Welcome to the 2022 guide to natural candles that are non-toxic, clean burning and even organic. If you’re here it means you’re not interested in the idea of burning cheaply made candles that release toxic materials into the air for hours on end. Thankfully, there is no shortage of clean candle companies making 100% natural candles made with non-toxic and organic ingredients that are safe for you, your family and pets. Instead, organic candles help enhance your home environment with their aromatherapy health benefits and some natural waxes even help clean the air. So throw out your paraffin wax Yankee Candles and read on for the best clean burning candles that are non-toxic and healthy.
Why Regular Candles are Toxic to Your Health
Using conventional candles in your home means you’re unleashing loads of toxic compounds and particles into the air that over time can be harmful to your health. Will one candle wreak havoc? Probably not. But if you enjoy burning candles fairly regularly, then it’s important to be aware of what’s actually inside these candles and their harmful effects.
You would think companies wouldn’t want to sell millions of families candle products that could harm their health, but that’s exactly what they’re doing – and getting rich off doing so. Companies don’t even need to label the ingredients in their candles.
The dangers of conventional candles include:
- Paraffin: petroleum-based product that can release dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC’s can disrupt hormones, carcinogens and neurotoxins.
- Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene, benzene, acetone and more can be released
- Burning paraffin wax releases ultrafine soot with particulates that stay suspended in the air. This particulate matter, just like pollution, penetrates into the lungs, entering the bloodstream and leading to allergies, asthma, bronchitis, even strokes and cancer
- Wicks that contain lead: In 2003 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the manufacture of all candles with lead cores. But many candles still contain lead or even have core wicks made of zinc and tin that can release trace amounts of heavy metals.
Types of Natural Wax used in Candles
- Soy wax (most popular)
- Beeswax (purifies the air as it burns)
- Coconut wax
- Apricot wax
- Other 100% vegetable wax
- Blend of the above waxes
Some companies use a blend of waxes, and will often state “wax blend” to indicate this.
3 Things to Consider when Buying a Natural Candle
- Wax
- Wick (unbleached, cotton, wood, paper)
- Fragrance: 100% essential oils or essential oil + synthetic fragrance blend (stronger scent throw)
Other factors you might want to take into consideration with a non-toxic and natural candle are:
- Artificial dyes (think those colorful Yankee Candles)
- Recyclable and/or reusable containers
- Checking for a complete ingredient list (or email the company directly for a clear response)
Everyone has their own personal preference with candles, but if you’re new to natural candles, it’s best to try out various types of candles from the wax to the wick type used to see what you prefer.
Best Natural & Organic Candles
I’m sharing some of my favorite natural candles that are clean burning and indicating the type of wax used and if they’re scented naturally with 100% essential oils or with added synthetic fragrance. Many of these natural candles can be easily purchased on Amazon too.
- Candle type: 100% organic coconut wax
- Scent: essential oils and fine fragrance oils
Each Hemlock Park candle is hand-poured in small batches at their artist-owned apothecary in Nevada. Hemlock Park offers a wide variety of 22 candle scents and a crackling wooden wick.
Hemlock Park Website
- Candle type: 100% natural vegetable wax blend
- Scent: essential oils
Hand-poured in the UK, Neom Organics’ bestselling 3 wicks contain up to 3 bottles of essential oils, contain absolutely no paraffin or synthetics for soot-free burn. Shop Neom Organics on Amazon or their US website.
- Candle type: 100% soy wax
- Scent: essential oils
Aromatherapy Associates candles have very strong scent throw and comes in beautiful cup shaped ceramic vessels. Each luxury candle has the equivalent of two 10ml bottles of pure essential oils.
- Candle type: 100% beeswax
- Scent: essential oils
A completely clean candle brand with zero questionable ingredients, Fontana Candle Co uses a blend of beeswax and coconut oil with a wooden wick. As beeswax is a difficult wax to use for candles, it took the brand 150 attempts, before finally finding the optimal blend that allowed a nice even burn without scorching.
SAVE: Use code OBL to save at Fontana Candle Co
- Candle type: 100% soy wax
- Scent: fragrance oils
P. F. Candle Co. is a handmade fragrance goods company, owned and operated by wife and husband team Kristen Pumphrey & Thomas Neuberger. Their cult favorite Teakwood and Tobacco scent catapulted the brand to fame and today they offer a wide variety of candles using fine fragrance oils.
- Candle type: coconut wax blend
- Scent: mix of essential oils and fragrance oils
La Lueur uses a coconut wax blend that is clean burning, biodegradable, vegan, skin safe, non-toxic, colorless, odorless, and doesn’t contain any candle enhancing additives. It’s also slow burning for a long lasting clean burning candle.
