Nothing beats walking into a good-smelling home. Since memories and sentiments are so closely tied to the power of scent, it’s no wonder that we all enjoy noticing wonderful fragrances in a space. But fragrance has recently become one of the dirtiest words in beauty because of a loophole that allows brands to not have to list the ingredients actually included in a fragrance. In fact, according to The Environmental Working Group, the average fragrance product contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. But thankfully, many are starting to take notice and there’s more natural, and safer fragrance options than ever. Which means you can still light your beloved candles, diffusers or incense, to make your home smell good as long as you choose wisely.
A few things to keep in mind: candles are least “toxic” when poured with soy, coconut or beeswax, and when they have wicks that are made from cotton rather than toxic lead. Double bonus if the candles are using organic, all natural essential oils (like the ones we swear by and diffuse all day long, learn more about those HERE) rather than perfumes.
In searching out some more natural candle options, I found plenty, but I would be amiss if I didn’t point out that I was thrilled to find out my favorite Volcano candles were soy based with cotton wicks, and fragranced with essential oils. I may have had a breakdown if that wasn’t the case. I mean, any post about the best smelling home candles would be incomplete without mention of the Capri Blue Volcano. There’s a reason why it’s a cult-classic!
And just like Volcano candles, any post about what it takes to make a good-smelling home without all the toxins would be wrought without me including our favorite essential oils for diffusing, easy incense sticks and palo santo wood (spoiler alert: palo santo is not just for the hippies). I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the beautiful aromas created through these more all natural, eco-friendly options than your go-to candles (though we’re not going to lie, we’re never going to stop burning candles).
While we know that you’ll be hard pressed to find any candles that are completely toxin free, we think we rounded up a great bunch of safer options which you can browse via our scrolling widget below. Then be sure to read about our top ten picks, including why we love each one. I’d love to know what your go-to method of home fragrance is! Cheers, Kat
Essential oils are not as innocent as previously thought. They are associated with the range of health problems, and may worsen lung, kidney and liver problems.