible candle maker should provide clear instructions for burning and caring for the candle.

And ask questions

A good maker should be happy to explain their choices.

And then there is candle care

Whatever candle you choose, how you burn it matters.

Keep the wick trimmed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Keep your candle away from draughts, curtains and anything flammable.

Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Keep candles away from children and pets.

Don't move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquid.

And always follow the safety instructions provided with your particular candle.

A beautiful candle should be enjoyed — but it is still an open flame and deserves respect.

So, what does “clean” mean to me?

I actually prefer the word conscious.

Because I don't believe there is such a thing as a completely impact-free product.

I don't claim that my candles are toxin-free.

I don't claim that they are chemical-free.

I don't claim that they will never cause a sensitivity or headache.

And I don't claim that my choices are the only right choices.

What I do claim is that I care about what goes into my candles.

I research the ingredients available to me.

I make deliberate choices about what I use.

I deliberately leave certain ingredients out because they don't fit with what I want Mamó's Candle Co to be.

I choose suppliers carefully.

I follow the relevant safety information.

I test my candles.

And I keep learning.

Behind every glow is a choice

Perhaps that's what I really want you to take away from this.

There isn't a perfect candle.

There isn't a perfect ingredient.

There isn't a perfect environmental choice.

And there certainly isn't a reason to be frightened of enjoying a candle.

But there are choices.

As a maker, I make mine carefully.

As a customer, you can make yours.

You can ask questions.

You can look beyond the label.

You can choose ingredients that align with your own values.

And ultimately:

You can choose what you burn.

That's what Behind the Glow is all about.

Not fear.
Not judgement.
Not perfection.

Just honesty about the choices I make, why I make them, and the care that goes into every Mamó's Candle Co candle.

I am still learning and enjoying it every step of the way!