Top Nontoxic Candles of 2025: Prices, Benefits & What to Know

Overview of Nontoxic Candles in 2024

• Top refillable nontoxic candle: Grow Fragrance Candles
• Best soy wax nontoxic candle: Slow North Candles
• Best nature and travel-inspired scents: Brooklyn Candle Studio
• Best coconut wax candle: Pure Plant Home Candles
• Best outdoor-inspired scents: Keap Candles
• Best clean-burning candle: Heretic Candles
• Best beeswax candle: Fontana Candle Co.
• Best sustainable candle brand: Terralite
• Best organic essential oil candle: CandaScent Labs

Candles have long been a simple way to create a calming atmosphere, linking scent directly to mood enhancement. However, concerns about the safety and health impacts of burning certain candles persist. While many traditional candles contain paraffin wax, synthetic fragrances, and lower-quality oils, definitive proof of harm remains limited.

If you prefer a safer, cleaner candle experience, this guide highlights top nontoxic options and what to consider before purchasing.

Are Some Candles Truly Toxic?

The debate intensified after a 2001 Environmental Protection Agency report flagged candles and incense as potential indoor air pollutants, citing issues like:

• Lead-core wicks (banned since 2003)
• Synthetic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde emissions during burning

Despite these concerns, current research does not conclusively link scented candles to health risks. The candle industry remains largely unregulated, and ingredient transparency is often lacking.

Understanding the composition of your candle—wax type, fragrance source, and wick material—is key to making informed choices.

Key Factors When Choosing Nontoxic Candles

1. Fragrance Source

In the U.S., the term "fragrance" on labels can mask hundreds of chemical components, many synthetic and derived from petrochemicals. Some carry carcinogenic risks and reproductive toxicity warnings.

However, not all synthetics are harmful, and many synthetic molecules mimic natural compounds. Transparency from manufacturers about fragrance ingredients is crucial.

Tip: Opt for phthalate-free candles using 100% essential oils or certified nontoxic synthetic fragrances. Seek brands that fully disclose ingredients.

2. Wax Type

Paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct, is often criticized but lacks definitive health risk evidence. Plant-based waxes like soy, coconut, and beeswax offer more natural alternatives but watch for blends falsely labeled as "soy-based."

Tip: Choose candles made from 100% natural wax to avoid hidden paraffin blends.

3. Wick Material

Lead wicks are banned, but some metal-core wicks remain. Prefer wicks made from cotton, hemp, or wood for a cleaner burn.

Tip: Select candles with 100% cotton, hemp, or wooden wicks for safety.

Understanding Clean-Burning Candles

Clean-burning candles theoretically emit no harmful chemicals or soot. Soot production is influenced by wick length and flame disturbance, while some fragrance oils can increase soot levels.

How We Selected These Candles

Our picks prioritize brands committed to transparency, plant-based waxes, and safe wick materials. We engaged directly with brand representatives to verify their nontoxic practices.

Price Guide

• $: Under $20
• $$: $20–$35
• $$$: Over $35

2024’s Best Nontoxic Candles

Grow Fragrance Candles – Best Refillable Nontoxic Candle (Price: $$)

• Ingredients: Soy & coconut wax, plant-based fragrance, cotton wick
• Scents: Pineapple coconut, coastal tide, sea salt neroli, lavender blossom, bamboo
• Size: 6.5 oz
• Pros: Reusable concrete vessel, recyclable refill inserts
• Cons: Limited scent selection

Grow Fragrance offers 100% plant-based, toxin-free candles verified by USDA testing. Their eco-conscious design includes reusable concrete containers and recyclable aluminum refills. Made with American-grown soy and coconut waxes, these candles provide long-lasting, clean scents without harmful emissions.

Slow North Candles – Best Soy Wax Candle (Price: $-$$)

• Ingredients: U.S.-grown soy wax, essential oils, cotton and paper wicks
• Scents: Over a dozen, including eucalyptus + lavender, grapefruit + spearmint, forest bathing
• Sizes: 2 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz.
• Pros: Extensive scent variety
• Cons: Larger sizes carry higher prices

Founded by parents seeking safe home products, Slow North crafts candles with pure essential oils and U.S. soy wax. Their reusable tumblers and natural wicks complement a clean-burning, transparent product line.

Brooklyn Candle Studio – Best Nature & Travel-Inspired Scents (Price: $-$$)

• Ingredients: 100% soy wax, essential oils, cotton wicks
• Scents: 28+ unique fragrances inspired by nature and travel
• Sizes: 4 oz., 8 oz.
• Pros: Diverse scent inspirations
• Cons: Some synthetic fragrance components

Brooklyn Candle Studio blends natural and phthalate-free synthetic fragrances with renewable soy wax and cotton wicks. Their cruelty-free, vegan candles avoid paraffin and metal-core wicks, ensuring an eco-friendly experience.

