Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Candles: 15 Brands For Your Naturally Cozy Home

History of Candles

The Ancient Egyptians are often credited with using some of the very first candles in the form of reeds soaked in animal fat. These didn’t have wax or wicks though – that particular approach to candles only came about in 3000 BC with the Romans. They would dip rolled papyrus in tallow or beeswax and leave some papyrus free to use as a wick.

Various cultures around the world developed similar methods, with the Chinese using materials such as bamboo and whale fat and Native Americans in Alaska making candles by simply putting a dried fish on a fork and lighting it. In most instances, candles were used primarily as a practical source of light, though they also held religious and ceremonial value in many cultures.

For centuries, scented candles weren’t much of a concern. Beeswax was considered more luxurious because it burned far sweeter than tallow, but very little is documented about people adding fragrances to candles. Some may have added herbs to improve the scent, but fragrance just wasn’t considered the main benefit of these objects.

That’s changed significantly in recent years. Unlike the Ancient Egyptians or Romans, we don’t need candles. Well, not for light anyway. We get to enjoy them as pieces of décor and ambiance. We also have to watch out for far more sneaky ingredients in our candles than any Rome had to …

Why Should You Choose Non-Toxic Candles Instead

There was a time when most candles were made by hand from natural ingredients. Modern production methods and synthetic chemicals have made it so that candles today look and burn far differently than anything from 100 years ago. Some of these changes are for the better (no one misses the smell of burning tallow), but conventional candles also have a dark side.

Here's why it’s worth ditching them in favor of non-toxic candles:

Your Health

According to the EPA, indoor pollutants are typically three times higher than what you would find outdoors. Many things can contribute to bad indoor air quality, and unfortunately, scented candles are one of them.

Conventional candles tend to have solvents such as toluene and xylene (known irritants), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and other risky chemicals in them that can pollute our air and impact our health in the process. A 2015 study found that even unlit scented candles can emit VOCs, which is concerning considering that this family of chemicals, which includes carcinogens such as formaldehyde and benzene, may be as terrible as car fumes for our air quality. 

The worst chemicals in traditional candles tend to be bound up in the fragrance which the FDA doesn’t even require brands to disclose the ingredients of. Impure waxes can also be the culprit in some cases.

With both issues, non-toxic candle brands are proving that there’s a better way of doing things. Non-toxic candles are not only more transparent about disclosing fragrance ingredients, so you know what it is you’re burning, but they tend to stick to simple, natural ingredients while steering clear of anything potentially hazardous. 

Environmental Impact

Since the air pollution issues associated with conventional candles primarily affect indoor spaces, that aspect of things doesn’t have a massive impact on the environment, but there are other concerns. For example, many candles use paraffin wax, which is a petroleum by-product that not only emits particulates into the air but also involves environmentally damaging practices to produce. Petroleum by-products are made from crude oil – a non-renewable resource that often has a very negative impact on the environment from the way it’s mined, transported, and refined. 

Adding to the concern is that paraffin wax doesn’t biodegrade, so when you throw out old candles with wax caught at the bottom of a jar, just know that that’s likely still in a landfill. The same is true of any synthetic candle wax.

Non-toxic candles stick primarily to natural and plant-based waxes. They’re far less energy-intensive to source, make for cleaner burns, and don’t add to the growing piles of landfill waste.

What to Avoid When Shopping for Non-Toxic Candles

Unlike cosmetics, candle brands do not need to disclose the exact ingredients in their formulas, which makes shopping extra tricky. That said, here’s what to avoid and why:

• Paraffin: As mentioned, this ingredient is a petroleum by-product, which means that as it burns, it releases VOCs such as benzene, acetone, and toluene into the air. This kind of air pollution isn’t great for our lungs in general, but many of these ingredients are also known carcinogens and irritants.‍
• Undisclosed and Synthetic Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances aren’t always toxic, but unfortunately, many are as they often contain phthalates, which, as they enter our air, can be inhaled and impact allergy symptoms and hormone health. Any kind of fragrance in a candle that isn’t broken down into its exact ingredients or noted as phthalate and paraben-free is a red flag.‍
• No Information on the Wick: Too often we see conventional candle brands simply listing their wicks as being made from “natural fibers” without being clear on what that means. Natural isn’t always enough. For example, wood wicks treated with oils and chemicals may let off VOCs into the air.

