Safest Choices

🪟 Glass Jars: I use high-quality glass jars that are manufactured for candle making guaranteeing the glass is safe to endure the high, sustained temperatures of a burning wax pool.

🪨 Hydro-Stone: I use vessels hand poured from Hydro-Stone. Since this material is naturally porous, I ensure it is completely sealed with a candle-safe sealant to prevent wax penetration.

Proceed With Caution

🔘 Metal Vessels (Like Tins): Many skilled candlemakers use tins successfully. However, metal is an excellent heat conductor, and tins can potentially heat up too quickly and excessively and may damage the surface underneath. For this reason, I only use tins for wickless candles, where no direct flame is involved.

Containers to Avoid

🪵 Wood Vessels: These are a significant fire hazard. Wood is flammable, and when combined with a hot wax pool, the entire container can catch fire.

🫖 Unique/Unverified Vessels: I am often asked to make candles into unique items, like antique teacups. The answer is strictly no, for your safety. A container must be specifically made and rigorously tested to withstand candle heat. Testing several identical items for safety isn't possible with a single, unique vessel.

The Final Safety Rules

Even with the safest containers, these final rules enhance your safety:

🍵 Heat-Safe Surface: Always place your burning candle on a heat-safe surface away from drafts and flammable objects.

🔥 When to Stop Burning: Dispose of the candle once it reaches ½” to ¾” of wax remains at the bottom. This step ensures the flame's heat never reaches and compromises the very bottom of the container, preventing the jar from dangerously overheating or cracking.

Is Soy & Paraffin Candle Wax Safe?

Yes, both soy and paraffin candles are safe!The most important factor in candle safety is appropriate testing and construction, not the wax type itself.

✅ All candle wax is non-toxic and safe to burn when made properly.

🔬 The safety and burn quality (including smoke/soot) are primarily determined by the candle maker's rigorous testing to find the correct wick size and fragrance oil percentage for that specific wax and container type/size.

Which Wax Has the Strongest Scent?

💨 Paraffin wax is known for its ability to hold and throw fragrance, often resulting in a stronger and faster scent release (hot throw). This high scent performance is often why it remains the most popular choice for commercial candles.

Which is More Eco-Friendly?

🌱 Soy Wax is environmentally friendly because it is made from a renewable source.

🛢️ Paraffin is derived from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource. Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum refinement; therefore, its existence is not dependent on candle production.

How Does emc2 Creations Choose?

At emc2 Creations, I am committed to sustainability, but I believe a candle's primary purpose is to deliver a beautiful, consistent scent. I use premium soy/paraffin blended wax and high-quality fragrance oils. My choice is guided by a commitment to meticulous testing to ensure every product meets the highest standards for both safety and superior scent performance.

Directly from the National Candle Association (NCA)

“Are candles made from petroleum-based products safe? Validated scientific studies have shown that all major candle waxes exhibit the same basic burn behavior and produce virtually identical combustion byproducts, both in terms of composition and amount. To date, no peer-reviewed scientific study has ever collected or analyzed any emissions data on any candle wax, including petroleum-based paraffin, and proven them to be harmful to human health. All types of quality candle waxes have been shown to burn cleanly, safely and in the same manner.”

Why I Love Crackling Wood Wicks

At emc2 Creations, I chose Crackling Wood Wicks because I love the premium look and the cozy, relaxing crackling sound they bring to your candle experience.

Consistency & Sourcing

While I love the look, wood wicks present challenges including limited size options (typically only in 1/8” increments), which makes the precise testing of each candle more challenging than using Cotton Wicks. It is also important to note that the Brand “Makesy” holds a patent on wood wicks and purchasing them from other sources can be risky and inconsistent.

Essential Candle Care for Wood Wicks

The most critical step for a safe and clean burn is wick maintenance.

✂️ Trim Before Each Use: You must always trim your wood wick to 1/8” ~ 3/16” before every single use. Trimming is necessary to keep your candle burning safely and to minimize soot.

⏳ Limit Burn Time: Never burn your candle for longer than 4 hours at a time.

🚫 When to Stop Burning: Dispose of the candle once ½” ~ ¾” of wax remains at the bottom to prevent the container from dangerously overheating.

Essential Oils (EOs): Purity and Skincare

Essential oils are natural and offer many potential benefits; however, many have not been scientifically proven. High-quality, pure EOs are expensive and will not be found easily on general marketplaces, where "fake" oils (including non-existent scents like apple) are common. Most reputable sellers provide GC-MS reports and documentation to back up purity. I use high quality essential oils in my skincare products to ensure a truly natural ingredient list and always checking safety data to determine the safe amount for topical application.

Fragrance Oils (FOs): Safety and Performance

For candles, safety dictates a different choice. Using EOs in candles can be risky due to potential hazards like fire, toxic fumes, and allergic reactions, as the heat can break down the concentrated oils and release pollutants. Many EOs also have low flashpoints, increasing fire risk. I believe it is safer to use synthetic fragrance oils that are specifically formulated for burning and are regulated by the IFRA (International Fragrance Association). The NCA confirms that fragrance oils approved for candle usage do not release toxic chemicals.

emc2 Creations' Choice

My brand is guided by a core commitment to safety and quality, which means I adapt my ingredients based on the product's function.

🍃 Natural: For my skincare line, my priority is the use of all natural ingredients, which is why I use high-quality essential oils and natural colors to ensure my products are gentle and safe for all skin types.

🍂 Synthetic: For my candles, the primary requirement is a safe, consistent, and strong scent throw. For this reason, I rely on high-quality, candle safe fragrance oils.

This dual approach allows me to deliver natural ingredients where they matter most (skincare) and superior, tested safety and performance in my candles.

The Only Safe Ingredients in Wicked Candles

For a safe and controlled burn, a wicked candle should only contain:

✅ Candle-Safe Vessel

✅ Candle Wax

✅ Candle Wick

✅ Candle-Safe Fragrance Oil or Candle-Safe Essential Oil

The Fire Hazard: Why Botanicals and Flame Don't Mix

The National Candle Association (NCA) has specifically addressed this growing trend, and the results from independent safety testing are clear: candles with dried flowers, leaves, or herbs embedded in the wax are a fire hazard.

🚫 Even if a botanical element is placed far away from the wick when the candle is new, it becomes part of the liquid wax pool as the candle burns.

🚫 Once elements are floating in the melted wax, they can easily drift toward the flame. When these flammable materials come into contact with a flame, they have a very high risk of catching fire.

🚫 The melted wax coats these dried materials, which allows them to sustain a flame themselves, creating an uncontrolled and dangerous fire.

Safe Uses for Botanicals

💡 Wickless Candles & Wax Melts: Since wickless candles and wax melts do not contain a flame, they are safe to use in these products.

🔥 Fire Starters: Botanicals are perfectly suited for fire starters.