Best Non-Toxic Candles

handmade candles in a box — Photo courtesy of Pexels

Clean-Burning Candles (& Cruelty-Free)

Nothing is more relaxing than filling your home with the beautiful flickering light and scent of a candle. Unfortunately, not all candles are made equal. Some candles can give off not-so-nice chemicals and even create smoke damage in your home.

Waxes

The best choice for non-toxic candle wax is beeswax. Of course, that may be upsetting to vegans and those who disagree with using animal by-products. Soy Wax and Coconut Wax are also great options (and vegan!). The worse offender is Paraffin Wax, which can give off benzene and toluene (carcinogens) when burned!

Wicks

Aside from the form of wax, wicks also play a huge part in clean-burning candles. Look for candles with wicks made of 100% unbleached cotton or wood (for an added satisfying crackle). Stay away from wicks with lead. A good way to test for lead is to rub the wick on a piece of paper. If it leaves a mark, it contains lead.

Fragrance (and what’s lurking in it)

Another part of choosing a cleaner candle is knowing what makes up the fragrance. Ideally, you want a candle that has essential oils versus perfume. Perfumes aren’t inherently evil, but it’s hard to decipher what’s in them. It never hurts to ask, but brands are under no obligation to disclose what makes up their signature scents.

woman lighting a candle — Photo courtesy of Pexels

While choosing to light a candle will always have some cons, there are cleaner candles available that make the process a little less toxic. We’ve listed our favorite non-toxic candle brands below!

Did we miss a brand? Let us know here and we’ll happily reach out to them to see if they meet our Clean & Cruelty-Free standards.

This post is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links from which we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Nothing stated in this article should be used in place of professional medical advice. All opinions are our own.