Tyler Brooks
Candles, plants, and essential oils are great ways to improve air quality and create a healthy and happy home environment. While candles can be used to create a cosy atmosphere, it is important to consider the potential impact on indoor plants. Some sources suggest that burning candles can affect the air quality, which may be harmful to plants. However, certain scented candles with essential oils may even encourage plant growth. Additionally, plants such as peace lilies can help purify the air by absorbing airborne pollutants, including those emitted by candles.
Are candles good for plants?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Toxic chemicals in candles | Benzene, Toluene, artificial scents, and colors |
| Plants that remove common indoor pollutants | Peace lilies, native to South and Central America |
| Homemade candles with plants | Lavender, rosemary, chamomile, lemon verbena |
| Tips for placing candles near plants | Use candles with small flame size, stable, and with essential oils |
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What You'll Learn
- Homemade scented candles with herbs from your garden can be a safe alternative to chemical air fresheners
- Peace lilies are among the best houseplants for purifying air quality and removing airborne pollutants
- Avoid scented candles near plants unless they have essential oils known to encourage plant growth
- Burning candles release heat, smoke, and fire hazards, so proper ventilation is necessary
- Aromatic herbs like lavender and rosemary are popular choices for fragrance and design in candles
Homemade scented candles with herbs from your garden can be a safe alternative to chemical air fresheners
While candles, plants, and essential oils can be great additions to your home, providing better air quality and a healthier environment, commercially manufactured scented candles may contain chemicals that could be harmful to your health. Homemade scented candles with herbs from your garden can be a safe and fun alternative to these chemical air fresheners.
Making your own scented candles allows you to choose safe and natural waxes, such as beeswax or soy wax, and herb plants from your garden for fragrance. You can experiment with different herbs, but some popular choices include lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and lemon verbena. Lavender is known for its calming and anxiety-reducing properties, while rosemary can be used for both fragrance and as a design element. Chamomile imparts a pleasant aroma and decorative value, and lemon verbena releases a fresh citrus scent.
To make your own scented candles, start by drying the herb plant material to prevent mildew. Finely chop or crush the herbs to release their fragrance. You can steep the chopped herbs in hot wax to infuse the scent, then strain the wax before making the candle. Alternatively, add the chopped herbs directly to the candle as it is poured, creating a decorative element, especially if colourful flower petals are included. If you're using wide, clear candle jars, you can add sprigs of leaves and small flower stems around the edge of the candle while it's being poured, ensuring they're far away from the wick to prevent them from catching fire.
Another method for creating scented candles is to make fragrance oils infused with herbs. You can use a slow cooker to infuse the oil with herbs over several hours, then filter out the plant pieces. This method of creating fragrance oils can be used with various fragrant plants, such as California bay laurel, and allows you to scale up the quantity by using larger jars.
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Peace lilies are among the best houseplants for purifying air quality and removing airborne pollutants
While candles can be used to improve air quality and create a healthier home environment, certain chemicals in candles may negatively impact health. For example, cheaper candles may contain benzene, a common solvent found in oils and paints, and toluene, found in candle sooty residue, both of which are toxic.
Peace lilies, on the other hand, are natural air purifiers that are safe and effective in improving air quality. They are among the best houseplants for purifying air quality and removing airborne pollutants. Native to South and Central America, peace lilies are easy to maintain and are excellent at absorbing and breaking down harmful toxins and common indoor air pollutants.
NASA's Clean Air Study identified peace lilies as top performers among 19 different common houseplants for their ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. These chemicals are commonly found in building materials, household products, and tobacco smoke, and can have negative health effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and an increased risk of cancer in severe cases.
Peace lilies absorb these pollutants through their leaves and send them to their roots, where they are broken down by microbes in the soil. They also give off a lot of moisture in the air, which can further improve air quality. To enhance their air-purifying effects, it is recommended to trim away the lowest leaves to expose more of the topsoil to direct contact with the air.
Overall, peace lilies are an excellent choice for those seeking to improve their indoor air quality naturally and create a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment, particularly for individuals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions.
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Avoid scented candles near plants unless they have essential oils known to encourage plant growth
While candles can be beneficial for plants and people, it is important to exercise caution when placing them near plants. Scented candles, in particular, should be avoided unless they contain essential oils known to promote plant growth.
