My Commitment

Much has and continues to be said about the content of scented candles. Most of it, when seriously studied, is CHatGPT regurgitated content designed to scare you into believing a colorful variety of myths. Candles do not pose an immediate harm to humans or animals when used as intended, that is, burning them at a slow, controlled pace, in a controlled environment. Not one type of wax is better than another, since they all burn out to the air at mostly the same rate. You have to research for yourself if you prefer paraffin to soy, or coconut to palm oil.

I picked a specific soy/coconut/paraffin wax because it blends my formulas smoothly, holds a load of scent, and produces virtually no soot. But that depends also on the wick, not just the wax. Good wicking will reduce smoke and sooting. The paraffin content is single-digit (for intellectual property reasons, I cannot divulge the exact number), and it is food-grade; it also helps absorb more fragrance, blend fragrance materials more evenly, and maintain a more homogeneous mix. It also helps make the wax creamy and maintain a flat surface when the candle is not burning. Paraffin can be found in canned food like beans, in cereal, in cheeses, sometimes in breads and crackers, and in pre-made meals. In its basic form, mineral oil is baby oil; you use it when you are constipated, and it is a basic component of face creams and shower oils. Most European brands use paraffin wax because it is the least expensive. Many brands in the USA use soy wax, and this website will have you believe it is the best thing since sliced bread. Just keep in mind how big the soy industry is, and who pockets the money. 

Before judging one type of wax over another, ask yourself what you want, and if you are an aficionado, a chemist, or if you have something to prove to your friends or family. Because what you read from this or that brand is mostly not true and is written using ChatGPT to push you to buy a street market product labeled as luxury.

Fragrance can cause allergies, and waxes, too. There, I cannot help; you have to know what you are allergic to. Most of the time, people sneeze when sniffing a candle and blame it on the candle itself, when it could be dust, hair, lint, or anything floating in the air that has settled on the surface. That is why a lid is a helpful tool. Candles are not intended to rub fingers on or come into contact with the mouth, eyes, or skin. You may be sensitive to one or more of the materials in it, independently of who makes it or what the material is. Common sense says to use products as intended. Sensitization can occur at any content level, but IFRA tabulates maximums for the fragrance industry, and I abide by them. Common allergens are listed on the exterior product labels of my candle boxes.

Lastly, I pick all the fragrance materials I use, one by one. I am aware of their carbon footprint, where they come from, who makes them, how they are made, and where else they are being used. It's a lot of work, but I love what I do, and it's part of being a perfumer. I am constantly learning; it keeps me informed and humble.

Most candle brands use third-party fragrances, so they don't know what they contain, period. There's no visibility, even if a formula is shared: a compounder will use whatever is at hand to quickly and at the lowest cost finish the juice to get the order. Many times, it is pre-compounded and sits in a warehouse for years. Just look at the candle fragrance's authorship (if there's any) and how it is explained on a website. It's an industry-wide paradigm, just like designer brands overcharging for products made on assembly lines. You think it's exclusive when it's made by the thousands per day. Nothing against it, but it's not how I choose to create my collections. It's not my definition of authenticity or success.

There's also the concept of selective outrage. We pick battles that are not even our own. And, there's also the National Candle Association webpage, with a lot of serious information that hopefully will help you learn more about the industry and its myths. 

All that being said, here are some bullet points that further explain the materials I use.

• I blend my fragrance formulas in my lab, so I control what goes in them.
• My luxury home fragrances are free of cruelty and toxins. They contain no suspicious phthalates, parabens, or sulfates, and I use vegetable-based diluents. My products are vegan and gluten-free, not that I intend you to eat them.
• My entire range of fragrance raw materials is IFRA* and CITES** compliant; I only source from trusted, compliant suppliers.
• I use 100 % Cotton core wicks without a zinc core. 
• My crystal, glass, and aluminum vessels and packaging are recyclable. My vessels and refillable bottles can be upcycled for new uses in life. 

*IFRA: The International Fragrance Association.

**CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Wild Species of Fauna and Flora.

RHR Luxury is registered with Dun & Bradstreet.