Lots of candles are made from paraffin. Girlawhirl's familiar with paraffin because occasionally her manicure or pedicure comes with a paraffin dip. But paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum refining, so it's not the most eco-friendly kind of wax around.

There's also the matter of the wick, which is sometimes made with lead. If the wick is metal, there might be lead in it and as it burns that lead is dispersing through the room leaving a coating all over. In 1973, the US government asked candle makers to stop using lead wicks, but it's not required  -- and candles made in other countries aren't even checked. Then there's the matter of the scents. Candles with fragrance that comes from synthetic oils fall into the petroleum category, and in addition, burning them can release toxic chemicals into the air.

Alternatives that are easier on Girlawhirl's lungs and Mother Nature are soy wax and good old-fashioned beeswax candles without metal wicks and those that are scented with pure essential oils. In addition to burning cleaner, candles made from soy or beeswax last longer as well.