Growing up, I was always a huge fan of candles. Even as a teen, I loved lighting them during journaling and to relax at the end of a long day. Browsing through candle aisles at stores was quite the sensory experience with all the beautiful colors and lovely scents. The gorgeous and unique votives of different candle brands only made candles all the more alluring. When I got older, I was obsessed with Yankee Candle Co. and would excitedly stock up during big sale events for the year. During all that time, trying to find non-toxic candles honestly never crossed my mind.
Many of the candles I used over the years could have been releasing all kinds of toxic chemicals into the air for all I know. In fact, I’m almost certain most if not all of them did. I never paid attention to candle ingredients back then to really know.
The Good News About Candles
In any case, here’s the good news. There are healthier, almost non-toxic candle options out there! You just have to know what to look for. In this article, I will be sharing simple steps to help you shop for mostly non-toxic candles.
If you’re interested in learning more about the chemistry of candles and how it influences their toxicity, read Are Candles Bad for You? A Look into Toxic and Non-toxic Candles.
How to Choose Mostly Non-toxic Candles: 4 Easy Steps
If you read Are Candles Bad for You? A Look into Toxic and Non-toxic Candles, you are already familiar with the ingredients of a candle that are cause for concern. If you’re interested in the chemistry behind candle ingredients and candle toxicity, I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t! Either way, we will discuss how to choose healthier candles in this article.
There are quite a few (almost) non-toxic candles out there if you know where to look. I say “almost” because all candles are by nature a combustion product. Because of this, they will always create combustion byproducts while burning. However, the quality of the candle ingredients as well as where, how, and how long you burn a candle can make a huge difference in the amount of emissions released. So if you’re not quite ready to do away with candles, there is hope!
Please also keep in mind that because candles are largely unregulated, you may need to do some digging to find true answers to your questions. Don’t assume that because a candle is listed as “non-toxic”, “soy”, “clean”, “plant-based”, etc. that it is the most non-toxic option. This goes along with the issue of greenwashing, which you can read more about in Greenwashing Definition: What You Should Know About False Eco-Friendly Claims.
Anyway, without further ado, here are 4 simple steps to take when you’re shopping for the best, mostly non-toxic candles!
Step 1. Avoid bright, artificial colors
Candles with bright, bold colors are likely made with synthetic dyes. The best non-toxic candles are typically undyed or use natural coloring. Natural candles tend to have a more subtle or creamy colors. They might be a bit plainer, but they’re likely much safer than those with artificial dyes.
Step 2. Check for fragrances
Check the label or ask if the ingredients contain words like “parfum”, “fragrance”, or “fragrance oil”. If so, there’s a chance it could contain harmful chemicals, as companies don’t have to disclose their fragrance ingredients. On top of that, these candles will likely have a super powerful scent compared to candles with essential oils.
For essential oils, you may want to look into the quality of essential oil used or even just skip scents altogether.
Step 3. Look for 100% beeswax, coconut wax, or soy wax
Check the label to see what kind of wax is used. If it says “paraffin” or “paraffin blend,” it’s best to skip it. Or if it doesn’t mention the wax type at all, it is likely safe to assume that it is paraffin since it is the most common wax used.
Don’t assume that because a candle says “soy” or “coconut” that it is 100% soy or coconut. Make sure the candle isn’t a paraffin blend. Also, if you can assure soy candles are free from pesticides, even better.
My recommendation is to go with 100% beeswax if you can!
Step 4. Check the wick
Even though lead wicks are phased out, you still want to make sure you aren’t coming across imported wicks that contain lead cores in them.
You’ll want to find undyed and unbleached 100% cotton or 100% wood wicks.
My Top 3 Picks for the Best Non-Toxic Candles
Now that you know how to shop for mostly non-toxic candles, it helps to know some examples you could buy. Here are a few great brands that offer some of the best non-toxic candles! Some of these links below may be affiliate links which means I get a small commission at no cost to you.
1. Fontana Candle Co.
These candles are handcrafted with coconut wax, pure essential oils, and wood wicks for a crackling, cozy burn. When you go to their website, they give you the option to search either their scented or unscented candles. They are very transparent about each of their ingredients, and some of their candles are MADE SAFE® certified. That means they are free of any and all toxins known or suspected to harm human health or ecosystems.
2. Natural Sloth
Natural Sloth candles are made in Texas and also have certain candles that are MADE SAFE® certified. They are also very transparent and honest about each ingredient used in their products. Natural Sloth offers candles with either 100% cotton or wood wicks in addition to wax melts. Their mission is “to create a healthy, toxin-free home using only natural ingredients”. In addition to candles, they also sell other household items like dish soap and hand soap.
3. Basic Bee Candle Co.
Basic Bee is a woman-owned small business that uses all natural ingredients. They have a lot of scents available that use essential oils. Each candle lists every ingredient used in each candle.
Tips for Safely Burning Candles
To assure you are burning candles the safest way possible, make sure to follow these tips!
- Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before you light it each time to prevent excessive soot and uneven burning.
- Remove any wick trimmings or debris from the wax pool
- Stand the wick straight up before each burn.
- Burning multiple candles close together can create excessive heat and lead to unpredictable flames; as a general rule, the fewer candles burning at once, the better!
- Place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from flammable materials like curtains or paper.
- Ensure the room is well-ventilated to disperse any combustion byproducts.
- Avoid placing candles in drafty areas, as this can lead to uneven burning and increased soot.
- Limit candle use to 3-4 hours at a time to prevent overheating and excessive emissions.
- Instead of blowing out your candle, use a candle snuffer or other similar tool to push the lit wick in the wax pool.
- And of course, never leave a candle unattended!
Final Thoughts About Non-toxic Candles
Candles can be an amazing way to add warmth, scent, and atmosphere to your home. But choosing the wrong candles can come with a number of health risks. Although all candles are by nature combustion products, there are still much safer alternatives available. By choosing the best, most non-toxic candles, you can get all the cozy benefits without worrying about air quality or health risks.
When shopping for candles, avoid paraffin and go for 100% beeswax, opt for high-quality essential oil if you want fragrances or skip fragrances altogether (the healthiest option confirmed by research), choose lead-free wicks that are either 100% cotton or wood, and skip anything with artificial dyes.
Making the switch to more non-toxic candles is a simple step toward creating a healthier, happier home for you and your loved ones!
0 Comments