Non-Toxic Candles: What to Avoid, What to Look For, and Why It Matters

Nothing sets the mood like the soft flicker of candlelight and a beautiful fragrance filling the air. But not all candles are created equal. Some conventional candles can contribute to indoor air pollution and release substances you may not want lingering in your home.

At The Scented Essence, we believe luxury should never come at the cost of your wellbeing. That is why we handcraft our candles using carefully chosen, eco conscious ingredients, so you can enjoy a cleaner burn and beautiful scent throw without worrying about hidden nasties.

In this guide, we will cover:

• what is commonly found in conventional candles

• which ingredients to avoid

• what to look for instead

• essential oils vs non toxic fragrance oils

• and why switching can support a calmer, cleaner home environment

What is in regular candles? The hidden stuff most people do not check

Many mass produced candles contain ingredients that can release VOCs, soot, and irritants when burned, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Here are some of the most common culprits to look out for.

1. Paraffin wax

Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. When burned, it has been associated in studies with indoor emissions that can include VOCs such as benzene and toluene. For most people, occasional use with good ventilation is unlikely to be a major issue, but if you burn candles often, it is worth being more ingredient aware.

Safer alternatives: soy wax, coconut wax, rapeseed wax, and other plant based waxes.

2. Phthalates

Phthalates are often used in fragranced products as solvents or stabilisers, and some are commonly described as “plasticisers.” In candles and home fragrance, people often avoid them due to concerns around endocrine disruption and overall exposure in the home.

Our approach: Instead of relying on phthalates to push fragrance, we focus on candle engineering. Balanced wax formulation, correct wick size, and strong melt pool behaviour, so the fragrance releases steadily as the wax warms.

3. Parabens

Parabens are preservatives used to extend shelf life in some personal care and fragranced products. Many people prefer to avoid them due to irritation concerns and their ability to mimic hormones in lab settings.

4. CMRs (carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins)

CMR is a safety classification used for substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction. These can show up in certain raw materials depending on the formulation and intended use. If you are shopping for candles with a “cleaner” ingredient profile, CMR free fragrance is an important thing to look for.

5. Acrylates

Acrylates are synthetic polymers that can be used in some fragrance systems and carriers. Some people prefer to avoid them due to allergy and sensitivity concerns.

6. Nitro musks and polycyclic musks

These are synthetic musks historically used to stabilise or extend fragrance. They are often discussed in the context of persistence in the environment and bioaccumulation, which is why cleaner brands tend to avoid them.

7. Silicones

Silicones may be used in some fragrance systems as stabilisers. Many people avoid them for sustainability reasons because they are not readily biodegradable.

8. PEGs (polyethylene glycol compounds)

PEGs can be used as emulsifiers or blending aids in some fragrance systems. Some people choose to avoid them because certain PEG ingredients, depending on how they are manufactured, can be associated with trace byproducts like 1,4 dioxane.

Our approach: We control our fragrance to wax ratios carefully and mix at the right temperatures to achieve smooth blending and performance without relying on PEG style additives.

Why switching to non-toxic candles matters

Choosing non toxic candles is a simple home upgrade that can support both wellbeing and sustainability.

Benefits people notice most:

• cleaner feeling home air when burning regularly

• less sooty residue on jars and surfaces

• a calmer, more balanced fragrance experience

• peace of mind when you care about ingredients

At The Scented Essence, every candle is hand poured with care using thoughtfully chosen materials, so you can enjoy luxury home fragrance with a cleaner ingredient profile.

Essential oils vs non-toxic fragrance oils

This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the candle world, so I want to explain it clearly.

Essential oils in candles

Essential oils are plant derived, but “natural” does not automatically mean safer or better in a candle. Candles burn hot, and some essential oils are not stable at high temperatures. Many contain constituents that are potent allergens or irritants, and they can behave unpredictably in wax.

In practice, this can mean:

• weaker or less consistent scent throw

• scent changing as it heats

• higher irritation risk for sensitive noses

Non-toxic synthetic fragrance oils

High quality non toxic fragrance oils are designed specifically for candle burning. They can offer a more consistent hot throw, better stability under heat, and a safer, more controlled ingredient profile when properly sourced.

What to look for:

• phthalate free

• paraben free

• CMR free

• transparent documentation (SDS and allergen data)

Our approach: We carefully source high quality fragrance oils created for candles and free from phthalates, parabens, acrylates, PEGs, silicones, and CMRs. We pair them with biodegradable soy wax to create a clean burning candle with strong, smooth performance

Vegan and cruelty-free candles

We believe luxury should never come at the expense of animals.

• 100% vegan: no animal derived ingredients

• cruelty-free: not tested on animals by us, our suppliers, or anyone on our behalf

Ready for the simple checklist?

When shopping for a safer candle, look for:

• plant based wax (soy, coconut, rapeseed)

• cotton or paper wicks

• transparent fragrance standards (phthalate free and CMR free)

• clear brand values around ingredients and sustainability