What to look for in nontoxic candles- from a crunchy mom + candlemaker
“Clean candles”, “nontoxic candles”- these buzzwords are flying thick right now. And while we love seeing the world catch onto the importance of nontoxic lifestyles, how can we truly know if a product is as safe as it leads us to believe? As a crunchy mom, here are some things I look at to decide if a candle is safe for my family.
Manufacturer: if it comes from a name brand, I’m already skeptical, lol…
Catch-all phrases: “blend of so-and-so waxes”… If it doesn’t clearly list out the waxes, paraffin is probably lurking in there, too…
Made with essential oils: if a candle smells like a donut but says it’s made with essential oils, I’m sorry to burst your donut bubble, but there’s fragrance oil in there, and not just eucalyptus essential oil… While most fragrance oils do indeed have essential oils in them, there are more components at work. As a chandler, I do not share proprietary information, BUT I am very transparent that my candles use fragrance oils. If you see a candle that smells like bubblegum but only lists essential oils, I personally would not be comfortable supporting that company.
Paraffin wax: this is an absolute no-go for me. Google defines paraffin wax as: Paraffin wax is classified as a petroleum wax and is derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale through a process called crystallization. It is not considered a natural wax, as it comes from non-renewable sources like petroleum. Ummm, no thanks!
What to look for instead:
The cleanest waxes (in order) would be:
· Beeswax
· Pure soy wax
· Coconut/Soy wax blend (the only “blend” I will use around my family!)
Other important items to look for when buying home fragrance products:
· Cotton, paper, or wooden wicks
· Natural dyes/mica
· Most importantly, a company that values and practices transparency!
Not sure where to start? *Insert shameless plug* Take a look at our collection of hand poured nontoxic products! After all, I AM a crunchy mom! :)
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