Growing up, every December I’d hit the big name candle company stores in the mall (Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works) to buy Christmas gifts for all the women in my life. Based off how packed those stores always were around the holidays, I’m pretty sure a majority of the population had the same gift-giving strategy in mind. Fragrant candles have pretty much always been the quintessential gift to give. Back then, most people didn’t think much about what synthetic materials the candles were made out of… just as long as they smelled nice, right? Not a lot of thought went into whether they were clean burning or not. Thankfully, these days more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of indoor air quality, and the impact that burning candles can have on it.
Most of us have realized non-toxic is the way to go. But what kinds of candles exactly are truly non-toxic? And when you buy a candle that says “Non-toxic” or “Natural” on the label, is it really so? We’re going to dive into that here in this post.
What to consider when choosing a candle
There are typically three things that make a candle a candle: the wax, the wick, and the scent (though not all candles are scented). There’s also the candle color if it’s been dyed. In a typical synthetic candle, any or all of these have the potential to release harmful toxins into the air. Let’s break it down..
The wax:
The typical conventional candle is made using paraffin as the base wax. Paraffin is a petroleum (aka crude oil) waste product that gets chemically bleached and deodorized. It’s cheap to make and has a high melting point. Aside from its use in candles, it’s also commonly used in salons and spas for wax treatments, and as heat treatment for joint pain and arthritis. So, what makes this wax toxic? When it’s burned, it emits toxic compounds benzene and toluene into the air (similar to diesel exhausts). Needless to say, paraffin wax candles are definitely not clean burning candles.
The wick:
The main concern with candle wicks used to be that they often contained lead in the metal core (zinc metal cores are still used today to keep the wicks upright). In 2003, a ban was established on the manufacturing and sale of candles with lead- cored wicks, applying to all domestic and imported candles. Despite the ban, some people believe lead-core wicks may still be out there. Either way, it’s a good idea to use caution and buy from a reputable manufacturer. Aside from the lead concern, there may be other potential toxins in the fibers of todays candle wicks, and the chemical treatments that even “natural” wicks go through.
The scent:
When “fragrance” is used to scent a candle, there’s really not a whole lot of telling what’s in it. Synthetic fragrances can be literal chemical concoctions. Literally thousands of ingredients can hide behind that single term – it’s a catch-all. Many of those ingredients contain phthalates. As the candles burn, phthalates and VOCs get released into the air and inhaled, which can contribute to health effects such as hormone disruption, cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies and sensitivities. Whether it’s candles, personal care products, cosmetics, or household cleaner, I typically recommend avoiding buying things with “fragrance” in the list of ingredients.
Another thing to consider is the candle color. Artificial color used in candles can be considered toxic as well. As the wick, wax, and fragrance get burned and evaporated into the air, so do the synthetic dyes.
What qualifies a “non-toxic” candle as non-toxic?
Sadly, there isn’t much regulation at all in the candle industry. Companies don’t even have to list ingredients on candle labels! So, who’s to say that a candle with the words “non-toxic” on the label is actually made with non-toxic ingredients? I err on the side of caution. Look for candles that actually CHOOSE to list ingredients on the label – a full list of ingredients. Keep in mind that many candle manufactures greenwash their product – they may include something like “made with soy wax” on the label, when in reality, it is made with only some soy wax, in a blend with mostly paraffin wax. Of course, it’s more cost-effective for them to use that cheap wax! They can even do this with the scent, claiming on the label “made with essential oils,” when in reality, a combination of essential oils and synthetic fragrance is used.
What are truly non-toxic candles made out of?
A truly non-toxic candle should use:
- ONLY natural non-toxic wax. The keyword here is “only.” We’ll get into this below, but you can typically look for 100% beeswax, soy or coconut wax – again, NOT blended with paraffin wax.
- A natural non-toxic wick, such as non-treated wood or hemp. 100% cotton wicks can be a good choice, but many are pre-treated with chemicals to promote a slow burn.
- Only pure essential oils – no “fragrance”.
- No artificial coloring or synthetic dyes.
Despite knowing what to look for and what to avoid in a candle, it can still be difficult to find a truly non-toxic and clean burning one in stores because of the lack of transparency. The best piece of advice I can give on this topic, is to buy your candles from a reputable source, and/or look for candle manufacturers who are transparent enough to list all the ingredients used.
What are the best kinds of non-toxic candles?
These are my top choices for natural, clean burning candle wax:
1. Beeswax
Beeswax is my favorite kind of non-toxic candle material. It’s a very clean burning natural wax, releasing a warm honey scent, and no soot or hazardous chemicals. Aside from that benefit, when the wax is heated, it’s also been known to release negative ions into the air (similar to salt lamps). These negative ions can bind to particles floating in the air, such as dust, pollen and dander, and drop them to to ground to later be vacuumed up, actually working to clean the air. You can often find pure beeswax candles at local farmer’s markets.
2. Soy
Soy is very commonly used for making cleaner, non-toxic candles. While it’s not my favorite choice, it can still be a good one, and definitely better than paraffin! Just make sure it’s made with 100% soy wax, without any paraffin blended in (this is very common). And keep in mind that most soy grown in the US is GMO (genetically modified) to withstand heavy pesticide use.
3. Coconut
Coconut is another good candle wax that’s cleaner burning. It is more expensive and has a low melting point, which is why you’ll often find candles with a coconut and soy wax blend.
My favorite non-toxic candle choice:
One candle company that I can personally recommend for its pure ingredients and great quality is Bee Lucia Wellness Co. They sent me some candles to try out and I was very impressed. They are beautiful, and smell divine. Each candle by Bee Lucia is handcrafted in Portland, Oregon by 3 generations of women. They are made with organic beeswax + organic, cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil + therapeutic-grade, pure essential oils. They are also infused with ethically sourced natural healing crystals, which adds a really beautiful and unique touch. Check out The Wellness Candle® by Bee Lucia here.
Some of the links above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532257/
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2003/CPSC-Bans-Candles-With-Lead-Cored-Wicks
https://fontanacandlecompany.com/blogs/bee-well-blog/a-complete-guide-to-non-toxic-candles
https://www.haywardscore.com/articles/the-truth-about-scented-candles/