There’s nothing quite like lighting a scented candle to add a relaxing ambience to a space and fill the air with gorgeous aromas. With a vast range of scents now available, there’s one for every mood and occasion – but how do you know they’re eco-friendly? Soy is not the only natural candle base you should be looking into. ELLISS has compiled a list of our favourite 20 candle brands that are 100% sustainable and natural. Read on to find out who we’ve picked…
HOMEWORK
Homework is an East London based brand who’s ethos is to be as sustainable as possible. They have a range of unique scents such as their Haze candle which is fragranced sweet green blend of tobacco, clary sage and ho leaf for a refreshing experience. All of their candles are hand-poured into metal tins which they encourage you to reuse or send back to them to use for future orders. They even go one step further – their tin manufacturer is powered by solar power! You can shop a selection of their candles, soaps and bath salts on our website here.
HOLISTIC
Hand poured in Chiswick, Holistic creates limited-edition scented candles in small batches which are made from 100% vegetable wax. Each candle is blended with pure essential oils and they pride themselves on their non-use of paraffin, lead, artificial colours or ‘parfum’. When burning their candles, you benefit from the blend of essential oils with soothing notes of jasmine and lavender, helping you de-stress after a long day.
SOAK SUNDAY
If you’re looking for a vegan scented candle to make more of a statement in your space, Soak Sunday’s ‘Rose Utopia and Sea Salt Scented Candle’ is the ideal purchase! Inspired by lazy weekends, soothing scents and botanical blends, Soak Sunday believes in the power and importance of bath time to indulge in unwinding, relaxing and losing yourself in the moment. Hand made in the UK, their bath products and candles are completely natural, vegan and cruelty free. Your Soak Sunday product is then delivered in boxes that are certified FSC board, printed with soy ink and are 100% recyclable.
EYM
EYM candles are 100% natural botanical based candles. They use natural scents which have emotional and physical healing properties and all ingredients are sustainably sourced and British made. The brand began when co-owner Poppy was pregnant and wanted to create chemical-free home fragrance products that weren’t harmful to her or her baby. EYM products are beautifully minimal, completely natural and safe so would be a great addition to your home!
KEYNVOR
Keynvor are an environmentally conscious brand based in Cornwall. Situated right next to the coast, their scents are inspired by the ocean and nature that give you fragrances of escapism. They are entirely plastic free and sell larger candles for home use or smaller tins for travelling! Keynvor also offer gorgeous gift wrapping which come sustainable boxes with luxury matches.
EARL OF EAST
Earl of East consider every detail when making their sustainable candles. The wicks are made from cotton and unbleached linen, the candles are scented with oils traceable to origin and the labels are 100% recyclable. They’re all about affordable luxury and believe in making candles that are entirely vegan, phthalate and GMO free – What’s not to like!
PURE THOUGHTS
Pure Thoughts are all about mindfulness, pausing hectic everyday life while refreshing the body and all of their scents reflect this. Their Peace Meditation Candle is an ideal example – this slow burning soy wax candle is fragranced with pure lavender to restore harmony to the body and improve sleep. All candles are hand-poured, cruelty free and made with no paraffin wax or synthetic colours.
LOHN
LOHN creates candles that are “designed to transport you to another time and place”, inspired by taking the road less travelled. The scents are created to be memorable and part of your personal journey of life. All fragrances are indulgent but clean and made with phthalate-free fragrances and a blend of organic coconut and soy wax.
OCTŌ
Octō believes in creating completely natural, affordable and originally scented candles. Their ‘Italian Garden’ candle is reminiscent of long walks through Italian countryside with hints of rosemary, sweet orange and sage essential oils. Rosemary is known to help give the body a natural lift and boost the memory, so this candle will be sure to add some wellness to your life! Ōcto candles are made with 100% natural soy wax, 100% pure essential oils, made in the UK with local suppliers and are packaged in recycled cardboard boxes.
WOODLOT
Woodlot is a Canadian based company who specialise in natural home and body products which are all hand-poured and hand-crafted. Through their collections, they aim to inspire current and future generations who value clean, natural and plant-based products. As well as a range of cosy and fresh scents, they also do gifts which are packaged in their well-designed boxes.
THE MEWSTONE CANDLE COMPANY
The Mewstone Candle Company are based in South Devon and create soy wax candles and wax melts, all delicately hand poured from their studio. All of their products are paraben free and vegan friendly alongside their unique scent combinations such as sea salt and driftwood, baked apple pie and seaweed and juniper.
