carcinogenic smoke pollution, now in fresh apple scent

Who doesn't like scented candles? They're lovely, smell nice, make easy gifts, and appear safer than aerosol room sprays.
Ha! You should know by now that even the most seemingly benign products can contain unnecessary harmful compounds. Add scented candles to that list. Phthalates-- which already show up in artificial fragrances in cosmetics-- are released into the air from many scented candles and air fresheners.
But wait, it gets worse.
Some candles, especially ones with metallic-looking wicks, will spew certain metals, including lead. Not legal, but it's there.
Then there's the soot. Scented candles result in more soot than unscented, as do candles in glass jars. Reports of enormous soot damages to homes have increased as more people are buying aromatherapy candles.
So what's a freaked out scent-loving person to do?
First and foremost, avoid any candle that appears to have metal in the wick. Look for cotton or paper instead. Second, avoid synthetically scented candles. And no... plug-in air fresheners aren't a good alternative. I recommend setting out bottles of essential oils (not artificially scented oil, mind you) with a cold air diffuser stick. And if you like candles for their romantic aesthetic, then unscented candles (or candles scented with essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance) made from soy or beeswax are probably better than petroleum-based paraffin candles, which are likely what a candle is made from unless otherwise noted. And quite importantly, avoid metallic-looking wicks!!!