Carbon soot comes from a variety of combustion sources. These include fireplaces, water heaters, furnaces, pilot lights, smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, cooking byproducts, gas dryers, automobile exhaust, and fires in general. Other carbon-related particles come from the burning of plastics, and from roof and street tarring. An additional source of carbon soot —one people may not expect—is candles. In fact, a trend toward candle purchases has contributed to an increase in household soot.

Candle technology, or the lack of it, is partly to blame for the problem. First, manufacturers tend to increase the amount of aroma in a candle. A common result is incomplete combustion and a rise in both soot and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When amateur candlemakers produce inferior-quality candles for the home, they can produce the same effects.

With a candle there is a tradeoff—brightness for soot. The brightness of a candle depends on two factors: the volatility of the wax, and the yellow-white part of the flame. This color of flame is relatively cooler than the hotter blue part of the flame. Soot is formed by incomplete combustion of the candle wax as it burns in the cooler yellow-white part of the flame. This is an incomplete combustion process. The bigger the wick is, the bigger the flame will be, and the brighter the candle will burn. This means that it will release more soot. Wicks that curl as they burn remain short and hot, but not very bright. Carbon soot from candles will be present throughout the home, but mostly in the room in which they burn.

There is an interesting effect called “ghosting,” in which the fine soot particles are attracted to some areas of the home and not to others. For example, while sheetrock (or drywall, or gypsum board) may darken, the nail heads that hold it to the studs do not. Areas behind pictures may remain clear of smoke, while shapes appear on the walls and ceiling. The association of soot particles with electromagnetic lines of force in the home may be the reason for the shapes.

Some homeowners report that they have removed this carbon build-up with simple soap and water. Others state that they had to completely repaint to restore the interior. Partially opening a window should alleviate the problem of carbon soot buildup.

Those who recommend burning herbs for treatment of asthma also recommend the burning of candles or incense containing extracts of cajeput,...

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