You’re Living With a Toxic Secret
How my everyday habit put my health at risk...
Humans are fascinating creatures... 8 glasses of water a day? Sure. Daily walks? Absolutely. Lettuce and carrots for lunch, a guided meditation, and to end the day, I light my toxic candle that will fill my space with benzene, toluene, and other petroleum-derived substances—all wrapped in a delicious vanilla scent.
I’ve always been a candle enthusiast. The routine I just described was my reality for about two years. I used to have huge three-wick candles with strong aromas that filled my entire apartment. Sometimes, I’d even sit in front of one to journal and take deep breaths as part of my ritual.
When I woke up the next day with a headache, I’d blame it on lack of sleep or maybe the weed. And my partner’s constant allergies? That must’ve been the city smog—don’t you dare blame my “Endless Weekend with a Touch of Strawberry” candle.
Lighting toxic candles is like drinking Coca-Cola: it’s highly normalized. You can find them almost anywhere, they’re a go-to gift for friends and family, and they overload your body with chemicals. They fill you with a fleeting sense of pleasure while causing hormonal changes, respiratory issues, and even cancer.
They create silent, lethal damage—for you and the planet.
We make choices every day—some conscious, some purely out of habit. If you wouldn’t willingly breathe in gasoline fumes or fill your lungs with plastic particles, why settle for a candle that does exactly that? It’s time to redefine what it means to create a truly cozy and safe space.