It’s why it’s so important to stick to non-toxic candle brands that are clear about what they’re using and, if possible, where it’s sourced from. That way, you can ensure you’re not being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.

The Pros and Cons of Beeswax as a Non-Toxic Candle Wax

Beeswax is one of the oldest candle choices and was once reserved only for churches due to its high cost. It’s now come back into popularity for use in non-toxic candles, but there is some disagreement on whether or not this wax should be used so much. Here are the pros and cons:

The Pros:

• Beeswax candles burn with a naturally light, sweet scent, making them perfect for fragrance-free candles. 
• It’s a natural material that is renewable and biodegradable.
• Beekeeping can have a positive impact on general ecosystem health.
• Like soy and coconut oil candles, it creates far less soot than paraffin equivalents and is thus considered a “clean burn”.

The Cons:

• It’s technically an animal-based ingredient and thus isn’t suitable for vegans.
• It’s generally more expensive.
• Like anything that is farmed, beeswax production needs to be checked for sustainable practices.

Our Verdict:

Beeswax is one of the healthiest candle wax options, especially for those sensitive to fragrances. Still, we completely understand that this ingredient isn’t a good fit for anyone who prefers vegan products.

Our 3 Main Criteria for Eco-Friendly Candles

Sustainability measures aren’t always easy or cheap to implement. We don’t require brands to meet all these criteria to recommend them, but they need to tick at least some of the boxes and show genuine commitment to more transparent and sustainable practices: 

1. Wax and Wick

• Natural Wax: Soy, beeswax, and coconut oil are all eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic and paraffin-based waxes. Not only are they renewable, but they emit fewer pollutants when burning and are biodegradable.‍
• Natural Wick: Natural cotton, hemp, and untreated wicks burn cleaner than synthetic ones and are less chemically intensive to produce which is also better for the environment.‍
• Sustainably Sourced Materials: We love to support brands that take things a step further with ingredients such as organic soy or unbleached cotton wicks that are sourced with more sustainable agricultural practices and involve fewer potentially polluting chemicals.

2. Shipping and Packaging

• Recycled, Reusable, or Recyclable Packaging: With about 140 million tons of waste going to landfills each year in the US, any measures to reduce waste creation matters. ‍
• Efforts Made to Reduce Impact of Shipping: Shipping not only creates waste in the form of boxes, etc. but it can also be very carbon intensive. That’s why it’s so important that eco-friendly candle brands try to reduce or offset their impact where possible.

3. Brand Commitments

• Small Batch Production: Something you’ll often find with safer candles is that they’re made in small batches. The sustainability upside to this is that less waste is created, workers are often treated better, and the brands can be more transparent about production measures.‍
• Externally Audited or Certified: Being Made Safe, cruelty-free, or USDA-certified bio-based adds validity to brands’ eco-friendly claims and shows that they’re taking things seriously.

15 Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Candles We Recommend

If you’re looking for clean candle companies with eco-friendly practices that still have great scents and burn times, here are 15 of the very best broken down by their sustainability stats, scent profiles, and best features:

1. Bluecorn

This brand has some of the healthiest candles with simple, no-nonsense ingredients. Bluecorn has an entire range of fragrance-free candles that, thanks to being made from 100% beeswax, still have a pleasant aroma. When this brand does add scents, they’re made from pure, non-toxic essential oils.

Pricing: $10-$40

Candle Range: Scented and unscented tea lights, candle sticks, pillar candles, etc.

Scents: Fragrance-free, citrus, woody, spicy, floral, fresh, and green.

