I need to tell you something about myself. I burned candles every single day. From the moment I got home from work until I went to bed. Sometimes I would light one in the morning too. I loved the flicker when I turned the lights off to watch TV. I loved the way they made my house smell. They were one of my most reliable sources of comfort and relaxation and I genuinely did not question them for years.
Then I started learning about fragrance and what it actually does to your body and I had to sit with some uncomfortable realizations about all those hours of candles burning in an enclosed space.
I will be honest with you the same way I was honest about laundry detergent: I did not make this switch cleanly or quickly. I went back and forth between conventional candles and cleaner options for a long time before I finally made the permanent change. And every once in a while I still burn a conventional candle for the scent — but I open the windows when I do it.
Here is what I know now that I wish I had known then.
Three Things to Look at Before You Buy a Candle
1. Wax
Most conventional candles are made from paraffin wax which is a petroleum byproduct. When burned it emits carcinogenic soot and can cause respiratory issues or aggravate conditions like asthma and other heart and lung conditions. Burning paraffin also produces benzene and toluene which are known carcinogens.
Soy wax is a safer alternative but there is a catch. Many soy candles are blended with paraffin and the majority of soy in the US is genetically modified. If you are going with a soy candle make sure the label says 100% soy and ideally non-GMO.
Other clean burning options are beeswax, vegetable wax, and coconut wax. The same rule applies — always look for 100% on the label. If it just says beeswax or coconut wax without the 100% it is very likely blended with paraffin which defeats the entire purpose.
2. Wick
Metal wicks containing lead were voluntarily banned by the US candle industry in 1974 and officially banned by law in 2003. The reason: a candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA outdoor air pollution standards. Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems.
Look for a wick that is 100% cotton or 100% wood. That is the safest option..
3. Fragrance
This one is personal for me. I have always been someone who burns candles specifically for the scent. That is the hardest part of this switch and I am not going to pretend otherwise. But as I covered in my deodorant and laundry posts, the word fragrance on any product label is a legal loophole that allows brands to hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals — many of which are allergens, toxins, and endocrine disruptors including phthalates.
Considering my own history with hormone issues I really wish I had known this sooner. I spent over 20 years filling my home with synthetic fragrance before I understood what it could be doing to my body.
When shopping for a cleaner candle look for one scented with 100% essential oils. It smells different from conventional candles — the scent is more subtle and less artificial — and it takes some getting used to. But there are genuinely good options out there now.
The Honest Truth About the Transition
The cleaner the wax the more adjustment is required. A 100% beeswax or coconut wax candle scented with essential oils smells noticeably different from a paraffin candle with synthetic fragrance. The base of the wax has its own scent, the essential oils behave differently when burned, and the overall experience is more subtle.
I found that after a few burns I stopped noticing the wax base and started actually enjoying the essential oils. But it took time and I want you to know that going in so you do not give up after one try.
The Candle Brands I Have Tried
Fontana Candle Co. (My #1, I have purchased all seasonal’s of this brand)
This is one of the most impressive clean candle brands I have come across and the growth they have had since I first tried them tells me I am not alone in that opinion. Fontana Candle Co. ranked on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America with three-year revenue growth of 366 percent — not bad for a company that started in a basement. EWG
Fontana is the first candle company to receive the MADE SAFE certification, meaning the product is free of any and all toxins known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems. The candles are made with a blend of beeswax and coconut oil, scented with pure essential oils from around the world, and use a wooden wick. They create handcrafted candles, wax melts, bath salts, room sprays, and bar soaps using essential oils for scent. EWG
I purchased three Christmas candles and going in I had never tried a beeswax or coconut wax candle before. My honest first reaction was that the scent was weird and the wax base was overwhelming the essential oils. After a couple of burns I started to notice the base much less and the essential oils much more. I ended up genuinely loving these candles. Give them more than one try before you decide.
Pros: MADE SAFE certified, first candle to receive that certification, beeswax and coconut oil blend, pure essential oils, wooden wick, handpoured in Lancaster PA, wide variety of scents.
Cons: The transition from conventional candles takes a few burns. The scent is more subtle than what most people are used to.
Terralite Candles
Terralite uses organic, wildcrafted, pure essential oils from plants grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, hemp-core chemical-free wicks braided with unbleached cotton, amber glass containers made with 60% recycled glass, and metal lids made from recyclable tinplate. They are 100% solar powered and all packaging is plastic free. Amazon
Terralite creates botanical aromatherapy candles using plant-based coconut wax and pure essential oils, hand-poured in California. Their scent range is genuinely impressive — Bourbon Cedar, Woodlands, and Vanilla Lavender are among their bestsellers and unlike some essential oil candles these actually have real scent strength. Raw ElementsUSA
Pros: 100% coconut wax, 100% essential oils, hemp-core wicks, solar powered, zero waste packaging, strong scent throw for a clean candle, available on Amazon.
Cons: Higher price point than conventional candles. Smaller brand so availability can be inconsistent.ble practices!
Cellar Door Candles
Cellar Door Candles has been dedicated since 2013 to creating 100% natural candles, essential oils, and refills using only pure essential oils, beeswax, and coconut wax with no paraffin, no fillers, and no synthetic fragrances. They also designed an original drop-in candle refill system — simply clean your empty Cellar Door glass and drop in a new candle, no waste and no leftover jars. That refill system is genuinely smart for anyone trying to reduce waste. EWGEWG
I tried the Sandalwood and Vetiver scent. Similar to Fontana it took a little time for the scent to really come through but once it did I really liked it. The coconut and beeswax combination is one I have come to prefer over pure soy.
Pros: 100% natural ingredients, beeswax and coconut wax blend, pure essential oils, innovative refill system reduces waste, hand poured in small batches, been around since 2013.
Cons: Not available on Amazon — order directly from their website. Scent takes a few burns to fully develop.
And What About Air Fresheners?
Conventional plug-in air fresheners are essentially the same problem as synthetic fragrance candles — chemicals pumped continuously into your home air. The good news is there is a clean alternative that I use and actually love.
ScentFill 100% Natural Line
ScentFill makes plug-in air freshener refills using 100% natural essential oils and they are available on Amazon and compatible with Air Wick warmers which means you likely already have the hardware. My favorites are the 100% Natural Vanilla Peppermint and the 100% Natural Lemon and Bergamot. Important note: ScentFill also makes non-natural versions so make sure you are specifically buying from their 100% Natural collection. Check the label before you buy.
Pros: 100% essential oils in the natural line, compatible with standard Air Wick warmers you may already own, wide variety of scents, available on Amazon, no synthetic fragrance.
Cons: The natural line is a separate product line from their standard products so you have to buy the right one specifically. Scent does not last as long as synthetic plug-ins but that is the trade-off.
The Bottom Line
You do not have to give up fragrance in your home. You just have to be more intentional about where it comes from. Fontana is my top pick if you want the most rigorously certified clean candle on the market. Terralite is the best pick if scent strength matters to you. Cellar Door is the best pick if sustainability and waste reduction are your priority.
And if you are still burning a Bath and Body Works candle occasionally while you transition — I genuinely understand. Just open a window.
All brands mentioned are available through the links in my bio. Always check current certifications directly on each brand’s website as formulas and certifications can change.