Luxuriously soft sustainable bedding for eco-conscious sleepers
Candles are one of life’s small luxuries. The right candle can transform a room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with their soft glow and delicious scents. They can help to transform your mood too. Lighting a candle at the end of a long day can be a signal to your body that it’s time to unwind, with the best candles providing aromatherapy benefits and helping to reduce stress.
And, if you’re looking for wellbeing benefits, it’s important to choose candles made from natural ingredients. Here’s why and how to choose candles that are safe, sustainable, and still feel luxurious…
Why can candles be harmful for health and the environment?
Many conventional candles are made from paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum. When burned, paraffin wax can release harmful substances, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and toluene, which have been linked to health issues such as lung cancer and asthma.
From an environmental perspective, the production of paraffin wax contributes to air pollution and environmental degradation. Burning these candles releases carbon emissions and fine particulate matter, which can worsen indoor and outdoor air quality.
Are candles with artificial fragrances bad for your health?
A quick Google search will alert you to the fact that synthetic fragrances used in candles can contain phthalates, which are chemicals that can disrupt the endocrine system. Exposure to phthalates have been associated with reproductive problems and other health concerns. But, this still isn’t common knowledge and companies aren’t required to disclose all the chemicals in their fragrances, making it difficult to know what we’re breathing in.
Founder of candle company, Purscents, Maame Sarpong explains how this led her to starting up her company:
“It all started with a problem in my own home. My husband would get headaches from synthetic scents. I started researching and was shocked to learn about the potential health risks associated with certain candle ingredients, as well as the environmental impact of candle waste.”
Health issues also led founder of Sarafumi, Sarah Kelly, to consider candles more carefully:
“After developing breast cancer at the early age of 36, my personal view is I don’t like to burn synthetic fragrance oils in my home. There are enough carcinogenic in our environment without bringing more into our homes.”
Is natural fragrance always better than synthetic?
To judge how sustainable an ingredient is, depends on what it is and how it is sourced. ‘Why does it have to get so complicated!?‘ you ask. We agree. That’s why we’ve done the research of good candles brands for (see below) – and sought the expertise from brands we trust.
“Initially, I was completely against synthetic fragrances and dyes in candles. However, after further research, I realised the conversation isn’t as black and white as I once thought. Some lab-created ingredients can actually offer sustainability, stability, and even allergy-friendly alternatives when formulated responsibly,” explains Maame.
For example, natural musk used to be sourced from animal glands. Now, ethical lab-created alternatives can replicate this scent without harming wildlife or ecosystems.
Maame advises: “Another thing to take into account is allergy considerations. Many people assume natural means safer, but that’s not always the case. Essential oils can contain allergens like limonene, linalool, and eugenol, which can cause skin irritation and respiratory reactions in some individuals. In some cases, a well-formulated synthetic fragrance can be a safer alternative for those with allergies.”
That said, for Purscents, Maame chooses not to use synthetic fragrances because she believes in the power of natural, plant-based ingredients. She says: “Essential oils provide a beautiful, therapeutic aroma, and I want my candles to be as clean and toxin-free as possible.”
For similar reasons, Sarah went on a perfumery course to learn how to blend and produce her own unique scents using essential oils for Sarafumi. “I’ve formulated a unique scent inspired by my beautiful home in Guernsey”, she says.
What about candles made with artificial dyes?
When it comes to candle dyes, there’s a similar debate: petroleum-based dyes can release harmful chemicals when burned, but some non-toxic, eco-friendly synthetic dyes do exist. Brands might use botanical-based colourants for a safer approach or mica powders, derived from natural minerals (but there are some ethical questions around the mining of mica…).
“Personally, I believe candles don’t need synthetic dyes, their natural colour is beautiful on its own,” says Maame, adding: “But if a brand chooses to use eco-friendly and non-toxic dyes, they can do so responsibly without harming air quality. For me, it all comes down to transparency. If a brand is using synthetic fragrances or dyes, they should be clear about what’s in them, so people can make informed choices.”
So, what are clean-burning, sustainable and toxin-free candles made from?
Plant-based waxes are typically made from soy, rapeseed, or coconut wax.
Soy wax, made from soybeans, is widely promoted as a more sustainable option because it’s renewable and biodegradable. However, large-scale soybean farming has significant drawbacks, including being linked to deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss.