‍The Sustainability Stats:

• Natural, paraffin-free wax.
• Fragrances with pure essential oils.
• Cotton, metal-free wick.
• California Prop 65 and REACH-compliant non-toxic dyes.
• Offset emissions with CarbonFund.Org
• Recycled, recyclable, and reusable packaging

2. Fontana Candle Co.

Unlike conventional candle brands, Fontana Candle Co. is completely transparent about the ingredients in their products. They stick to natural, simple things like coconut oil, beeswax, and pure essential oils and extracts. This means that their candles not only burn cleanly, but the fragrance is never too heavy.

Pricing: $7-$26

Candle Range: Scented single-wick glass jar candles, and unscented wood wick candles.

Scents: Citrus, fresh, spicy, and what is perhaps best described as “edible” (for example, pumpkin pie). 

The Sustainability Stats:

• Natural, paraffin-free wax.
• All-natural, non-toxic ingredients.
• Made Safe Certified
• Cruelty-Free.
• Recyclable packaging.

3. Brooklyn Candle Studio

This brand uses a mix of natural and synthetic ingredients in their fragrance oils, but you can rest assured that they’re free of nasty chemicals like phthalates. Their packaging is also eco-friendly and sometimes features work from artist collaborations.

Pricing: $18-$95‍

Candle Range: Scented single and multi-wick jar candles.

Scents: Woody, floral, citrus, spice, fruity, and a combination of aromatic and botanical.

The Sustainability Stats:

• 100% soy wax.
• Non-toxic fragrance-free of phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and petroleum.
• Metal-free cotton wick treated with vegetable oil.
• Vegan and cruelty-free.
• Recyclable, recycled, and reusable packaging.

4. Siblings

Easy refills and a completely carbon-neutral approach are just the beginning with this clean candle brand. They have a useful fragrance finder to help you nail down the best non-toxic scented candles for your tastes and chic ceramic jars that make for beautiful décor pieces.

Pricing: $29-$116

Candle Range: Scented single and multi-wick jar candles, and refills.

Scents: Woody, fruity, floral, warm and spiced, edible and gourmand.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Recyclable, refillable, and compostable packaging.
• Plastic-free shipping materials.
• Non-toxic fragrances free of phthalates and parabens.
• Soy and coconut wax.
• Lead and metal-free cotton wick and wooden wick holder.
• Carbon neutral

5. Grow Fragrance

One of the top non-toxic candle brands out there, Grow Fragrance hand-pours each candle and makes everything in small batches to keep waste down. Their scents include favorites such as “Woodland Sage” and “Pomegranate Fig” – all of which smell incredible while also being phthalate and petroleum-free for a cleaner burn.

Pricing: $36

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles.

Scents: Fruity, green, spicy, and floral.

‍The Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic, plant-based fragrances.
• 100% soy and coconut wax blend.
• Lead-free, unbleached cotton wick.
• Recyclable and refillable packaging.
• Leaping Bunny certified.
• USDA-certified biobased product.
• Durham Living Wage.

6. Terralite

This non-toxic candle brand is so committed to the idea of you having great scents around you at all times that they even offer travel sizes of their best sellers. Their fragrance combinations are made entirely from wildcrafted, and organic, pure essential oils and primarily designed as aromatherapy tools so don’t be surprised if lighting one of these non-toxic candles sends you into a spa-like state.

Pricing: $18-$56

Candle Range: Scented single, multi-wick jar candles, and tealights.

Scents: Citrus, green, floral, spice, lavender, and fresh, coastal combinations inspired by the brand’s California roots.

The Sustainability Stats:

• 100% coconut wax
• Non-toxic, organic fragrances.
• Recycled and recyclable packaging.

7. Arctic Wicks

Arctic Wicks candles use a coconut and beeswax blend alongside fragrance and essential oils that are non-toxic, paraben, and phthalate-free so that you get a completely clean burn. Something we love about this brand is how detailed their scent descriptions are. It just makes shopping online (when you can’t sniff-test things) so much easier.

