Candles are widely believed to be harmless, yet many still contain toxic ingredients and other potential irritants. The challenge for consumers is that numerous candle makers market their products as safe or natural, making it difficult to distinguish which ingredients are actually nontoxic and which may still pose risks.

The Importance of Transparency

As wellness and clean-living trends continue to grow, the term “nontoxic” is being used at an all-time high in the heavily greenwashed candle industry. There is no strict definition governing the ingredients used in candles, and because of this ambiguity, consumers often struggle to wade through the vague claims made by manufacturers.

Pick up almost any candle from a store shelf and one detail quickly stands out: the vast majority do not list ingredients on the label. This is because of the Federal Trade Commission’s Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1966 (FPLA). The FPLA gives manufacturers “trade secret” status for proprietary recipes, formulas or processes.

Instead of offering transparency, many companies rely on marketing language that emphasizes perceived quality, with phrases such as “clean burning,” “natural fragrance,” “phthalates-free fragrance,” “fine fragrance” or “custom fragrance.”

How to Choose a Truly Nontoxic Candle

Candles scented with 100 percent pure essential oils, or labeled “essential oils only,” are the safest choice. Reputable companies provide as much information as possible about the essential oils used, including the extraction process used and the region from which the oil was sourced. 

Avoid Candles Using Fragrance

The term “fragrance” is a catchall for more than 3,000 chemicals. Many widely used fragrances are synthetic oils produced in laboratories, and a large proportion of their ingredients are petroleum by-products.

Ingredients such as aldehydes, benzene derivatives and toluene are common in synthetic fragrances. These same substances are found in products like toilet bowl cleaner, paint thinner, wart remover and insect repellents.

Many of these chemicals are also listed on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s toxic substances list.

What About Natural Fragrances

With the rise of the plant-based movement, natural and plant-based fragrances have become common. However, the term “natural fragrance” is often another catchall, and most companies do not disclose the processes used to create these fragrances.

Fragrance manufacturers can claim that a compound is naturally occurring without revealing how it was extracted. While a compound may naturally exist in a plant or fruit, the fragrance used in the candle may be a synthetic version.

In some cases, manufacturers add trace amounts of essential oils so they can advertise that a candle is “made with essential oils,” even when the fragrance is 99 percent synthetic. 

When a candle maker claims to use natural ingredients, consumers should verify those claims by checking the label or the company’s website.

Finding a Truly Nontoxic Candle Wax

Beeswax has emerged as a top choice for wellness-focused candles. It is a completely natural byproduct of the honeybee and one of the oldest known waxes in the world. Beeswax is widely used across industries, from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals and even food.

Vegetable-based waxes, particularly soy, raise additional health considerations. According to Pacific Standard, more than 90 percent of soy grown in the United States is genetically modified.

Soy is engineered to withstand the herbicide glyphosate, the controversial ingredient in Roundup that has been linked to lymphoma and other blood cancers.

The Importance of Third-Party Certification for Transparency

When shopping for candles, food or household goods, it’s wise to look beyond marketing slogans and vague “green” labels. Reading ingredient lists and researching transparency standards can make all the difference. 

Many companies do not fully disclose all ingredients, so third-party certification matters. One of the most recognized names in nontoxic certification, MADE SAFE, independently reviews products for harmful chemicals. The MADE SAFE seal confirms that a household product is free from ingredients known or suspected to harm human health, animals or ecosystems. Certified products are evaluated to ensure they do not contain:

·         Carcinogens

·         Developmental and behavioral toxins

·         Endocrine disruptors

·         Flame retardants

·         Heavy metals

·         Toxic solvents

·         Harmful VOCs

For candles, transparency is essential. Choosing products made with simple, natural ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil and pure essential oils, backed by credible third-party certifications, helps consumers bring clean, safe light into their homes. 

Katie Roering co-founded Fontana CandleCompany in 2018 with her husband after a conventional fragrance candle made them both sick. The company’s mission is to cut through the greenwashing and provide full transparency, emphasizing the importance of what consumers burn in their homes. Every Fontana Candle Company product is made with beeswax, coconut oil and pure essential oils, and carries the MADE SAFE certification to ensure ingredient safety. Consumers can learn more or shop the collection at FontanaCandleCompany.com, where the code NAWELCOME offers 15 percent off a first order.