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Non-toxic candles are a wonderful way to add ambiance to any room in your home. They aesthetically warm up a space, help us relax, and do a great job of masking over any less-than-pleasant odors that our beloved pets may leave behind.
However, it’s important to find clean candles that won’t burn off toxins when you’re busy trying to create hygge in your home.
Why Choose Clean Candles?
The quality of the candles you will find on store shelves varies dramatically. Most candles being sold today are made from petroleum-based paraffin wax.
Conventional paraffin wax is a byproduct of petroleum, coal, or oil shale and contains concerning chemicals such as benzene and toulene, which release harmful toxins when burned. If we burn these toxins into the air we breathe, we are inevitably absorbing them into our bodies, where they can do harm.
Many candles are also scented with synthetic fragrances which contain phthalates, which have been linked to a variety of serious health risks, including hormone disruption.
We recommend always reviewing the ingredients of any candles you’re burning if you’re concerned about what toxins they could be burning off into your home.
What are Non-Toxic Candles Made Of?
Non-toxic candles can be made from natural waxes, such as soy wax, coconut wax, and beeswax.
A word of caution: many candles that are labeled “soy candles” are actually a sneaky blend of soy and paraffin wax, which is cheaper to produce. Check to make sure your candle is made out of 100% soy wax before buying if you’re looking for a clean burning candle.
The wicks in clean candles should be made out of 100% cotton or real wood for cleaner burning. Candles should be scented with natural essential oils and plant-derived fragrances, rather than from synthetic fragrances.
While essential oils are extracted from plants and other natural sources, fragrance oils are made in a lab from natural and/or synthetic materials. Synthetic fragrances are made in the lab, while natural fragrances come from plants but are then processed and modified. If you buy a candle made with natural fragrances, first make sure it is labeled “phthalate free” and does not contain any synthetic fragrances.
Finally, we believe it’s important to look for candle companies that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly production practices, as these companies are more likely to use non-toxic materials in their products.
Best Non-Toxic Candles Made of Soy and Coconut Wax
Here are our favorite cleanest burning candles that are scented only with essential oils and natural, plant-derived ingredients.
1. Fontana Candle Company
- Scent: Essential oils
- Wax: Coconut and beeswax
- Made in: Pennsylvania
Fontana is a candle company taking a stand against the use of the word “fragrance” by other companies as a catch all term that hides, as they put it, “up to 3,000 different chemicals, many of which are endocrine disruptors, respiratory irritants, and even carcinogens.”
Fontana only uses beeswax, coconut oil, and pure essential oils in its candles, which are made with wood wicks. Our favorite scent is is geranium!
2. Terralite
- Scent: Essential oils and plant extracts
- Wax: Coconut and beeswax
- Made in: San Diego
Terralite makes clean burning candles in beautiful amber jars out of pure essential oils and plant extracts that are sourced from “natural, wildcrafted or organic growers and distillers.” The plants they get their essential oils from are grown without pesticides and herbicides, and the wax coloring comes solely from the natural color of the essential oils used.
These candles are hand poured in small batches in Terralite’s solar powered studio in San Diego.
3. Ritual & Fancy
- Scent: Pure essential oils
- Wax: 100% soy
- Made in: Oregon
Ritual + Fancy is a woman-owned, minority run, hand poured candle company in Portland, Oregon. Their gorgeous candles are made in small batches with 100% soy wax, natural wood wicks, dried flowers, and essential oils.
These clean burning candles all feature floral designs on top of each candle’s wax surface that make our inner earth goddesses smile. Because they are scented with essential oils, they are free of phthalates, lead, dyes, parabens and other additives. These candles are oh so pretty, and they make beautiful gifts.
4. Slow North Candles
- Scent: Pure essential oils
- Wax: 100% soy
- Made in: Austin, TX
Slow North creates plant-based, soy-wax candles out of 100% essential oil fragrances. Their candles are vegan, feature cotton wicks, and are totally free from artificial dyes and ingredients.
Slow North uses sustainable practices in their ingredients and candle containers. Their 8 oz candles are hand poured into American-made frosted glass tumblers that we the look of! The Rosemary Lemon is our favorite scent.
5. Pure Plant Home Candles
- Scent: Pure essential oils
- Wax: Coconut
- Made in: Santa Ana, California
Pure Plant’s candles are one of the best non-toxic candles you can find on Amazon. They come in some really unique scents, like Bergamot/Persian Lime and Ginger/Vanilla. They are scented with essential oils, made of coconut wax, and feature cotton wicks. You can learn more about the natural ingredients they use on their site.
Pure Plant knows that what we inhale in the air is absorbed into the body, and they don’t use any petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, artificial dyes or colorants in their candles.
6. Cellar Door Candles
- Scent: Pure and organic essential oils
- Wax: Coconut and beeswax
- Made in USA
Cellar Door candles is committed to making the cleanest burning possible scented candles from essential oils, coconut, and beeswax. They are focused on sustainability and use recycled cardboard in their boxes and shipping materials. You can get their candles with two or three wicks for a little extra ambiance.
7. Milk and Honey Candles
- Scent: Essential oils
- Wax: Soy
- Made in: Victoria, BC
Milk and Honey is a candle shop owned by a mom who only uses safe, non-toxic ingredients like essential oils and soy wax in her hand-poured candles. These candles come in simple glass jars with a beautiful farmhouse aesthetic that we can’t get enough of. Plus, they smell awesome.
8. Woodlot Candles
- Scent: Essential oils
- Wax: Soy and coconut blend
- Made in: Canada
Woodlot candles are made in Canada out of a blend of organic coconut and soy waxes. Their different scents all come from essential oils, and their pretty glass containers are recyclable.
9. Grow Fragrance
- Scent: Essential oils and plant extracts
- Wax: Coconut and soy
- Made in USA
Grow makes “100% plant-based fragrances” out of essential oils and plant-based ingredients. Although this feels a little less certain than a company that simply uses essential oils to scent its candles, what’s nice about Grow is that you can see the full list of every ingredient for the candle you are purchasing on their website (just click on “Ingredients”). You’ll get a list of each of the different oils and extracts, all of which are derived from plants.
Grow’s candles are made out of soy and coconut wax. Their cotton wicks come from Germany and are lead-free and unbleached. They partner with organizations that pay living wages and offer healthcare to the people who make their products.
Best Non-Toxic Candles Made of Beeswax
Although they are unscented to all but the most sensitive smellers, beeswax candles burn cleanly and are beautiful to look at.
10. Shades of Green Beeswax Candles
If you are looking for clean taper candles, Shades of Green makes them in different sizes out of pure beeswax, with no added scents. These look beautiful glowing in the middle of a dining room table.
11. Brooklyn Made Natural
If you prefer your beeswax in jar form, Brooklyn Made Natural makes 100% organic beeswax unscented candles in pretty amber jars. Some people who are sensitive to scents may like the idea of an unscented candle they can light just for the ambiance.
Beeswax candles are long-lasting, and we love that this one comes in an amber glass jar you can recycle (or use as a mini planter!) when you’re done.
The Beauty of Clean Burning Candles
Once you find a scent you enjoy, a clean candle can really dial up the cozy in your home. You just want to make sure your candle isn’t polluting the air you’re breathing in. The cleanest burning candles are typically made out of coconut oil, soy, or beeswax and scented only with essential oils and plant-derived products.
Essential oil scented candles tend to be on the lighter side, so they won’t overpower you with their scent like candles made with synthetic fragrances. But they can still smell amazing, and they move you a step closer to clean, non-toxic living every day.
If you’re looking for other ways to remove odors or clean the air inside your home, check out our guides to the best air purifiers for pets!
