It's that time of year again and we all know we secretly love it. Chunky sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and of course fall scented candles.
But have we ever stopped to consider what those candles are made from? Or the impacts they could have on our health? Well I want to explain a little bit about those topics here.
1.) What Are Traditional Candles Made From?
The candle industry sells a massive amount of candles, in fact, the industry is worth over six billion dollars. This leads to the production of massive amounts of paraffin every year. Paraffin wax is made from petroleum and is in no way healthy or sustainable. Now.. I'm no expert in candles, but it would seem like burning a petroleum product indoors would not be good for your health. Luckily, The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a comprehensive study of the air pollution caused by burning various types of candles. The study concluded that when paraffin candles are burned, they emit trace amounts of chemicals such as formaldehyde, acrolein, and naphthalene. The amount of these chemicals differ depending on the quality of the paraffin used, but in some cases it exceeded the acceptable levels.
2.) What Are The Alternatives?
Beeswax is an all natural wax that comes from, you guessed it, bees! This means petroleum did not have to be extracted from the earth to create these candles. In addition, beeswax does not off gas any toxic chemicals or gases. The only down side to beeswax is that we cannot always guarantee that the bees involved in the process are cared for in an ethical way.
Essential Oils -
Essential Oils are amazing for scenting a room any time of the year. Essential oils are all natural and come is a ton of different scents. The only downfall with this option is that many essential oil companies sell low quality oil that have some questionable additives. It can be difficult to weed out the bad actors, however, Alli Cherry has a great Instagram where she shares the benefits of essential oils and helps you find the ones that are right for you.
Plant Based Wax -
I am confident that plant based wax is the best option in this category. It is non-toxic, vegan, and diffuses smell amazingly! Of course plant based waxes are renewable resources which makes them relatively sustainable to grow and harvest.
3.) What Is My Recommendation?
I recently learned of a company that is zero waste, vegan, and an all around amazing alternative to traditional candles.
The brand is called Sanari and is made from Organic Coconut Wax, organic essential oils, and comes in a reusable stemless wine glass.
Specifically for fall I would recommend the Biscotti Candle, it is scented with the perfect blend of Vanilla, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon.
The candles are handmade in California, will come shipped to you plastic free, and the wick is made from 100% Certified Unbleached Cotton! I mean what else could you want in an eco-friendly candle brand??
The candle fills my living room with the scent of the candle within 5 minutes of burning, which is faster than any other candle I have ever tried. I will say, it burns relatively quickly. The wax doesn't seem to be evaporating too quickly, but the wax does turn to liquid faster than most paraffin candles.
Another candle company I've really grown to love has been P.F. Candle Co.! Their candles are made from 100% vegan, non-toxic soy wax, and are handmade in California. The candles come in these beautiful, amber apothecary-inspired glass jars that easily elevate the decor in your room. Additionally, it's fragranced using phthalate-free essential oils and comes with a cotton-core wick. Once you're done with the candle, fill it with hot water to get rid of any remaining wax, and then reuse the jar! Personally, I love reusing this to hold sewing tools, first-aid items, makeup brushes, or even as a container for snacks when I'm on the go! I highly recommend the Spruce Soy Candle, especially for the fall and winter seasons! Not interested in a candle? They also have reed diffusers!
I hope this info was helpful for your fall endeavors and I would love if you tagged me in your eco-friendly fall activities, or if you pick up a Sanari or P.F. Candle Co. candle. Feel free to tag me on Instagram.
Happy Fall Ya'll! May your fall scents be green and clean.
If you do plan to pick up a candle from this amazing brand, I would recommend purchasing it from Earth Hero. I have a code for you to get 15% OFF! It's a fall miracle!
USE CODE "SHELBIZLEEE" for 15% OFF
This was NOT a sponsored post.