Let's Talk Cleaner, Non-Toxic Candles
It’s October and I know I’m not the only one who has taken the deep plunge into all things fall! If we must stay at home, I’m happy to do it in the coziest way possible - chunky knit blankets, pumpkin spice lattes, movie nights, and burning my favorite fall candles. Whose with me?!
Okay, before we dive into this post, I think it’s important that I admit something…I am a recovering Bath and Body Works candle addict! There, I said it. Whew. Each season I would walk into the store, ready to smell and sample every offering of candle they had, but really, there was no better time to be a Bath and Body Works candle addict than during their fall candle release. Where else can you find scents like “Pumpkin Spice Waffles” and the classic “Leaves” candle? The fall candle obsession was next level. I mean…candles make the perfect gift, bring light and warmth into a space, produce scents that illicit memories and places, and just set the tone for a gorgeous and cozy life! Am I right or am I right?
However, I didn’t know that when I set out to make smarter beauty and home choices when it came to toxins and undesirable chemicals, that my beloved fall candles would also fall into a category that was doing way more harm than good. In fact, most candles, not just Bath and Body Work’s ones, do more harm than good to our health.
Candles, in my mind, get a bad rap for their lack of transparency and all the fragrance that goes into each candle. Your everyday, cheaply made, but delicious smelling candle can include a chemical cocktail of a proprietary “fragrance,” paraffin (which is made from petroleum and is not environmentally friendly), coated or woven metal wicks (capable of producing soot or other air pollution), and sketchy wax blends.
So what should you look for when you’re selecting the perfect cleaner candle option for your home? Keep reading…
What to Look For
Wick
The wicks on your candles are the base of a clean burn, look for wicks that are made of wood or 100% cotton. Before you buy, make sure to note if your wick is covered or coated in anything - like a waxy substance for example. I personally look for “uncoated” and “unbleached” wicks whenever possible.
Also, evaluate the size of your wick. If the wick seems really large for the candle it resides in, it may produce soot. If the wick seems really small for the candle it resides in, you’ll have a problem with getting the maximum amount of scent possible. It’s important to trim and maintain your wicks as you use your candle for the cleanest burning experience!
Wax
For the wax base in your candles look for soy, beeswax, vegetable, or coconut wax! Try to avoid any “blends” if they do not explicitly state what kinds of wax are being blended. For example, some of my old Bath and Body Works candles used to say “Soy Wax Blend.” What exactly is being blended with the soy wax? Transparency is super key here! Also, just say no to paraffin. If you can, finding companies using organic or sustainably sourced wax sources is a bonus!
Containers
As important as what your actual candle is made out of, it’s equally important to note how it is coming packaged. Like with all packaged products it’s important to consider if the packaging is sustainable, recyclable, eco-conscious, and/or easy to repurpose. I love using candles that come in glass vessels, ceramic pots, or tins and use minimal stickers or labels. I’m much more inclined to use my candle’s packaging after it’s done burning if I think it’s cute and/or useful!
Tip - To repurpose the last bits of your candle wax, warm candle in hot water until it melts or softens through. Pour wax into ice cub tray or molds for easy wax melts. You can also try popping your candle into the freezer overnight, allowing the wax to shrink, and then popping it out.
Fragrance
Fragrance is a sticky subject when it comes to clean beauty, but what is important to know is that companies are protected and do not have to disclose the full contents of their “fragrance” on the ingredient label since it is a “trade secret.” The terms “fragrance” and “parfum” or catch-all ingredients on the back of your labels that can hide some seriously nasty toxins.
For scented candles, look for candles that are ideally made from 100% pure essential oils. At a minimum, choose a candle company that properly discloses their fragrance ingredient lists, so that you can decide for yourself if it is clean enough! Also, you can try shopping candles from reputable stores and resources that vet their retailers in advance and take the guesswork out of it. Credo Beauty is one of my favorite places that mindfully disclose fragrance transparency on every product.
Brands To Try
There are SO many clean candle options out there, but here are some that I’ve tried or are on my radar to scoop up! My first preference is always for you to seek out local makers and artisans in your area for your candles and/or local shops that may be carrying these or other brands of cleaner candles!
Lindbergh Candle Co - U.S. soy wax and cotton core wicks. Fragrance oils used. Carbon-neutral. Lead and zinc free. Vegan and cruelty free.
PF Candle Co - 100% Soy wax based candles. Synthetic fragrance blends used, although they are very transparent as to why they choose to scent their fragrances. They also have a Terra line, which is the most “natural” or their candles. Free of phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde and Prop 65 chemicals.
Boy Smells - Used an “all-natural, ethically-harvested, blend of coconut and beeswax,” cotton wicks that are lead-free, minimal plastics, foam free packaging, and reusable glass containers.
Bee Lucia - Made with a blend of pure beeswax, organic coconut oil, therapeutic grade pure essential oils and natural crystals. Free of artificial dyes and fragrances.
Keap - Use coconut wax as their base and have a big focus on sustainability. They used biodegradable packaging and labels. They even run a program where you can return your used and empty candle tumblers back to them, free of charge. Zero-wasted. Re-usable glass containers.
Pure Plant Home - Uses coconut wax and 100% pure essential oils to scent their products. Their packaging is eco-friendly! Their box is FSC certified, uses recycled paper printed with vegan, plant based inks in a wind powered, solar powered, environmentally responsible facility. No petrochemicals or synthetic fragrance.
Brooklyn Candle Studio - 100% U.S. grow soy based candles with lead-free cotton wicks. Their candles are petroleum-free, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and 100% vegan. Female founded.
Follain - Hydrogenated Soy Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Cotton Seed Oil, Essential Oil Blend for Scent
Homesick - Soy wax blend with U.S. organic cotton wicks. No lead, plastics, paraben, phthalates or synthetic dyes. Scented with fragrance oils. Cruelty free.
Paddywax - Uses primarily U.S. soy wax (though they do blend with “a bit of paraffin” according to their website). U.S. Cotton wicks. Uses a variety of fragrance sources (essential oils, natural and man-made [aka synthetic] fragrance). Formaldehyde, phthalates, and animal-sourced ingredient free. Vegan and cruelty free.
Lite + Cycle - They use 100% vegan waxes, primarily soy wax. They use 100% essential oils and do not contain any pthalates or petrochemicals. They have great ingredient transparency!
Candelles - Uses 100% natural soy wax produced by U.S farmers, all natural fragrance oils, non-treated lead-free cotton wicks, and no dyes!
Whew! I know that was a lot of info all in one post, but bottom line just know that swapping out your old conventional candles for a non-toxic alternative is an easy and simple way to take one more step our your clean journey!
Let me know what candles you love!