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Feeling down? Light a candle. Frustrated that the sun sets by 4pm? Light a candle. Just cooked salmon and now your whole house won’t let you forget it? Light…two. Candles (these are some of our fave winter candles) are a surefire way to boost your mood, channel cozy energy, and make your home smell heavenly. But, like with the foods we eat and the cleaning products we use, it’s just as important to know what’s actually in our candles, since they do impact the air we breathe. Enter: non-toxic candles. Many candles are actually packed with potentially harmful chemicals like phthalates, formaldehyde, paraffin, and lead, so it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients, the wax, and the wick when picking out the best new one to add to your collection.
What’s a non-toxic candle, exactly?
When it comes to the best types of wax, soy wax and beeswax are your best bets from an eco-conscious and non-toxic ingredient perspective. Plus, they burn for a lot longer. They provide a cleaner burn than petroleum-based waxes and, while paraffin wax tends to be cheaper, it burns at a much faster rate than soy wax, so the non-toxic options are also a better bang for your buck. Additionally, it’s best to look for a candle with a 100 percent cotton or wood wick. That way, there are no traces of metal that can burn into the air, and you can reap the full effects of the fragrance.
Finally, speaking of fragrance, for a candle to really be non-toxic, look for scented candles that are phthalate-free and are made with 100 percent naturally derived essential oils. These options will usually say “clean” or “non-toxic” on the label, so they won’t be hard to spot. Ready to get shopping? These are the best non-toxic candles you’ll want on your wick wish list.
The best non-toxic candles
BROWN GIRL Jane Warm Cashmere Perfumed Candle — $58.00
Besides being just plain gorgeous, this citrus-y candle includes top notes of mandarin and grapefruit that smell warm, calming, and romantic. The coconut and soy wax blend is also clean and offers a 65-hour burn time. BROWN GIRL Jane is an entirely plant-based line that helps a community of loyal customers find wellness and balance through their products.
Voyage et Cie + Beek Candle — $90.00
Known for their 100 percent organic and sustainable, hand-poured, soy wax candles, Voyage et Cie has wrapped this luxe number in all natural leather that makes it not only a fragrance essential, but also a stylish piece of home decor.
FORVR Mood Left On Read Candle — $38.00
Made without phthalates and parabens, this vegan candle has a warm and spicy scent that is perfectly warming for fall and winter. FORVR Mood has a luxury candle scent for whatever mood you may be in from cozy to sexy.
Otherland Gilded Collection Fallen Fir — $36.00
This toxin-free candle from the brand’s new Gilded Collection exudes luxury and glamour. Made with coconut and soy wax and featuring a pure cotton wick, the 50-hour burn time will keep your home smelling amazing burn after burn. You can buy Otherland’s candles alone, in a gift set that comes in a luxe box with matches, or build your own box on their site with all of your fave scents.
Heretic Dirty Lemon Candle — $70.00
This minimalist candle smells just as good as it looks. Made with 100 percent soy wax, this fresh, bright, citrus-scented candle will keep your senses invigorated and keep your home smelling clean. The Heretic brand works to show how sensual nature is by working with raw ingredients from dirt to stems and petals to build their scents.
Literie I Have a Cabin Upstate Candle — $35.00
This smoke and pine scented candle truly transports you to a cozy upstate cabin with each burn. The soy and coconut blend wax has a 50-hour burn time, and the fun names of all of the brand’s candles make them the perfect gifting item. The brand has candles for every special occasion, mood, and environment you’re in (or would like to be in).
Amass Pseudo Citrine Candle — $48.00
Yes, we’re all already in love with AMASS’s hand sanitizers, soaps, and lotions, but thankfully they now have candles with their signature scents, too. With lemon, ginger, grapefruit, and lavender, this sunny candle brings a hint of summer to the colder months. You can even subscribe and save a few dollars to order this candle on repeat (because we know you’ll want to!).
Homesick Let's Toast Candle — $34.00
Whether you’re celebrating the holidays, a birthday, engagement, or just toasting on a Wednesday, this celebratory candle is the perfect gift to honor any festivity. It features top notes of mandarin and grapefruit, middle notes of apple and pineapple, and Champagne grapes as its base scent. Its overall very fruity, bright, and irresistible.
Keap Wild Figs Candle — $50.00
Keap’s ethos is based around sustainable, clean candles that are good for you, your home, and the environment. This decadent, berry-blasted fig scent is the definition of luxe, poured to give you 45 hours of burn time. And If you’re not sold on the whole candle, Keap lets you sample it in your home first to figure out what fragrance fits you best.
SoHum Cashmere + Tonka Bean — $40.00
Based out of Lakeshore, Ontario, SoHum was created with the intention of uplifting your mood as well as your environment. Crafted with deliberately non-toxic, eco-friendly candles made of 100 percent soy wax and hand-poured, SoHum candles not only smell fantastic, but they offer a super long burn time (up to 85 hours). Right now, our favorite is this warm Cashmere + Tonka Bean, which smells like a more festive, smoky vanilla. Get whiffs of orange flower, patchouli, and musk that give it more dimension.
Boy Smells Pride Dynasty Candle — $60.00
Made with a mix of coconut and beeswax, this non-toxic candle has a 50-hour burn time, a cozy fragrance (a spicy peppercorn mixed with rhubarb, cashmeran, and a flower-y tulip), and is from one of our all time favorite candle brands, Boy Smells.
Ellis Brooklyn Pseudonym Terrific Scented Candle — $60.00
Inspired by the D.H. Lawrence poem “Figs,” this fresh fig and jasmine-scented candle is perfect to burn all day and all night long. Each Ellis Brooklyn candle is hand-poured in New York and crafted from a soy wax blend. It’ll last ya between 50-60 hours.
Follain Candle No. 1 — $38.00
Made with all clean ingredients (a sustainable vegetable wax blend, and the wick is unbleached and made of cotton), this calm candle is soothing, and uses all natural essential oils for the fragrance (lavender, vanilla, sandalwood, and a little bit of warm bergamot). To make the candle last longer, make sure to trim the wick to 1/8th of an inch before every burn.
Rukske Hidden Track Candle — $60.00
This frankincense, sandalwood, and vanilla-scented candle is perfect for fall and winter. It smells heavenly, is made from 100 percent soy wax, and each one is hand-poured. Don’t let the minimalist design fool you: Like a little black dress, these little black candles are a staple for any home, last forever, and are timeless. Unlike an LBD, they’ll fill your room with heavenly fragrance.
Dossier Powdery Hawthorne Candle — $39.00
This vegan and cruelty-free candle features a deep vintage scent (think ’50s powder room in the best way possible) that fills a room and transports you to a totally different era. The simple packaging also makes it perfect to fit any room decor.
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