11 Non-Toxic & Sustainable Candles for the Eco-Friendly Home (2024)
Image: GROW Fragrance
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The Best Non-Toxic & Sustainable Candles
Welcome to the ultimate guide on non-toxic candles, where we shed light on creating a safer and healthier environment in your home. Candles are a popular choice for creating ambiance and filling a space with a delightful fragrance. However, many conventional candles contain harmful ingredients that can release toxins when burned, polluting the air you breathe.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the world of non-toxic candles and show you how to make informed choices that prioritize your health and the well-being of your loved ones. From understanding the dangers of certain ingredients to discovering safer alternatives, we'll equip you with the knowledge to transform your candle-lit moments into a toxin-free experience.
Whether you're a candle enthusiast or just starting your journey, this guide will help you confidently navigate the complex world of non-toxic candles. Get ready to light up your home with candles that enhance your space and prioritize your health and wellness!
Understanding the Dangers of Conventional Candles
Conventional candles may seem harmless, but they often contain a cocktail of toxic ingredients that can harm your health. One of the primary concerns is the use of paraffin wax, a byproduct of petroleum refining, which releases harmful chemicals such as benzene and toluene when burned. These chemicals are known to contribute to indoor air pollution, leading to respiratory problems, allergies, and even more severe health issues.
Additionally, conventional candles are often scented using synthetic fragrances containing potentially hazardous chemicals. Phthalates, for example, are commonly used to enhance fragrance and improve the longevity of the scent, but they have been linked to endocrine disruption and other health problems. When you burn a conventional candle, these synthetic fragrances are released into the air and can be inhaled, posing a risk to your health.
Burning conventional candles can have profound health implications, but there is a solution: non-toxic candles.
What Are Sustainable, Non-Toxic Candles?
Non-toxic candles, also known as natural or organic candles, are made from ingredients that do not release harmful toxins when burned. These candles are typically made from natural waxes, such as soy, beeswax, or coconut wax, free from the toxic chemicals in paraffin wax. They are also scented using natural essential oils or botanical extracts rather than synthetic fragrances.
These candles are better for the air you breathe and the environment, as they are made from renewable resources and produce less soot when burned.
Sustainable candles should be non-toxic and made by people who are paid a fair wage, with eco-friendly ingredients and packaging.
Benefits of Using Sustainable, Non-Toxic Candles
Using non-toxic candles in your home offers a range of benefits beyond just avoiding harmful toxins. Here are some of the key advantages to consider:
Improved Air Quality: Non-toxic candles release fewer pollutants into the air, resulting in cleaner and healthier indoor air quality. This is especially important for individuals with respiratory conditions, allergies, or sensitivities to synthetic fragrances.
Reduced Health Risks: By eliminating harmful chemicals like benzene, toluene, and phthalates, non-toxic candles can help reduce the risk of respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues associated with burning conventional candles.
Environmental Friendliness: Non-toxic candles are typically made from renewable resources and are biodegradable, making them more eco-friendly than conventional candles that rely on petroleum-based paraffin wax.
Longer Burn Time: Natural waxes, such as soy and beeswax, tend to burn slower than paraffin wax, resulting in longer-lasting candles. This means you can enjoy the warm glow and fragrances for a more extended period without replacing the candle as frequently.
Aromatherapy Benefits: Many non-toxic candles are scented with natural essential oils, providing a delightful fragrance and therapeutic benefits. For example, lavender essential oil can promote relaxation and better sleep, while citrus oils can uplift your mood and increase energy levels.
Looking for Fabric and Air Fresheners? Check out our Non-Toxic Air Freshener options here!
our top picks for Non-Toxic & Sustainable candles:
1. GROW Fragrance
Price: $34
GROW Fragrance candles are my go-to non-toxic candles! They are so cool because the vessel is refillable, and the refills are made from 100% recyclable (recycled) aluminum. Everything is handmade in the USA from 100% certified plant-based blend of soy and coconut oil and plant-based fragrance. Even the wick is lead-free and unbleached. Their new Spring collection smells amazing - especially the Green Tea Matcha!
