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EPA Report: Candles & Incense

"Black Soot Deposition (BSD) is also referred to as ghosting, carbon tracking, carbon tracing, and

dirty house syndrome. Complaints of BSD have risen significantly since 1992 (Krause, 1999).

Black soot is the product of the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Complete

combustion would result in a blue flame, and would produce negligible amounts of soot and

carbon monoxide. Until recently, the source for the black soot in homes was unknown.

Through interviews and recent experiments, it is now believed that frequent candle burning is one

of the sources of black soot. The amount of soot produced can vary greatly from candle to

candle.

One type of candle can produce as much as 100 times more soot than another type."

Note: The following is from the EPA Report "Candles and Incense As Potential Sources of Indoor

Air Pollution: Market Analysis And Literature Review, " dated Jan. 2001.

Prepared by National Risk Management, Research Laboratory.

Abstract

The report summarizes available information on candles and incense as

potential sources of

indoor air pollution. It covers (1) market information and (2) a

scientific literature review. The

market information collected focuses on production and sales data,

typical uses in the US, and

data on the sources and quantities of imported products.

The estimated total sales of candles in

1999 varied between $968 million and $2.3 billion, while imports were

$486 million. The US

imports and exports of incense in 1999 were $12.4 and 4.6 million,

respectively. The scientific

literature review gathered information regarding the emission of

various contaminants generated

when burning candles and incense, as well as the potential health

effects associated with

exposure to these contaminants. Burning candles and incense can be

sources of particulate

matter.

Burning candles with lead core wicks may result in indoor air

concentrations of lead

above EPA-recommended thresholds. Exposure to incense smoke has been

linked with several

illnesses, and certain brands of incense also contain chemicals

suspected of causing skin

irritation.

Table of Contents

1. Findings

1.A Economic Data on Candle and Incense Production and Sales

1.B Potential Indoor Air Quality Impacts of Burning Candles and Incense

2. Background

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3. Economic Data on Candle and Incense Production and Sales

3.A Candles

3.B Incense

4. Potential Indoor Air Quality Impacts of Burning Candles and Incense

4.A Candles

Lead Wick Emissions

Other Metals

Organics

Particulate Matter

Candle Soot

Conclusion

4.B Incense

Carbon Monoxide

Isoprene

Benzene

Musk Xylene, Musk Ketone, and Musk

Ambrette

Particulate Matter

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons

Conclusion

5. References

1. Findings

The purpose of this report is to collect economic information regarding

the production and sales

of candles and incense in the US, including information about imports.

A second objective is to

review the scientific literature regarding emission rates and potential

human health effects

associated with burning candles and incense. The following is a brief

overview of the findings.

1.A ECONOMIC DATA ON CANDLE AND INCENSE PRODUCTION AND SALES

The Census Bureau reports 107 manufacturing establishments; however,

industry

estimates range from 160 to over 200 manufacturers. Many manufacturers

are very small.

• Candle sales have been growing rapidly in the last 10 years (10 to 15

percent per year),

fueled by consumer interest in aroma therapy and increased demand for

home fragrance

products in general.

• The Census Bureau reports a total value of shipments in 1997 of $968

million; industry

estimates put 1999 sales at $1.3 billion just for scented candles, and

up to $2.3 billion for

all candles.

• The top five countries that export candles to the US are China,

Taiwan, England, Hong

Kong, and Mexico.

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• There are no public data on incense manufacturers; private data show

at least 26

manufacturers. Limited discussions with some industry representatives

indicate that there

are probably many more very small manufacturers.

• The top five countries that export incense to the US are India,

China, Thailand, Japan,

and Hong Kong.

1.B POTENTIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF BURNING CANDLES AND INCENSE

• Burning candles containing lead core wicks can result in indoor air

concentrations of lead

above EPA-recommended thresholds.

• In the scientific literature we reviewed, zinc and tin were found not

to be emitted at

concentrations that would raise concerns when burned indoors.

• One study showed worst-case scenario concentrations of acrolein,

formaldehyde, and

acetaldehyde from candle emissions exceeding EPA-recommended

thresholds.

• Sooting can occur when combustion conditions are impaired when

burning candles.

Scented candles are more likely to produce soot than unscented candles.

Sooting can

cause property damage by blackening surfaces. We could not identify any

studies on

potential human health effects associated with soot from candles.

• Several studies indicated links between exposure to incense smoke and

health effects,

including cancers and contact dermatitis. A few studies indicated

possible mutagenic and

genotoxic effects.

