I’ve talked before about how I love to light a candle (or three) when I’m working late or I need to unwind. It seems though that I may need to cut down after scientists have discovered scented candles can be bad for our health, reports the Daily Mail.

The smoke produced by many of them is laced with toxins linked to cancer, asthma and eczema.

Occasional use of a candle is unlikely to do any harm, but we should avoid using them day after day in bathrooms and other poorly ventilated rooms, say the researchers.

In tests, the U.S. researchers burnt a range of candles in the laboratory and collected and tested the substances given off. This showed candles made of paraffin wax, the most common type, released potentially harmful amounts of chemicals such as toluene and benzene.

Some of the pollutants given off have been linked to cancer, while others could trigger asthma attacks or skin complaints, the American Chemical Society’s annual conference heard.

Most of those on sale in Britain, including many scented ones, are made of paraffin wax, a byproduct of the petroleum industry.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom if you’re a candle lover like me. Beeswax and soy candles, which are admittedly more expensive, are clean burning and will not harm your health.