Pure Plant Home Candles – Best Coconut Wax Candle (Price: $-$$)

• Ingredients: Coconut wax, essential oils, cotton wick
• Scents: Mandarin orange & lemongrass, lavender & orange blossom, Italian bergamot & Persian lime, and more
• Sizes: 1.5 oz. to 14 oz.
• Pros: Hand-poured in small batches
• Cons: Limited scent options

With over 20 years of aromatherapy expertise, founder Tina Rocca creates soy-free coconut wax candles infused with pure essential oils, free from petrochemicals and artificial dyes.

Keap Candles – Best Outdoor-Scented Candle (Price: $$$)

• Ingredients: Coconut wax, cotton wicks
• Scents: Wood cabin, wild figs, waves, northlands, and seasonal editions
• Size: 7.4 oz.
• Pros: Sustainable, artistic craftsmanship
• Cons: Use of some synthetic fragrance ingredients

Keap combines perfumery knowledge with sustainable practices, creating zero-waste candles in reusable glass containers with compostable packaging. Their slow-burning coconut wax and cotton wicks offer a refined scent experience.

Heretic Candles – Best Clean Candle (Price: $$$)

• Ingredients: Soy wax, cotton wicks, essential oils
• Scents: Dirty grass, dirty vanilla
• Size: 10.5 oz.
• Pros: Full ingredient disclosure, meets Credo Clean Standard
• Cons: Higher price, some synthetic fragrance use

Heretic Candles meet rigorous safety, sourcing, and sustainability standards set by Credo Beauty, ensuring transparency and toxin-free formulations with a clean burn.

Fontana Candle Co. – Best Beeswax Candle (Price: $-$$$)

• Ingredients: Beeswax, essential oils, wood wicks
• Scents: Palo santo & pink grapefruit, lemongrass eucalyptus, lavender, and more
• Sizes: 6 oz., 9 oz., 14 oz.
• Pros: MADE SAFE certified
• Cons: Subtle scent intensity

Fontana’s philosophy centers on toxin-free candles made from beeswax, coconut oil, therapeutic essential oils, and wooden wicks. Their MADE SAFE certification guarantees no harmful chemicals, offering gentle, natural aromas.

Terralite – Best Sustainable Candle (Price: $-$$$)

• Ingredients: Coconut wax, organic essential oils, hemp and cotton wick
• Scents: Red mandarin, citrus spice, lavender lemonade, and more
• Sizes: 4 oz., 8 oz., 16 oz.
• Pros: Zero-waste packaging, fair-trade ingredients, environmental donations
• Cons: Larger sizes are pricier

Based in San Diego, Terralite emphasizes sustainability with recycled glass containers, compostable lids, and a commitment to donating 1% of sales to environmental causes.

CandaScent Labs – Best Organic Essential Oil Candle (Price: $$$)

• Ingredients: Coconut soy wax, certified organic essential oils, cotton wick
• Scents: Lavender & thyme, forest bathing, rose & mint
• Size: 7.1 oz.
• Pros: Certified organic, lab-tested for safety
• Cons: Premium price point

CandaScent Labs crafts candles with specific aromatherapeutic goals, using certified organic essential oils and botanical extracts, avoiding generic fragrances for a pure scent experience.

FAQs About Nontoxic Candles

What defines a nontoxic candle?

A nontoxic candle avoids harmful additives like phthalates and lead, typically using 100% plant-based waxes, essential oil or certified safe synthetic fragrances, and natural wicks such as cotton, hemp, or wood.

Are soy candles always nontoxic?

Not necessarily; some "soy-based" candles contain minimal soy mixed with paraffin. Confirm the wax is fully plant-based and consider wick and fragrance quality.

What health risks do toxic candles pose?

While conclusive evidence is lacking, burning candles with synthetic chemicals may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Choosing plant-based and transparently made candles minimizes potential risks.

Final Thoughts

With conflicting information about candle safety, researching brands and ingredient transparency is essential. Always check labels, ask questions, and enjoy candles responsibly in well-ventilated spaces for a safe, relaxing ambiance.

Jessica Timmons, a seasoned freelance writer since 2007, covers wellness, lifestyle, and more. Her work appears on leading platforms including mindbodygreen and Pregnancy & Newborn. Visit jessicatimmons.com for updates.

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