Candles with strong fragrances can emit harmful chemicals into the air, such as benzene and toluene, which can adversely affect both people and plants. Benzene, for example, is a common solvent found in oils and paints that has been linked to cancer. Toluene, on the other hand, is found in the sooty residue of burning candles and can negatively impact the central nervous system. Artificial scents and colours may also trigger allergic reactions or become irritants for some individuals.
However, certain essential oils derived from plants have been shown to be beneficial for both humans and plants. These oils can be used in candles to create a pleasant and healthy environment. Aromatherapy practitioners believe that inhaling essential oil molecules or absorbing them through the skin sends messages to the limbic system, which controls emotions and influences the nervous system. This can potentially impact biological factors such as heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function.
When selecting scented candles to burn near plants, opt for those containing essential oils such as rosemary, lavender, chamomile, or lemon verbena. These natural fragrances can enhance the aroma of your space while also providing potential benefits to your plants and overall well-being.
Additionally, consider making your own homemade scented candles using herbs and flowers from your garden. This way, you can ensure that only safe and natural waxes, such as beeswax or soy wax, are used, reducing the risk of exposing your plants and yourself to harmful chemicals.
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Burning candles release heat, smoke, and fire hazards, so proper ventilation is necessary
Burning candles do release heat, but the amount of heat they produce varies depending on the environment and other factors. For example, the number of candles, the size of the room, the level of insulation, and the presence of heating or cooling systems can all affect the amount of heat generated by candles. In one experiment, two tea lights burned in a pot with a diameter of 110 cm and a height of 130 cm reached an outside temperature of about 60° C, while a single tea light only reached 30° C. However, it's important to note that the impact of candles on the temperature of a room can be influenced by factors like the weather, the number of people in the room, and the use of electronics.
In addition to heat, burning candles also release smoke when they are extinguished. This occurs because the heat from the burning candle vaporizes the candle wax, creating a trail of what appears to be smoke but is actually vaporized paraffin wax. This vaporized wax is highly flammable, and if ignited, can relight the candle.
Another important consideration when burning candles is the potential fire hazard they pose. On average, 20 home candle fires are reported each day. To minimize the risk of fire, it is important to follow candle safety guidelines, such as using stable candle holders, placing candles away from flammable objects, and blowing out candles when leaving a room or going to bed.
Proper ventilation is crucial when burning candles to minimize the build-up of heat, smoke, and potential fire hazards. It is recommended to use candles in well-ventilated spaces and to consider using battery-operated flameless candles as a safer alternative. These flameless candles can look, smell, and feel like real candles while eliminating the risks associated with open flames. By taking these precautions, individuals can enjoy the ambiance and aroma of candles while maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for themselves and their plants.
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Aromatic herbs like lavender and rosemary are popular choices for fragrance and design in candles
Lavender is known for its soothing and relaxing properties and is used in cosmetics and body care products. Its sweet, floral, and earthy scent is perfect for the bedroom, promoting calmness and reducing anxiety. It can also relieve insomnia, headaches, and pain.
Rosemary, on the other hand, has a fresh, woody, and pungent aroma. Fresh rosemary sprigs can be glued to the inside of the jar, while its crushed leaves can be added to the wax for a stronger scent.
Both lavender and rosemary can be combined with other herbs and plants to create unique fragrances. For example, sage, which is often used in scented candles, pairs well with rosemary and lavender.
In addition to lavender and rosemary, other aromatic herbs like chamomile, lemon verbena, and lemongrass can be used in candle-making. These herbs not only impart a pleasant aroma but also offer decorative value with their daisy-like flowers and citrus scents.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning candles near plants requires caution. While all plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, candles can add toxic chemicals to the air, such as benzene and toluene, which can adversely affect the central nervous system. It is best to ensure good ventilation and circulation if burning candles near plants.
Candles with essential oils can encourage plant growth. Peace lilies, for example, absorb airborne pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, which are often found in inks, paints, and building materials.
It is best to use candles with small flames, ensuring they are stable and will not topple over. Avoid scented candles, unless they contain essential oils. Natural waxes such as beeswax or soy wax are good alternatives to chemical-laden candles.
Yes, herb plants from your garden can be used to provide fragrance to candles. Popular choices include lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and lemon verbena.
