Candles kill bacteria?

March 2, 2009 · Posted in Eco-friendly design ideas, Home decor

According to researchers they do. A study done a few years ago found that candles with certain essential oils in them kill certain bacteria - E. coli and staph – on surfaces.

Researchers Lindsey Gaunt, PhD, and Sabrina Higgins of England’s University of Southampton worked on a project with John Hughes, a professor at the university’s Bioelectrostatics Research Centre. The scientists made their own essential oil candles and tested them against the two common bacteria. The scientists used essential oils such as orange, litsea and thyme. They burned each candle in an airtight chamber containing E. coli and staph bacteria and found that the oils killed the bacteria. Some oils worked better than others, but each had some measurable effect. The orange essential oil, for example, worked against both bacteria, but was more effective against E. coli.

The candle flame and essential oil components appear to work together for a sterilizing effect, say the researchers. Now, they’re not recommending we stop our normal methods of cleaning, but they do suggest that having a candle with couldn’t hurt. More on this here…

Why do we care? Because now candles are more than just pretty, nice smelling things. They can also serve a great function and we think that’s cool.