Pricing: $20-$35

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles.

Scents: Seasonal classics, citrus, fruity, floral, green, spicy, and woody.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic fragrances free of parabens, phthalates, etc.
• USDA-Certified Biobased Product
• Unbleached cotton wicks coated on organic vegetable wax.

8. Green Koala

Homey scents like cozy cashmere and cranberry chutney are standouts of the brand, but so is their approach to the world of non-toxic candles. Their use of undyed coconut wax and phthalate-free fragrances infused with essential oils make their products some of the safest candles to burn.

Pricing: $14-$32

Candle Range: Single wick jar and tin candles.

Scents: Citrus, fresh, coastal, fruity, woody, and fresh.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic, paraben and phthalate-free fragrance.
• Non-GMO coconut wax.
• Lead-free cotton wick.
• Donates to various eco causes.
• Reusable and recyclable packaging.

9. Slow North

This small, female-founded company began with a simple mission: create healthy candles that could soothe the soul without using any unnecessary or potentially harmful substances. Slow North’s hand-poured soy wax candles are beloved for their paired-back, truly delightful scents, such as rosemary lemon and orange clove.

Pricing: $24-$36

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles.

Scents: Citrus, floral, green, fresh, and woody.

‍The Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic fragrance featuring ethically sourced essential oils.
• Soy wax.
• Cotton wick.
• Recyclable packaging.

10. Henry Rose

Though best known for their fragrances, this brand also makes some of the best non-toxic candles. The products are made in small batches and have a limited but notably elevated scent range. We also love how simple and chic the packaging is – definitely the kind of candles you’ll want to have out all the time.

Pricing: $45

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles.

Scents: White floral, spicy vanilla, amber gourmand, and woody musk.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic fragrance free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, etc.
• Soy, coconut, and vegetable oil wax.
• 100% cotton wick.
• Leaping Bunny-Certified.
• Cradle to Cradle Certified for overall sustainability.
• EWG Certified.
• Recycled and recyclable packaging.

11. Welch Candle Co.

The healthiest candles to burn are generally the ones with the simplest and most natural ingredients. Well, it doesn’t get much simpler than Welch Candle Co’s handmade 100% beeswax candles. The family-owned brand uses unfiltered, sustainably sourced beeswax that burns to create a sweet, honey scent, proving that fragrance-free candles can still smell delicious.

Pricing: $16–$66.

Candle Range: Unscented single and multi-wick jar candles.

Scents: Fragrance-free.

The Sustainability Stats:

• 100% beeswax.
• Lead and metal-free wick.
• Recyclable and reusable packaging.

12. Lublu Candles & Co.

All the non-toxic candles at Lublu are sold in refillable cement jars that you can keep for a lifetime. They use a mix of fragrance and essential oils that are all phthalate, paraben, carcinogen, and toxin-free and to make it easier to try out their scents, they even have a “discovery” candle you can order. The tiny tea light is meant to give you a whiff before you commit to larger purposes so that less waste is created from unused candles.

Pricing: $3-$30

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles.

Scents: Woody, fresh, and floral.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic fragrance free of phthalates, parabens, etc.
• Coconut and soy wax.
• Sustainably sourced wooden wick.

13. P.F. Candle Co

Move aside any assumptions you might have about non-toxic candles only having soft fragrances. P.F Candle Co. has managed to make seriously concentrated candles for anyone into a strong scent-throw. They also have lighter options too, and a range of phthalate and paraben-free soy candles that are sure to delight every preference. We love that each scent is also rated on how good it is for certain activities or moods.

Pricing: $14-$36

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles

Scents: Earthy, fresh, floral, and woody.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Vegan.
• Cruelty-free.
• Non-toxic and phthalate-free fragrances.
• 100% soy wax.
• Cotton wicks.
• Recyclable and reusable packaging.

