Candles vs. Air Purifier: My Apartment Science Experiment

Written By Olivia Williams

You know when a random idea pops into your head and suddenly you’re transported back to middle school building a tri-fold poster board for the science fair?

Yeah… that was me the other night.

In my new apartment, surrounded by moving boxes and my beloved collection of candles, I looked at my shiny new Shark air purifier and thought:

“I wonder if my candles change the air quality in here?”

So naturally, I turned it into a full-on (unofficial) science experiment. 🤓

Not sponsored, not peer-reviewed… just curiosity, candles, and vibes.

📺 Watch the Instagram Reel Version

If you want to see the visual version of this whole experiment, the reel is here.

🧠 My Tiny Hypothesis

If the purifier measures air quality based on more than just oxygen, then lighting a candle technically adds something to the air. I assumed the air quality score would go down when the candle was burning.

I didn’t expect anything dramatic, just a noticeable change.

🧪 The Setup 

  • Wax: 464 Soy Wax

  • Fragrance Load: 4%

  • Scent: Pumpkin Nut Brittle from The Flaming Candle

  • Cure Time: 2 months

  • Wick: Single eco wax-dipped cotton wick

  • Candle Size: 4 oz

  • Purifier: Shark Air Purifier

  • Distance from purifier: ~2.5 feet

  • Room: Closed, no drafts

I let the purifier sit untouched for 10 minutes until the air quality leveled at 52%.

Then I lit the candle and let it burn for 20 minutes.

📊 The Results

After 20 minutes of burning, the purifier bounced between:

58% – 59% air quality

…which means the air quality actually increased instead of dropping the way I assumed it would.

Did I expect to become a science girlie tonight? No.

Am I obsessed with this result and now suddenly craving a lab coat? Absolutely.

So what does that 

mean?

Short answer:

I have no idea yet.

This test didn’t isolate variables, control airflow, include multiple wax types, or measure long-term changes. So I’m not claiming that candles “clean the air.” That would be inaccurate and irresponsible.

But the takeaway is still exciting:

My soy candle didn’t noticeably decrease indoor air quality based on this small test, and it might be worth studying further.

As someone who cares deeply about clean-burning ingredients and protecting my customer’s air + home environments, this makes me even more curious about:

  • the science behind indoor air pollutants

  • how air purifiers measure chemical compounds

  • and whether clean wax + standard fragrance loads meaningfully impact air quality at all

Future tests? Maybe.

White lab coat? TBD (but tempting).

💬 Final Thoughts

I genuinely did this for fun, not to prove anything, just a candle girl in her apartment playing scientist on a Tuesday night.

Now I’m curious…

👉 What do you think this means?

👉 Should I redo it with more variables?

👉 Does this spark any science-y questions for you?

Scroll down and drop a comment. I’d love to hear your theories, ideas, or even your own experience with candles and purifiers.

Olivia Williams