2. Sana Jardin
Price: $33-65
Sana Jardin is well known for their clean & lovely scented perfumes, and their candles are just as amazing! As a true luxury brand, its fragrances are created by world-renowned Master Perfumer Carlos Benaim using only the finest ingredients. Their candles are vegan, non-toxic, and paraffin-free, made from 100% vegetable wax and a lead-free cotton wick.
3. Sundays
Price: $42-52
You may be familiar with this brand and their nail polish, but recently they came out with a couple of candles! Their candles are made with a combination of 3 notes to create a soothing and long-lasting scent consisting of essential oils and almond oil. They are made of 100% non-GMO soybean wax, have a 100% unbleached cotton wick, and come in a hand-made matte finish ceramic container - which is another beautiful jar to reuse when you are finished with the candle!
4. Siblings
Price: $24-78
Siblings wanted to fix the wasteful candle industry by offering a more sustainable way of doing candles - refilling them yourselves. Their wax is a 100% natural blend of coconut and soy wax and uses non-toxic, cruelty-free fragrances and essential oils. The bags are 100% compostable and made using 99% plant-based materials!
5. Public Goods
Price: $6-13
If you are looking for a budget-friendly, eco-friendly candle, Public Goods is one to check out. These candles are made with natural hand-poured soy wax, cotton wicks, and premium fragrance oils like cedarwood and jasmine. They are free from lead, dyes, BPA or phthalates, and are made in USA. I keep these in my guest bathroom, and love all three scents they carry so I suggest purchasing the 3-pack!
6. P.f. Candle Co.
Price: $14-36
All P.F. Candle Co. candles are hand-poured with 100% domestically-grown soy wax into apothecary inspired amber jars with a signature kraft label and a brass lid. They are a LA-based brand, and they have a strong commitment to sustainability. Their entire collection is vegan, cruelty-free and phthalate-free, and all candles come in completely reusable jars so you don’t have to throw anything away. Why would you want to throw such a pretty jar like the one pictured?!
7. Prosperity Candle
Price: $14-95
This is one of my favorite ethical candle companies! Every candle is handmade by women artisans & refugees here in the U.S. They never add any dyes or enhancers, and each is poured with all-natural soy and coconut waxes, and pure cotton & wood wicks.
Their collection of Tranquility aromatherapy candles are made using 100% pure essential oils and each scent is created with guidance from an Oregon-based aromatherapist.
8. Ritual & Fancy
Price: $26-48
Based out of Portland, Oregon, Ritual & Fancy is a woman & POC-owned candle brand, and I just find these candles absolutely beautiful! Each of these beauties are hand-poured with 100% vegan soy wax derived from a renewable resource, a slow-burning wood wick, and is topped with real pressed flowers. All fragrances are made with ethically and sustainably sourced therapeutic-grade essential oils and natural botanicals cultivated from renewable sources.
9. Sanari Candle
Price: $34-46
A candle with a multi-purpose use! Not only is your house being filled with organic scents, but you’re getting a wine glass after use.
The Sanari Candles are packaged in reusable wine and whiskey glasses, and all candles are made with sustainably harvested, fair-trade, kosher ingredients.
The wax is actually made from organic coconut & non-GMO soy.
10. Obakki
Price: $23-93
If you are looking for more decorative, unique candles, Obakki is one to check out! Their decorative sumac candles are handmade in Ishikawa, Japan by a family run business who have been creating traditional Japanese candles, also known as 'wa-rousoku', since 1892. They are sustainable and vegan, and made from wax harvested from the fruit of the Japanese Haze tree. And the hollow wicks allow them to produce a bright, tall flame.
11. Brooklyn Candle Studio
Price: $11-95
Made in a Brooklyn workshop, these candles use sustainable soy wax and phthalate-free perfume oils infused with essential oils, and are inspired by nature and travel, moments and memories.
All candles are petroleum-free, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and 100% vegan, and poured and labeled by hand by their team of artisans.
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