Beeswax Candles Do Not Clean The Air (Experts Weigh In)

Some things just go ’round and ’round the internet without having any original source or expert opinion.

One of these internet myths is that beeswax candles create negative ions, which bind to particles of pollution, pollen, etc., and that this cleans the air.

Many websites also talk about how beeswax candles don’t produce particulate pollution (soot) like other candles do.

However, beeswax candles certainly do produce soot as well as VOCs (source and source).

Beeswax, soy, or palm oil candles burn cleaner (and longer) than those made with paraffin wax (source), but that does not make them free of soot.

Do Beeswax Candles Release Negative Ions?

So many websites claim that beeswax candles clean the air by producing negative ions.

I talked to Professor Delphine Farmer who specializes in Atmospheric Chemistry.

“There is no evidence in the scientific literature that beeswax candles release negative ions. Releasing negative ions in any substantial amount is incredibly unlikely for any candles given what we know about their chemistry,” says Delphine Farmer PhD in Chemistry and Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at Colorado State University.

I also asked Nathan T Allen, PhD Chemist, what he thought about this apparent internet myth about beeswax candles.

He said in regard to beeswax candles, “burning doesn’t produce ions typically since the combustion reaction is a free radical process, and radicals aren’t ions, they have a neutral charge.”

He continues “beeswax isn’t anything special, it is just a saturated hydrocarbon with an ester group. When it burns it forms carbon dioxide and water just like any other fuel.”

They also release soot and particulate matter, as well as nitrogen oxides, just like all candles says Dr. Farmer.

Are Beeswax Candles Creating Indoor Air Pollution?

Professor Farmer says that while they can smell nice and feel calming, beeswax candles are not air purifiers, but instead air pollution sources. 

She says that “whether their emissions are harmful depends on one’s personal health and exposure – do you breathe over the candle and inhale it, or use it in a large, well-ventilated room?” for example.

Safer Candles

While you may still choose to use beeswax candles, unfortunately, they do not benefit your indoor air quality.

In this article, I review brands of safer candles including pure beeswax candles with no added scents.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.