I’ve always cared about what I put into my body. Since college, that looked like eating clean and trying to avoid anything overly processed. But years later, after a long stretch of stress, burnout, and eventually navigating an autoimmune disorder and chronic migraines, I started paying attention to not just what I was consuming—but what I was living with.

I began looking more closely at my skincare, cleaning products, and the air inside my home. The everyday things I had never really questioned. At some point, I went down the rabbit hole of all the toxins and endocrine disruptors hiding in personal care products, fragrances, cleaning supplies—and eventually, candles. 

I’ve always been a candle person. Lighting one at the end of cleaning the house as a signal that I can relax. Later, candles became part of my evening wind down ritual to help my body slow down. There’s something about a candle that changes a space almost instantly. So when I learned how many conventional candles release toxins into the air, it felt really disappointing.

It also led me to look more deeply at what most candles are actually made of.

What Makes a Candle Non Toxic?

A non toxic candle is one that burns cleanly, without releasing harmful chemicals into your air.

It comes down to three main components:

• The wax
• The fragrance
• The wick

When these are thoughtfully sourced and simply made with pure natural ingredients, a candle becomes something very different. Not just scent—but a more grounded energy in your space.

Truly clean ingredient candles are made with 100% natural waxes like soy, coconut soy, or beeswax, paired with essential oils or carefully formulated, plant-based fragrances, and finished with a lead-free wick made from cotton, hemp, or wood.

Why Most Candles Are Not Truly Clean

A large portion of mass market candles are made with paraffin wax or paraffin blends.

Paraffin wax is a non-biodegradable petroleum byproduct. When burned, it can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and toluene, along with other emissions like formaldehyde that can affect indoor air quality and our health over time.

Paraffin is widely used because it’s inexpensive, has a very smooth appearance, and holds synthetic fragrance very well, which gives a strong, lingering scent.

Synthetic fragrance oils, found in the majority of candles on the market, can include dozens (sometimes hundreds) of undisclosed chemicals under the single label ingredient “Fragrance” or "Parfum". This undisclosed list can include phthalates, parabens, BHT, and other chemical additives.

You might not notice it immediately. But over time, these ingredients can contribute to headaches, hormone disruption, irritation, or that heavy, unsettling feeling in the air.

What to Look For in Non Toxic Candles

1. Wax Type Matters

Start with the wax—it’s the foundation of how a candle burns.

Look for candles made from 100% natural wax, such as:

• Soy wax
• Coconut wax
• Beeswax

Plant-based waxes like soy and coconut are derived from renewable sources like plants, seeds, and fruits. Beeswax is also a very clean option. It’s a natural wax (not plant-based), with a subtle honey-like scent.

Candles made with 100% natural wax blends, such as coconut soy, are a great choice when the blend is clearly disclosed and made entirely from natural waxes.

What matters most is transparency. If a candle simply says “blend” without specifying what’s inside, like "Soy Blend", it may include paraffin. When in doubt, look for brands that clearly list their wax composition so you know exactly what you’re burning.

2. Fragrance Source

This is one of the biggest differences in truly clean, non toxic candles.

There are two main types of fragrance used in candles:

100% Essential Oil Candles:

These are made from pure plant extracts with a softer, more natural scent. Essential oil candles are often used for aromatherapy—Lavender for calm, Cedarwood for grounding, Eucalyptus for clarity.

Synthetic Fragrance Candles:

These are designed to have a stronger, more perfume-like scent that can fill a space quickly, sometimes lingering long after the candle is out. However, synthetic fragrance can include a wide range of potentially toxic, irritating or undisclosed ingredients.

You may also see candles labeled “with essential oils.” This typically means essential oils have been added to a synthetic fragrance blend, often for scent complexity or marketing, rather than being the primary fragrance source.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a stronger scent. But if you’re creating a non toxic home environment, pure essential oil candles—or brands that use fully transparent, phthalate-free fragrance blends—are generally a cleaner choice. 

3. Wick Type

Look for wicks made from natural, untreated materials, such as:

• 100% cotton wicks (lead-free + metal-free)
• Natural wood wicks
• Hemp wicks

Some cotton wicks are coated in paraffin, so it’s worth checking for transparency here.

Wood wicks tend to create a softer burn, along with a gentle crackling sound that adds a subtle layer of warmth to the space.

4. Ingredient Transparency

A trustworthy candle brand should clearly list everything that is inside. No vague “fragrance” or “blends” without explanation. No unnecessary additives. Nothing left to guess.

The simpler and closer to nature the ingredient list, the better. 

Ingredients to Avoid in Candles

If you’re trying to create a non toxic home environment, these are the main things to watch for:

• Paraffin Wax (petroleum-based wax)
• Synthetic Fragrance (undisclosed “Fragrance”)
• Phthalates (diethyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate)
• Lead or Metal-Core Wicks
• Artificial Dyes
• Parabens, BHT, Synthetic Preservatives, and Chemical Additives

Dyes, in particular, are tricky. There aren’t many truly non toxic options available right now, with a few exceptions. If you’re drawn to color, choosing a candle in a tinted vessel can give you that visual element without compromising air quality.

The Clean Candle Standard

• Wax: 100% plant-based wax or beeswax 
• Scent: 100% essential oils, plant extracts, or transparent, phthalate-free fragrance
• Wick: Cotton, hemp, or wood (metal-free)
• Color: Dye-free or naturally derived color

Creating a Non Toxic Home Environment

Creating a non toxic home environment doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can start small. You might swap one candle. Open a window more often. Choose fewer, better things. What helped me wasn’t trying to change everything at once. It was paying attention to how my body responded when I made those first small changes. 

Some candles made me feel calm. Others felt overstimulating. Over time, I began choosing what supported a softer, more grounded state.

If you’re looking for 100% natural, non toxic candles, our intention candles are made with pure coconut soy wax, scented with pure essential oils, and natural wood wicks. I make each one by hand in Austin, TX, with the intention of creating a clean, grounding atmosphere—something that supports your space without overwhelming it.

You can explore a few here:

• Sacred Rest Intention Candle: Made from Lavender, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense, and Vetiver essential oils. 

• Inner Peace Intention Candle: Made from Balsam Fir, Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, and Vetiver essential oils. 

• Heart Space Intention Candle: Made from Geranium, Lavender, Rosemary, Frankincense, and Patchouli essential oils. 

• Manifest Intention Candle: Made from Citrus, Geranium, Petitgrain, and Patchouli essential oils.