This story originally appeared on Rodale’s Organic Life in November 2017.

The holiday season practically begs for the glow of a little candlelight, especially when everything gets dark early. But even though colorful (and cheap!) seasonal candles beckon from the checkout line at this time of year, it’s best to skip them: They’re typically made from paraffin, a petroleum by-product, and emit potentially harmful chemicals and soot. (Here's more on how to prevent the air in your home from being twice as polluted as the air outside.)

Instead, whether you're gifting a candle or buying one for your home, be a savvy shopper. Look for cotton-wicked vegetable (often soy-based) or beeswax candles; the latter may even neutralize airborne allergens and may help purify the air. Be sure to also ditch any vintage candles left over from holidays past: many contain lead wicks. Banned in the U.S. in 2003, when lit, they can lead to high concentrations of airborne lead. (Here are 3 ways scented candles are messing with your health.)

To help you find candles for gifting or decorating that won't emit harmful pollutants, we've rounded up our favorite natural candles from around the web.

Bee Organic Beeswax Pillar Candle

organic candle
Bee Organic

These pretty pillars are made from beeswax, which has a totally unique sweet honey smell—and actually purifies your air.

Buy now: $18, beeorganic.net

Bee Organic Beeswax Pillar Candle, $18.00, Beeorganic.net

SHOP

Mrs. Meyer's Soy Candles

These natural candles from staple organic cleaning brand Mrs. Meyer's come in cute jelly jars and are perfect for gifting at Christmastime, or just to keep burning all year.

Buy now: from $18 for pack of 2, Amazon.com

Mrs. Meyer's Soy Candles, $18.00, Amazon

SHOP

NaturoHealth Organic Aromatherapy Candle

The grapefruit scent on this organic soy candle is crisp and fresh, and still reminiscent of the holidays.

Buy now: $10, Amazon.com

Related: How To Make Beeswax Candles In Your Slow Cooker

NaturoHealth Organic Aromatherapy Candle, $10.00, Amazon

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Pure Plant Home Coconut Candles

These small-batch candles are hand-poured using a blend of coconut vegetable wax and essential oils, with no petrochemicals, synthetic fragrance, artificial dyes or colorants.

Buy now: from $20, Pureplanthome.com

If you love using all-natural ingredients around the home, try making this easy DIY room spray:

preview for Greenify Your Life - Mood Boosting Room Spray

Pure Plant Home Coconut Candles, $20.00, PurePlantHome.com

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Burt's Bees Vanilla Honey Soy Candle

This natural soy candle will make your home smell sweet and soothing, or make a great gift for someone else's place.

Buy now: $10, Amazon.com

Burt's Bees Vanilla Honey Soy Candle, $10.00, Amazon

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Rewined Candles

These candles are an ideal gift not just because they are natural and soy-based, but they're also made in repurposed wine bottles

Buy now: from $21, Westelm.com

Related: How To Make Your Own Citronella Candles

Rewined Candles, $21.00, WestElm.com

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GoodLight’s Lavender 6 oz. Travel Tin

GoodLight’s non-toxic, cotton-wicked palm wax candles support Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified palm growers. They also donate a percentage of all revenue to combating climate change and reforestation projects.

Buy now: $10, naturalcandles.com

GoodLight’s Lavender 6 oz. Travel Tin, $10.00, NaturalCandles.com

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Honey Candles 100% Pure Beeswax Tea Lights

These beeswax candles in tiny tea light version provide a warm glow and delicious honey aroma for 4-5 hours.

Buy now: $2, us.purebeeswaxcandles.com

Related: Make These Easy Tin Can Lanterns To Light Up Your Garden At Night

Honey Candles 100% Pure Beeswax Tea Lights, $2.00, PureBeeswaxCandles.com

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The Acacia Accents

These pleasant, handmade soy wax candles are scented with essential oil blends given names like "Cozy Nights." And, there's plenty of scents to choose from.

Buy now: $15, Etsy.com

The Acacia Accents, $15.00, Etsy

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Thistle Farms Soy Candle

All-natural, vegan, cotton-wicked soy candles come in holiday cents like Cinnamon Cedar, and support women survivors of addiction, prostitution, and trafficking.

Buy now: from $25, thistlefarms.org

Thistle Farms Soy Candle, $25.00, ThistleFarms.org

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Produce Candles

Your favorite fruit and veg, in a candle! We love the look of these candles in canning jars, as well as the rotating produce-inspired seasonal scents, like fig for wintertime.

Buy now: $20, Producecandles.com

Related: 7 Steps You Should Take To Detox The Air In Your Home

Produce Candles, $20.00, Produce Candles

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Tatine Candles

Essential oils are blended into a GMO-free soy and vegetable wax. These are gorgeous around the holidays and all year—particularly the woodsy ones that will have your home smelling of Juniper.

Buy now: from $38, Shop.tatinecandles.com

Tatine Candles, $38.00, TatineCandles.com

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Terra from P.F. Candle Co.

These botanically-inspired candles are made of 100% domestic soy wax and infused with all-natural scents. The best part is the terra cotta vessel that holds the candle, which is intended for reuse as a flower pot once the candle is used up. Choose from scents like Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Olive, and Rosemary.

Buy now: $42, Pfcandleco.com

Terra from P.F. Candle Co., $42.00, PFCandleCo.com

SHOP

Headshot of Gina Tomaine
Gina Tomaine

Gina Tomaine is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Yoga Journal, Philadelphia magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Boston Globe, Women's Health, Good Housekeeping, and Runner's World, among others. She's a RYT-200 yogi, neophyte tarot enthusiast, and unapologetic Scorpio. She enjoys the occasional piña colada. Follow her on Twitter/Insta @gtomaine.