Toxicity of Candles Clearing the Air: The Hidden Toxicity of Many Candles Candles are often associated with relaxation, cozy evenings, and calming scents. But what many people don’t realize is that some candles may contribute to indoor air pollution . Many commercially available candles are made from paraffin wax , a petroleum byproduct. When burned, paraffin candles can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs)  such as benzene and toluene—chemicals that are known to contrib