HOBO + CO
Hobo + co are based in rural Lincolnshire and take inspiration from a free-spirited love for travelling. They produce their candles in small batches to guarantee the highest of quality and only use premium fragrance and/or pure essential oils to achieve their beautiful scents. All candles are 100% soy wax and vegan friendly and customers can buy one-of-a-kind combinations such as lemongrass and coconut, oakwood and tobacco, and raspberry and peppercorn candles.
OLD MAN & MAGPIE
“A wonderfully calming candle” is how Old Man & Magpie describe their CALM product and we couldn’t agree more. Made with a beautiful mix of lemon, lavender and eucalyptus pure essential oils, lighting this will transport you to a soothing and tranquil place if you’re looking to unwind after a long day. Old Man & Magpie is a small family run business made up of Garry, Jemma and their 6 year old daughter Esme (aka Magpie) and they make beautifully scented natural soy wax candles out of their workshop in Lancashire.
42 PRESSED
42 Pressed produce minimal candles and prints with limited quantities but high in quality and design. Based in Charleston South Carolina, they create aromas that are subtle but designed to evoke a feeling like memory of travel or a beloved city. Their San Francisco candle includes essential oil scent notes of clary sage, bergamot, vetiver and white sage. All candles are made using 100% American grown soy wax.
IGGY BOX
Iggy Box launched two years ago by partners Gem and Doug and their collections are all about creating calm and cosy spaces at home while being environmentally conscious. All of their packaging is recyclable and all candles are made from natural plant-based waxes and sustainable ingredients.
MALA THE BRAND
Mala the Brand are eco-conscious and all about giving back. With every purchase, one tree is planted and sustainable ingredients are used throughout their manufacturing process. Their beautiful scent combinations include vanilla, cinnamon and cream, citrus, berry and lemon and tonka bean, coconut and jasmine.
IRUSU
Hand-poured in the UK, Irusu stocks a collection of ethically made candles which are curated with essential oils and sustainable soy wax. Irusu also take extra care in their packaging, gently gift wrapping their products in cardboard boxes sealed with recyclable tape. All of their products are vegan and cruelty free, making them a must-have brand at home.
RUSSELL & WHITE
If you’re looking for a sense luxury and escapism from an eco-conscious brand, look no further than Russell & White. The finest of natural wax blends are used to create one-of-a-kind notes that are designed to take you to alternate and magical places. Take their Mystice candle for example – a complex blend of orange rind, sweet amber, spicy frankincense and warm woody myrrh- a delicate combination of scents that transport you to the Arabian deserts.
HOPSCOTCH
On the hunt for a fresh Spring aroma to fill your space? Look no further than the Hopscotch Fresh Large Jar candle! Hand poured in London, their naturally fragranced candles are a breath of fresh air and made with the finest soy wax that burns cleaner and longer. The glass jars are topped with a gold metal screw lid for a beautiful finishing touch and would be a great addition to any space. This Fresh Large Jar Candle is infused with crisp but subtle hints of basil and citrus and would be a welcomed fragrance in a kitchen!
SUN.DAY
Natural, vegan and cruelty free, Sun.Day of London’s four gorgeous fragrances transport you to dreamy surroundings including ‘Beyond the Pines’ and ‘Rooftop Garden’. Made from GMO free coconut and palm- free plant waxes, these extra large three wick candles will fill your space with intoxicating and soothing aromas for days on end.
These are some of our favourite sustainable candle brands that are out there at the moment. Which one will you choose to create a natural, soothing and guilt-free ambience in your home?
Environmentally friendly candles should be made from soy wax or coconut wax (natural and vegan materials). It’s also important to consider the packaging of the candle and if it’s recyclable or made of recycled materials. As well as this, it’s worth thinking about where you’re shipping from – if you want to make a sustainable candle purchase, its always better to buy locally!
Soy wax, beeswax and coconut wax are all types of non-toxic candle waxes. Paraffin wax is the one that you need to look out for if you’re trying to avoid chemical waxes. Also note the purity of the wax – if a wax is not 100% natural, it could be a blend with paraffin.
The healthiest type of candle are those which do not contain toxic chemicals such as paraffin. Look for candles which are made from 100% natural wax with a cotton wick.
Candles with notes of lavender, chamomile and floral scents have all been known to help relax the body. Everybody is different and you should choose scents that appeal to your senses to help you unwind and relax.
Clean burning candles do not release dark spot or excess smoke when they are lit or put out. Paraffin and petroleum based waxes release nasty chemicals into the air so it’s important to look for candles that don’t contain these. You should also avoid candles that have metal in their wicks.