There is an overwhelming number of candles available on the market - but not all candles are made equal. When picking a candle, it's important to to look for brands that prioritize transparency, sustainability, and natural materials. There are many brands out there that still use low quality waxes and fragrances that contain harmful additives such as parabens, phthalates, and toxins. Let's dig into what you should look for when purchasing a new candle.
Why should I buy non-toxic candles?
When you burn a candle, you inevitably end up inhaling some of the candle fumes and smoke. And if you're someone like me, I light a candle every single day. The candle industry is considered largely under-regulated, so many brands producing "conventional" candles may still be using ingredients that have toxins, parabens, and phthalates. Even though studies have not conclusively decided if there are adverse health side effects related to these conventional candles, why take the risk?
When looking for a candle, it's important to note whether or not the brand lists all of the ingredients and materials, makes claims that the candle is non-toxic or natural, and promotes sustainability. If a brand doesn't mention these things it's probably because they can't, which is a good sign to look elsewhere.
What are candles made of?
Popular Waxes
The two most popular kinds of waxes are paraffin and soy - both of which have controversial properties.
Paraffin wax is petroleum based and often has a negative connotation associated with it. Paraffin can contain toxins and contribute to air pollution, however, a health risk has not been confirmed yet. The source of the paraffin matters, as well as the amount of paraffin in the wax. Generally we would avoid candles that are made from 100% paraffin wax and don't use a food-grade and fully refined paraffin wax.
Soy wax produced for candles is often processed by soaking the soy bean in hexane which is a petroleum solvent. The wax then has to be treated with chemicals in order for it to harden and be solid enough for candle making. However, soy is known to burn cleaner than paraffin, and there are more natural and sustainable soy waxes available - just keep note of what the candle seller labels the soy wax as and if they are transparent with their ingredients.
Cleaner Waxes
There are better alternatives to paraffin and soy waxes, such as coconut wax, beeswax, and the new kid on the block - hemp wax.
Coconut Wax is perhaps the leader of the cleaner, non-toxic wax choices. Coconut wax is a natural choice that is vegan, biodegradable, paraben-free, and phthalate-free. Look for waxes that use a food-grade certified coconut oil for the cleanest burn.
Hemp wax is still new to the candle wax game and therefore not very popular. Hemp is sustainable, eco-friendly, non-toxic, vegan, and biodegradable. We are lucky to have found an amazing supplier that produces a natural hemp wax blend that is the first of its kind. The hemp wax we use is a blend of natural hemp, coconut and soy waxes with a touch of natural food-grade paraffin wax to enhance its performance.
Food grade paraffin wax is the better alternative to traditional paraffin wax. Food grade paraffin is fully refined and purified paraffin wax, and is made from vegetable oils and palm oil derivatives, along with other materials. Food grade paraffin is safe to consume and is commonly used to make fruit, vegetables, and candy look shiny and prolong their shelf life. It also commonly mixed with chocolate bars so that the chocolate does not melt at room temperature. Still, we think food grade paraffin wax should only be an addition to a wax blend rather than being the only wax used.
What kind of wax is in your candles?
Our wax comprised mostly of hemp wax, but is blended with natural and organic coconut and soy waxes, as well as a tiny bit of food grade paraffin wax, which enhances the performance of the wax. The paraffin we use is highly refined and food-grade, which puts it in the natural category.
Our wax contains only FDA-approved waxes. It is vegan, toxin-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, gluten-free, biodegradable, and comes from renewable sources. It is also considered "skin safe" and has been clinically tested and dermatologist reviewed.
Why hemp wax?
Our hemp wax is made from organic, cold-pressed hemp seed oil. Hemp wax is a high-performance wax that is all-natural, eco-friendly sustainable, and non-toxic. We are so excited that hemp is being more and more utilized as the natural and better alternative to a variety of products, including candle wax!
Are your fragrances non-toxic?
Yes, we only use high-quality, luxury fragrances that are vegan, toxin-free, phthalate-free, mutagen-free, cruelty-free, and carcinogen-free (not on the CA Prop 65 list toxic chemicals).
What makes your candles unique?
Our candles use a new type of high-quality, high-performance hemp wax that is clean to burn and has excellent hot and cold throw. It burns evenly and slowly to ensure you can get as much use out of your candles as possible. All our fragrances will fill your room with a rich scent - no weak fragrances here! Each vessel we use is unique and unbranded so that it serves as a beautiful piece of decor in any room without the look of labels. We want our candles to look as good as they smell.
Our candles are hand-poured from our studio in New York and made with love. Our candles are clean, non-toxic, luxurious, and of course, as chic as can be. Our candles are also larger than your typical candle size so they will last longer and you get more bang for your buck.
