Are Candles Gluten-Free? (Quick Facts)


Who doesn’t like to have a nice scented candle in their room or sitting area? Well, unless you hate candles, there is a high possibility that you also want one of those pumpkin-spiced flavored candles this winter.

But there might be a concern rising in your mind about whether you can have a scented candle in your room as a celiac patient. Well, to state the obvious, you can have a scented candle in your room as long as it’s gluten-free.

But are candles gluten-free?

All candles are not gluten-free. But some candles are made without gluten. Non-scented candles tend to be gluten-free. You will also see some scented candles that are made of soy wax and beeswax but don’t contain gluten.

Now, as this topic needs to be explored more, let’s get right into the discussion.

Are Candles Gluten-Free

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is classified as a protein and this protein is seen to be present in wheat and many other grains such as barley and rye. Although its initial source is grains, it may be isolated, concentrated, and used in food and other items to provide protein, different textures, and flavor.

Can Candles Contain Gluten?

To know if a candle can contain gluten, you need to first know all the ingredients needed for candle making. To make candles, you will need three initial ingredients, which are wax, fragrance or essential oil, and a wick. Let’s see the work of each ingredient:

Wax: Wax is the base and foundation for your candle. Various types of wax are used for candle making. For example, paraffin wax, which is taken from petroleum, is a widely used wax that is cheap and ideal for candle making. When combined with scented oils and flavors, it gives a beautiful result.

There is also soy wax, which is a plant-based wax made from soybean oil. It is chosen by people who don’t want the soot of paraffin wax and want their candle to burn slower. People who want a natural fragrance go with beeswax, which is expensive and comes in both aromatic and non-aromatic forms naturally.

Wick: The wick is the component that keeps your candles burning. Depending on the size of this wick, your candles will burn faster or slower. Your candle might have a wooden, zinc, or even cotton wick.

Oils: Oil is added for an extra scent. Candles are prepared with either extra fragrance or essential oils. Essential oils are derived from pure plant extracts, and for this reason, they are expensive. On the other hand, fragrance oils are man-made, synthetically created fragrances, and they are also less expensive. And as they are cheap, you will see many of the scented items you use contain fragrance oils.

Read more: 11 Candle Making Books That Help You Make the Perfect Candle Easily

So Where is Gluten In Candle?

So now that you know the ingredients, you might ask where is the part where gluten is added. Well, gluten might be added when you buy a candle that has a particular flavor and scent assigned to it.

To make this clear, suppose you are going for a scented candle that has the scent and flavor of a particular grain, that candle might carry gluten. Not only that, but the synthetic fragrance oil might also carry gluten for an enhanced and realistic scent.

Which Candles Don’t Have Gluten In Them?

Now, this is a good question. There is not a definitive answer to this question as any item or candle can have gluten. But usually, no non-scented candles should have gluten in them. So these candles are a safe choice if you want to avoid gluten in candles.

But if you still want scented candles, you can also go for candles that have the basic yellow beeswax. Because the yellow beeswax is naturally aromatic, no additional oil or flavonoid is needed to make a good aromatic candle out of this wax. But these candles might cost you a bit more money than the normal scented candles.

Also, many companies keep in mind the need for people to be gluten-free and make candles with soy wax that has no trace of gluten. So you can always research companies that sell these candles.

Should We Be Concerned Of Candle Gluten?

Gluten is harmful to people with celiac, gluten ataxia, or gluten intolerance. But is gluten harmful when it comes to being added to your candles?

So there is no extensive research on if candles with gluten can harm you or not. But let’s say we compare these candles to the airborne gluten we inhale when we are near wheat powder. So we are ultimately inhaling the candle fumes like we inhale the wheat flower that initiates a reaction in us.

And many people have also complained about inducing a gluten reaction while inhaling shampoos or products that contain gluten. So it’s better to assume you will see a rection of gluten when you are in the vicinity of gluten-added candles.

How Should I Look For Candles Without Gluten?

Now that we have established that it’s better to be safe while using a candle with gluten, let’s see how we can avoid it:

  • Always look at the ingredient list when you are buying a candle.
  • Buy from a company that ensures they make gluten-free candles.
  • Look for candle reviews in a group that discusses gluten-free products.

FAQ

Q: What is the safest wax for candles?

A: Soy wax is considered to be the safest for candles.

Q: Can I have a gluten reaction from a candle even if the ingredient list says there is no gluten added?

A: Yes, because many people might have a particular scent sensitivity or allergies too that might initiate a similar reaction.

Q: Can soy wax-made candles have gluten added?

A: Yes, many soy wax-made candles have gluten added.

Conclusion

So are candles gluten-free? Well, not all of them. But that’s why you have to be vigilant while looking at the ingredients. Or you can buy wax and make a scented candle on your own!

Also, as mentioned before, you can go for a manufacturer that has a special batch of gluten-free candles. And to help you choose which gluten-free candles have the best scent, you can join the groups of people who are experts in living a gluten-free lifestyle.

Grace Young

I love candles! I have personally tried over 100 brands of candles. The total burn time of these candles is over 5000 hours. I also talk about essential oil diffusers and reed diffusers. Essential oil diffusers and diffusers are also an important part of the scent in my home.

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