• Studies that examined the emissions of specific contaminants from

incense smoke

indicated that benzene and particulate matter may be emitted at

concentrations that could

pose human health risks.

2. BACKGROUND

The potential indoor air impacts of burning candles and incense have

drawn increased attention

in recent years. For example, candles with lead wicks have been found

on the market and have

been shown to emit lead when burned. Sooting associated with burning

candles can cause

property damage by blackening walls, ceilings, and carpets. Incense

smoke can be a major

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source of particulates in indoor air. Emissions from incense may

contain contaminants that can

cause a variety of health effects.

EPA is currently testing the emissions from candles and incense to

generate data for analyzing

risk management options. To support this effort, this report collects

and presents information on

the production and sales of candles and incense, the sources and

quantities of imported products,

and the typical product uses in the US. This information will help EPA

in assessing the nature

and extent of human exposure.

In addition, this report summarizes the results and findings in the

scientific literature

regarding the emission rates of the various contaminants generated when

burning candles and

incense, as well as the potential health effects associated with

exposure to these contaminants.

EPA will use this information to further their research and

understanding of the potential impacts

of these sources on indoor air quality.

3. ECONOMIC DATA ON CANDLE AND INCENSE PRODUCTION AND

SALES

3.A CANDLES

A variety of candle types are manufactured in the US, including tapers,

straight-sided dinner

candles, spirals, column, votives, tealights, wax-filled containers,

and novelties. Some are

scented and all come in a wide range of colors. Wax candles contain

petroleum wax, vegetable

wax, animal wax, or insect wax as the primary fuel. The wax may contain

additives for color,

fragrance, stability, or to modify the burning characteristics.

Gel candles use liquids such as mineral oil, terpene-type chemicals, or

modified hydrocarbons as

their primary fuel. These candles also contain chemical agents to

increase the viscosity of the

fuel to the point where the candle has a quasi-rigid property.

Candles support one or more combustible wicks. Metal is put in some

wick cores to keep the

wick standing straight when the surrounding wax begins to melt. The

metal prevents the wick

from falling over and extinguishing itself as soon as the wax fails to

support it. Many companies

use a braided wick, which consists of three smaller wicks wound

together to provide some

stiffness.

Lead was commonly used as a core material until 1974 when the US candle

manufacturing

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industry voluntarily agreed to discontinue use of lead in wicks. There

are, however, still candles

on the market that contain lead wick cores. Most of these are imported.

Zinc is commonly used

as an alternative metal core for the wicks, since it provides the

desired amount of stiffness, burns

off readily with the rest of the wick, and the airborne particles from

zinc wicks are considered

safer. (Telephone communication between Marianne McDermott, Executive

Vice President,

National Candle Association, and Lynn Knight, ERG, August 18, 2000.)

Scented candles have grown in popularity and are widely used. The

majority of candle

manufacturers offer scented candles. Seventy-five percent of the

manufacturers who are

members of the National Candle Association (NCA) listed fragranced

candles among the types of

candles they produce. Forty percent say they manufacture citronella

candles (NCA, 1999).

Citronella is an insect repellant.

Number of Candle Manufacturers

The candle industry is a relatively small industry and does not have an

abundance of publicly

available data. The 1997 Economic Census published by the US Census

Bureau reports 107

manufacturing establishments with a primary North American Industry

Classification System

(NAICS) product classification code of 3399995, defined as “candles,

including tapers” (US

Census Bureau, 1999).

These establishments collectively employed 8,536 workers. The Census

Bureau has very limited

data available since the industry is identified at the 7-digit level.

ERG conducted an

online search of the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers. This

search identified 160

candle manufacturers.

However, the National Candle Association (NCA) estimates there are over

200 known commercial,

religious, and institutional manufacturers of candles in the US, as

well as many small

craft producers (NCA, 1999). The NCA reports that 70 of their members

are manufacturers

and represent roughly 80 percent of the market.

The three largest publicly traded manufacturers are Candle Corporation

of America, Candle-Lite, Inc., and

The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. (NCA, 1999). A Merrill Lynch Global

Securities analyst

reported that Yankee Candle Co. accounts for about 10 percent of

industry sales. It has 100

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stores and plans to open 40 per year (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1999).

