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