Shopping Guide: Natural and Safe Candles
Did you know that the cozy candles we often light in our homes could be emitting harmful chemicals into the air? It’s true, many of the most popular candle ingredients are detrimental to both the environment and our health. From the type of wax used to the fragrance and wick, every element plays a major role in a candle’s safety.
The Wax: Paraffin wax, a common ingredient in candles, is a by-product of petroleum. Not only is it unsustainable, but it also releases carcinogens when burned, posing risks to our health. Paraffin wax candles are also prone to sooting, which is when candles produce unclean black smoke that leave black marks on the sides of the candles’ vessels. Natural alternatives like soy wax offer a safer option. Derived from renewable soybeans, soy wax emits no harmful chemicals when burned, making it an environmentally friendly choice. Another common natural and safe wax is coconut wax.
The Fragrance: Scented candles typically derive their aromas from either fragrance oils or essential oils. Essential oils, originating from plants, carry the natural scent of the plant itself. On the other hand, fragrance oils are synthetic compounds manufactured in laboratories. While fragrance oils are cheaper to produce, they often contain pollutants that compromise indoor air quality and even cause health issues. These synthetic scents release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which the Environmental Protection Agency warns can have adverse short-term and long-term effects on health. Opting for candles scented with essential oils ensures a more natural and therapeutic aroma, free from harmful synthetic chemicals.
The Wick: Cotton and wooden wicks are the most common types used in candles. While cotton wicks can be safe, it's crucial to ensure they are made from 100% organic cotton, as those containing zinc or lead cores can pose serious health risks. Despite the potential hazards, metal cores are sometimes used in cotton wicks to enhance burn time and wick stability. Wooden wicks, on the other hand, offer a more sustainable option. A single tree can produce a large number of wooden wicks to be burned and enjoyed, while cotton growing and manufacturing requires a substantial amount of water. Wooden wicks also emit minimal amounts of carbon and soot, providing a clean burn that doesn’t lower the air quality of your home.
While the candles available in mainstream stores may appear enticing, they often contain harmful materials like paraffin wax, synthetic fragrances, and metal wicks. Despite their widespread use, these ingredients can have disastrous effects on our health, indoor air quality, and the environment. By choosing candles from smaller brands committed to sourcing sustainable, natural, and safe ingredients, you can be confident that the candles you burn are a healthy choice for you, your loved ones, and the planet. Below are some of my favorite sustainable and safe candles. To shop, click on the underlined candle brand name.
100% soy wax from renewable source
Pure essential oils
Wooden wick
Hand poured and crafted in Portland, OR in small batches
Free of phthalates, lead, dyes, parabens and other nasty additives
Pure coconut and apricot wax
Scented with essential oils and natural oil fragrance
Wooden wick
Hand poured and crafted in Sarasota, FL
Free of phthalates, mutagens, petroleum, carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or prop 65 ingredients
Pure soy wax
Hand poured
Free from parabens, SLS and SLES
Packaging is recyclable and plastic-free
Non GMO EU Grown Rapeseed and Coconut wax
Essential oils
Pure cotton wick
Handcrafted in small batches
Free of palm oil and anything synthetic
Soy wax
Essential oils
Packaged in a hand-sewn, upcycled bag
Domestically grown soy wax
Fine fragrance oils
Cotton-core wicks
Hand poured, packaged, and shipped in small batches from Los Angeles