A private market study by the Packaged Facts group reports that the

candle industry is not only

growing, but is undergoing some consolidation. This trend is not

limited to smaller companies,

but has included some of the leading manufacturers and marketers

succumbing to stronger, better

financed companies (Packaged Facts, 1999). This source believes that

company buyouts are

motivated by parent organizations attracted to making acquisitions in a

thriving market and then

helping these acquisitions grow their product lines and increase market

share. For example,

Yankee Candle’s partnership with Forstmann Little was reportedly

undertaken specifically to

fund a major expansion (Packaged Facts, 1999).

Internet sales of candles have been increasing. Many smaller candle

companies are emerging and

doing well selling their products on the Internet, as the appearance of

prominence can be

obtained with a nice looking Web site. Selling on the Internet allows

these manufacturers to sell

candles at a reasonable price, since they can pass on savings accrued

by avoiding middlemen,

slotting fees paid to retailers, and advertising costs (Packaged Facts,

1999).

There have been many types of new entrants to the growing candle

market. Market research

analysts believe that new marketers are attracted to this burgeoning

market because candles are

relatively simple to make, color, and fragrance, and novelty designs

easily attract the buyer’s

attention (Packaged Facts, 1999).

The scented candles market has seen a lot of cross-category

encroachment, as fashion designers, perfume manufacturers, and

specialty chain marketers

introduce their own lines of candles. For example, upscale retailers,

such as The Gap, Pottery

Barn, Pier One, and the Bombay Company, are marketing scented candles

under their own

trademark. SC Johnson, too, began selling candles fragranced with many

of Glade’s air freshener

trademark scents (Packaged Facts, 1999). Meanwhile, dedicated candle

outlets, like Yankee

Candle, White Barn Candle Company, and Illuminations, are expanding

throughout the US

(Packaged Facts, 1999).

Sales

The 1997 Economic Census reports a total value of shipments for candle

manufacturers of

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$968.3 million. Companies with shipments of $100,000 or more accounted

for 98 percent of

shipments, or $951 million. In 1992, shipments for these larger

companies were $366 million.

The value of shipments increased more than 2.5 times over this 5-year

period.

The source of these estimates is not disclosed in the NCA publication.

This figure was interpreted from the Freedonia Group’s prediction that

sales would increase 8.1 percent

annually to reach $1.6 billion in 2003.

The NCA states that the US candle consumer retail sales for 1999 are

reported at $2.3 billion, not

including candle accessories. NCA further reports that sales of all

candles (unscented, scented,

and for institutional and religious uses) have been growing 10 to15

percent a year since 1990

(the source of these estimates is not disclosed in the NCA publication)

(NCA, 1999).

The Packaged Facts report claims that the growth of scented candles

alone is close

to 22 percent per year. This same report estimates that scented candles

represent 55 percent of the

$2.4 billion total home fragrance market, or $1.3 billion in scented

candle sales. Another source,

The Freedonia Group, estimated that 1999 candle sales were $1.17

billion. (This figure was

interpreted from the Freedonia Group's prediction that sales would

increase 8.1 percent

annually to reach $1.6 billion in 2003.)

Unity Marketing, another private marketing research firm, conducts

annual surveys among gift

manufacturers who produce and market candles and candle accessories.

The most recent survey,

which had 37 respondents, was conducted in 2000 and covered 1999 sales.

The survey results

showed an upward trend in total annual sales for 1999, with average

company sales among

respondents up 39 percent from $10 million in 1997 to $14 million in

2000. In 1999, 39 percent

of companies surveyed reported annual sales of more than $10 million as

compared with only 27

percent in 1997. (See Table 1.)

Table 1: Total Sales of Candle Companies in 1999

Total Annual Sales

(Dollars in Thousands) Percent of Candle Companies Surveyed (a)

> $50,000

$26,000 - $50,000

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$11,000 - $25,000

$6,000 - $10,000

$1,000 - $5,000

$500 - $999

<$500

(a) These statistics do not cover only candle manufacturing. They

include

manufacturers of candle accessories as well. Fifty-three percent of

companies surveyed owned their own factory facilities. Figures do not

add to 100 percent.

Source: Unity Marketing, 2000.

Candles are sold through a variety of distribution channels. According

to the Unity Marketing

survey, specialty retail stores capture a large portion of candle

sales. (See Table 2.) Packaged

Facts estimates that 51 percent of 1998 scented candle sales were

attributable to mass

merchandisers, 36 percent to supermarkets, and 13 percent to drug

stores. (Unity Marketing and

Packaged Facts each based their estimates on different distribution

channel categories, thus not

allowing direct comparisons.)