Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are esters of Phthalic acid. They are used to dissolve raw materials when making fragrance oils. They have been used for many decades in a myriad of pharmaceuticals, household, and industrial products. Recently, there have been concerns that high levels of Phthalates can cause a host of health issues. It is not clear whether the levels that people encounter cause adverse effects, but it is clear to us that products would be better if they didn’t pose any such risks.
While both the U.S. and Europe have imposed laws against Phthalates in children’s toys, (since they are put in the mouth) there are no rules against Phthalates in candles. Nevertheless, CandleScience has worked on completely eliminating Phthalates from any of our products.
As of July 23, 2019, all CandleScience fragrances are Phthalate-free and there will be no new fragrances added to our product line containing Phthalates. You can use any of our fragrances without concern about Phthalates!
To learn more about our Phthalate-free fragrances check out this article.
Why were phthalates in fragrance?
Phthalates were used in fragrance because they combined
- Good solubility
- Low odor impact
- Higher flashpoint
- Low known toxicology (skin safe)
- Price point