The 15 Best Nontoxic Candles to Help You Relax (& Breathe Easier)

As relaxing as your favorite scented candle is, it’s hard to unwind when you’re worried about what toxins it could be emitting. But, before you panic, let’s clear the air: While some candles produce vapors that can be unsafe to inhale in large doses, the amount you get from regularly burning them isn’t high enough to be cause for concern, according to the New York Times and Cleveland Clinic research.   

Even still, you probably want to limit your exposure to anything harmful, even in small doses, and there are plenty of options that are well worth your attention. To help take the pressure off of selecting the right one for you, we’ve rounded up some of the very best nontoxic candles so you can set the mood (whatever that may be) without, well, killing it.

When it comes to finding nontoxic candles, MADE SAFE-certified Fontana Candle Co. says you want to look out for three factors: (1) wax type, (2) fragrance type and (3) wick type. Simply put, this addresses everything that burns in a candle, so you’ll be covered on all fronts. We avoided paraffin waxes, which are a byproduct of petroleum and believed to emit toxins—including known carcinogens—into the air when burned, based on the Cleveland Clinic’s recommendation. 

Then, there’s the fragrance, which is commonly a synthetic creation that can, like the wax, give off harmful chemicals even when unlit. While Cleveland Clinic staff pulmonologist Dr. Sobia Farooq told Today she’s not aware of any health threats posed by scented candles over unscented ones, we erred on the side of caution and focused on natural scents and unscented options.

Finally, there’s the wick. This may seem like something you wouldn’t have to consider, but not all wicks are created equal. Some actually have lead, nickel or other metal cores (to help keep them straight), which can release trace amounts of heavy metals into the air when ignited. So, with that in mind, when selecting our top picks, we chose those that met the following criteria:

1. Wax: Soy, beeswax, coconut or other vegetable-based blends
2. Fragrance: Unscented (naturally the cleanest option) or all-natural fragrance or essential oils
3. Wick: Cotton or wood, without a metal core

Let’s face it, ingredient lists can be overwhelming, but to start with the basics, you’ll want to watch out for candles that contain phthalates, parabens and sulfates. Those are immediate no-gos. Then, if the candle gives a full list of ingredients (which isn’t required of them), take a deeper dive to look for ingredients that are hard to pronounce—often, these are the chemicals you’ll find on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Substance Priority List for harmful toxins. Some examples from this list that you may find in candles include hexane and toluene.

With those details squared away, here are our top picks for cleaner candle burning sessions.