While many candle companies generally have similar looking vessels, La Lueur offers various types of artistic and luxurious looking vessels to choose from.
- Candle type: 100% soy wax
- Scent: mix of essential oils with safe synthetics
LA based natural perfume house Heretic Parfum is known for their innovative takes on classic notes like lavender, vanilla and coconut. For a clean candle with sophisticated fine fragrance scents that are as natural as possible, check out Heretic Parfum’s luxury candles.
Fernweh Editions
- Candle type: 100% beeswax
- Scent: fragrance oils
Inspired by travel and the deep connection between emotion, scent and memory, Fernweh candles take you on a scent journey to places near and far. The candles are made from a 100% soy wax blend and premium fragrance oils. The candles are hand-poured in the USA with no synthetic dyes, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or toxic chemicals.
- Candle type: 100% organic coconut wax
- Scent: mix of essential oils with fragrance oils
Yield Candles are poured in Florida and are made with organic coconut wax and a clean burning cotton wick. Each vessel can be re-used as a chic tumbler.
- Candle type: 100% organic coconut wax
- Scent: essential oils
- Budget friendly
Based in San Diego, Les Creme makes budget friendly organic coconut wax candles with essential oils. The small indie brand handcrafts products that contain no animal fats, are cruelty free and are formulated with the highest quality botanical ingredients.
- Candle type: 100% natural coconut wax blend
- Scent: fragrance oils
For a candle that brings an out-of-the-box experience, Spoken Flames is a multi sensory candle that engages your senses of smell, sight AND sound. With each candle you unlock an audible affirmation or poem via augmented reality along with a visual scene. Spoken Flames offers an enhanced sensorial experience to bring you inspiration and a more mindful self-care moment. Each candle has a 55 hour burn and dual wooden wicks.
Isle de Nature
- Candle type: Dominican Beeswax, soy wax and coconut oil
- Scent: fragrance oils
Isle de Nature is a luxury sustainable candle brand that captures the exquisite indigenous scents of remote island paradises. With a strong focus on clean, non-toxic ingredients and sustainability, Isle de Nature gives back to rebuild local bee populations of remote islands. Their Pagua Bay candle is inspired by the nation of Dominica in the West Indies.
Choiselle
- Candle type: 100% organic coconut wax
- Scent: organic essential oils
- Currently out of stock (restock late 2022)
Choiselle organic candles are inspired by the beauty and botanicals of St. Lucia and the Caribbean. Each Choiselle candle is infused with organic essential oils and a wooden wick for the cleanest burning candle possible.
Peacesake Candles
- Candle type: 100% soy wax
- Scent: mix of essential oils and fragrance oils
All Peacesake candles are handmade with 100% soy wax that’s free of herbicides and pesticides as well as genetically modified material. Their cotton wicks are free of lead cores and the dozen or so scents they offer are created using essential oils and fragrance oils.
Neals Yard Remedies
- Candle type: organic beeswax
- Scent: organic essential oils
Natural British apothecary brand Neals Yard Remedies makes hand-poured aromatherapy candles using organic beeswax and organic essential oils without any synthetic fragrance. Each candle has about a 36 hour burn time.
Makana Candles
- Candle type: 100% soy wax
- Scent: mix of essential oils with fragrance oils
Island inspired and Laguna Beach, CA-based candle brand Makana makes clean candles using 100% soy wax and lead-free cotton wicks. Makana candles are free of dyes, pesticides, herbicides, harmful metals, preservatives and chemical enhancers.
Evermore
- Candle type: 100% rapeseed wax
- Scent: essential oils with safe synthetics
Ethical UK candle brand Evermore makes rapeseed wax candles with phthalate-free fragrance and sustainably farmed essential oils. Sustainability is at the core of Evermore’s business philosophy and the brand requests up-to-date audits and certifications from their suppliers. Evermore’s luxury candles come in hand-blown black recycled glass.
Otherland
- Candle type: soy and coconut wax blend
- Scent: fragrance oils, safe synthetics
Instagram-popular candle brand Otherland brings together art, design and fragrance with scents designed by master perfumers, beautiful frosted glass tumblers and toxin-free wax
Rukske
- Candle type: soy and coconut wax blend
- Scent: Fragrance oils, safe synthetics
Not the cleanest candle ever, but Los Angeles-based luxury candle brand Rukske makes black wax candles with fine fragrance scents that transport.