As such, Maame opts for a mix of rapeseed and coconut wax, sourced from a supplier who guarantees there’s no deforestation in the supply chain and Sarah chooses to use rapeseed wax produced in the UK.
Did you know that 35 million candle containers end up in landfill every year?
Even if a candle is made from clean ingredients, the waste it creates is often overlooked.
“Most candle jars aren’t recyclable because they contain residual wax, synthetic fragrance oils, and wick components – meaning they often end up in landfills. With millions of glass jars being discarded every year, this only adds to our growing waste problem,” says Maame.
“Additionally, research shows that only 8% of candle containers get recycled, and over 35 million candle containers end up in landfill every year.”
That’s why Purscents offer refillable candle options, so you can reuse candle jars again and again.
Tips for how to make your candle last longer
Trim those wicks to 5mm before each light to ensure optimum burn time.
Burn for no more than 4 hours at one time.
Try not to move a candle once lit and, we hope it goes without saying, never leave a burning candle unattended.
Four candle brands we love at Live Frankly
1. Purscents refillable candles
Purscents best-sellers:
Rise N Shine Candle Refill Kit
£20
De Stress Aromatherapy Scented Candle
£30
Luxury Candle and Bath Salts Gift Set
£50
Why we love Purscents candles:
- Each essential oil blend is designed to enhance mood—whether you want to relax, feel energised, or improve focus.
- They only use plant-based waxes and 100% essential oils, which are designed to burn cleaner and longer.
- The magic of Purscents candles also lies in the fact that they are designed to be refilled time and time again, tackling the UK’s waste problem head-on
- No phthalates, no synthetic chemicals, just pure, natural scents that are not overpowering.
2. Sarafumi’s luxury candles empowered by nature
Sarafumi best-sellers:
Appllas du Soleil Hand Cream
£9.99
Locque Respiraï Candle
£35
Grâce
Diffuser
£27.99
Why we love Sarafumi candles:
- Each Sarafumi product is designed to stimulate the senses to re-energise, relax or unwind
- Sarafumi’s product line is free from synthetic materials and microplastics
- Founder, Sarah Kelly, personally hand makes each candle using 100% natural ingredients, she says: “I blend my love for honeybees with local fragrances to create luxury products that are empowered by nature.”
- Every element of packaging is fully recyclable
- Sarafumi is Guernsey-based that uses Guernsey’s historical language “Patois” in product names
- They proudly support charities including Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Support and Guernsey Mind
3. Valley Mist’s zero-waste candles
Valley Mist best-sellers:
Upcycled Bay, Lime & Lemongrass Candle
£8-14
Upcycled Citronella Candles
£8
Upcycled Lavender Dream Candle
£8-14
Why we love Valley Mist candles:
- Beautiful smelling candles made from beauty products
- These up-cycled candles are made using the waste oils, butter and waxes from Valley Mist’s cosmetic production process.
- They come in an elegant frosted glass jar with aluminium lid to reuse or send back for recycling
- They are 100% plastic-free and synthetics-free and zero-waste
- 8.5% of profits from the candle go to a Green Cause Charity
4. Leticia Credidio’s Before Sleeping Candle
Why we Love Leticia Credidio’s candle:
- With a blend of geranium and rosemary, this candle is the ideal way to unwind before sleeping
- Each candle is made from soy wax and 100% essential oils
- Handsomely packaged in a hand-sewn, up-cycled fabric bag
- The candle is the product of a collaboration between Oh, James – an East London brand that produces unique handmade candles – and luxury loungewear brand Leticia Credidio. Founder, Leticia, has worked at the intersection of design and social change for more than 14 years, and her brand champions taking time to rest, embracing comfort and being present in the now
- Burn time is up to 40 hours
How we curate our guides and test
Live Frankly is a place for exclusively ethical and sustainable brands. All the brands we feature go above-and-beyond in the work they do because they recognise the climate crisis, the environmental crisis, the injustices in their industries, and they know there’s a better way. They’re proving business can be done differently.
Every brand fills out a form answering questions about the materials they use, the people in their supply chains and their governance structures. We speak with the owners and decision makers before adding them to the Live Frankly Directory, and we test the quality of their products.
We do the hard work in the background, so you can buy gorgeous looking and smelling candles from smaller, independent brands with values at their core.
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