What are Phthalates?

What are Phthalates?

Phthalates (pronounced thal-ate) are chemicals often used in plastics and other products that make them flexible, durable, and long-lasting. But the downside is that they’re pretty nasty. They can cause hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and even cancer.

That’s why so many products are going phthalate-free. So if you see that on a label, you know it’s a good thing.

What does it do?
We all know how our nail polish glides on and how our shampoo is thick and gooey - those are thanks to phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and durable. While they make our lives easier, they're not so great for our health.

It's in what?
Now, i'm not here to scare people into checking every single product around the house, the fact is that we've all been living with these for years without even knowing.

Basically, phthalates serve as binding agents present in a wide array of products. They're ubiquitous—found in food packaging, cosmetics, fragrances, and various other items. Whether ingested, applied to the skin, or inhaled, you encounter them regularly. Predominantly found in plastics, phthalates also pervade food, dust, the environment, and the air you breathe. Despite being invisible and odorless, phthalates are virtually omnipresent!

Phthalates are often used in scented candle fragrances to help carry the fragrance, which means you're unknowingly breathing them in.

How do I know if a product contains phthalates?
Discovering if products contain phthalates can be challenging, as labels often do not reveal this information. Perfume ingredients may not even be listed. If phthalates are present as a by-product, they may go undisclosed.

Look out for chemical names or initials such as butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(nbutyl) phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), dimethyliso phthalate (DMP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and monopentyl phthalate (MPP).

The type of phthalate specifically found in candles is Diethyl Phthalate (DEP). So if you see this on your candle label, you know it contains Phthalates.

We're Phthalate Free
To prevent the stress of checking labels and deciphering chemical names, rest assured that our scented candles and wax melts are phthalate-free. Our home scents aim to create a safe and healthy environment for you, your pets, and the planet.