14. Hemlock Park

Featured on Cosmopolitan as one of the best natural candles around, Hemlock Park uses a blend of essential oils to create plant-based products. To keep the nature theme going, they have scent collections divided by different natural environments such as “forest”, “desert”, and “island”. Needless to say, these are truly transportive candles.

Pricing: $14-$28

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar candles.

Scents: Very wide range of citrus, woody, green, and fresh.

The Sustainability Stats:

• FSC-certified sustainable wooden wick.
• Coconut wax.
• Non-toxic fragrance free of phthalates.
• Carbon-neutral shipping.
• Recyclable and reusable packaging.

15. Mrs. Meyer's

If you love the smell of Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products, then their non-toxic, safe candles are about to be your new obsession. Every scent is inspired by gardening so expect fresh and floral fragrances that use essential oils as their base. One of the best parts of these candles is how well-priced they are and easily available from places like Amazon and Target.

Pricing: $5-$11

Candle Range: Scented single-wick jar and tin candles.

Scents: Fresh, floral, and spicy.

The Sustainability Stats:

• Natural and non-toxic ingredients.
• Soy and vegetable wax.
• Lead-free cotton wick.
• Cruelty-free.
• Recyclable and reusable packaging.

Are Refillable Candles a Convenient Eco-Friendly Choice?

Every brand approaches refill candles differently, but generally refills can be very convenient. Take Grow Fragrance, for example. Their refills come in recyclable tin containers that you can just slip into your original candle holder when the last one has finished. You don’t even have to clean the holder beforehand.

Other brands, like Lublue Candles, sell ceramic holders that then perfectly fit wax refills with minimal fuss. It saves on waste and money and means you can enjoy beautiful candle holders for longer.

Where Else Can You Buy Non-Toxic Candles? 

You don’t need to go hunting in health stores for non-toxic, clean candles anymore. Every single brand mentioned in this article is available online, with many even being at Target, Whole Foods Market, and other common stores.

Light Up the Good Vibes

Switching to non-toxic, clean candles means that you get to avoid air-polluting chemicals like phthalates and VOCs so that your health isn’t burning at the same rate the candle is. When shopping for non-toxic and eco-friendly candles, just pay attention to three main things:

• The wax
• The wick
• The fragrance.

The materials and ingredients for these are the main determiners of how toxic the candles are to our air, and how likely they are to clog up landfills. Thankfully, plenty of brands have shown that going natural and clean doesn’t mean you need to compromise on scent quality or burn time with your candles. If anything, you get more benefits because they’re not being undermined by possible pollutants.

Next time you’re looking to switch up the mood with a new candle, give the eco-friendly and non-toxic brands a whiff. They’ve got all the good vibes with none of the bad stuff.

FAQs

What kind of candles are not toxic?

‍The kind of candles that are not toxic include anything that sticks with natural waxes, untreated and natural wicks and uses natural and/or phthalate and paraben-free scents. ‍

Are 100% soy candles non-toxic?

‍100% soy candles are non-toxic in terms of the wax itself, but if synthetic fragrances, including phthalates, have been added, they’re no longer considered non-toxic.‍

Are wood-wick candles toxic?

‍As long as they haven’t been treated with resins, oils, or other chemicals, wood-wick candles are not toxic.

How to know if a candle is toxic?

‍To know if a candle is toxic, look at what has been used to make the wax, wick, and fragrance, and if the brand is open about these things too. Ideally, a non-toxic candle will use natural paraffin-free wax, a natural wick, and a fragrance free of phthalates and parabens.‍

Are Bath & Body Works candles toxic?

‍Yes, many consider Bath & Body Works candles to be toxic as they use paraffin wax and synthetic fragrances, both of which emit VOCs into our air, which can negatively impact our health.‍

Is Yankee Candle toxic?

‍Though some of their products use soy wax, many still view Yankee Candle options as toxic. They still feature paraffin wax sometimes, and their fragrances are synthetic.