Collection: Candles

Organic candles and ingredients must meet strict requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the USDA Organic program. However, natural candles do not have a legal definition and can contain a mix of natural or naturally-derived ingredients. Clean candles also don't carry a legal definition. That's why we've put in place The Credo Clean Standard™, which ensures that the products we offer are free from over 2700 potentially harmful ingredients. It's important to note that both natural and synthetic candle fragrances can be considered clean, as sometimes synthetic fragrances are less harmful to the environment and have robust safety profiles.

Buying clean candles from Credo Beauty ensures that you opt for a safer product that protects both your health and the environment. Our candles contain no phthalates, nitromusks or polycyclic musks, as these feature in our Dirty List. Conventional candles may contain such ingredients, which have been shown to have possible negative health effects.

When looking for clean ingredient candles there are a few key ingredients that you should avoid, such as paraffin wax, lead wicks, and synthetic fragrances. Paraffin wax releases soot into the air when burned, which can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma when breathed in, as soot irritates the lungs and airways. Lead wicks are less common these days, but can still be found in some candles. Lead wicks should be avoided as lead is a neurotoxin and inhaling lead fumes can damage the nervous system, cause behavioral and learning problems in children, and is exceptionally harmful to pregnant women. Lastly, artificial fragrances containing harmful chemicals such as phthalates should also be avoided. These guidelines can be tricky to navigate, which is why we at Credo Beauty do all the vetting work for you and only stock products that meet our strict standards.

When trying to find out if a candle is truly non-toxic, your first steps should be to scan the ingredient list for harmful ingredients and look for any certifications or labels from organizations such as the National Candle Association or Green Seal. Ingredients such as paraffin wax, artificial fragrances, and lead wicks should always be avoided if possible. Even easier yet, simply shop with us. We do the tough vetting work for you and only bring you candles that are truly clean.

If you’re seeking clean candles with environmentally friendly packaging, there are a couple of things to look for. Minimalistic packaging such as a glass jar candle will provide you with a reusable or recyclable glass jar once your candle has finished burning, and packaging made from recyclable materials such as cardboard and recyclable containers is another great environmentally friendly option. At Credo Beauty, we impose our own sustainability and packaging guidelines on the brands we work with to help reduce the environmental impact of consumer products.

The burn time for clean scented candles will depend on their size and the ingredients they contain. Generally speaking, traditional candles have a slightly shorter burn time than clean candles because of the potentially harmful ingredients they often contain. On average, traditional candles have a burn time of 20-30 hours per wick, while clean candles have an average burn time of 30-50 hours for a single wick. To extend the burn time of your candles further, there are a few tips to follow. Trimming the wick to ¼ inch in length before lighting your candle each time will result in a cleaner, more consistent burn. You should refrain from burning your candle for more than four hours, as this can cause the wax to heat up too much and burn quicker. Put your candle out after four hours and let it cool completely before relighting it. These tips will help you reduce soot and black residue from building up within your candle jar and on the walls of your room as well as extend the burn time of your candle.

There is a range of healthy candles that can be incorporated into your self-care routine. Clean candles with scents such as lavender and chamomile are great for those seeking stress relief or a way to relax, while citrus scents such as grapefruit, lemon, and orange are perfect for boosting both energy levels and your mood. If you want to focus on feeling centered and grounded during meditation, sandalwood and cedarwood scents might be exactly what your self-care routine needs. Don’t forget that clean healthy candles can be used during activities such as yoga or while you’re taking a bath to enhance your self-care experience, too.

The potency of a candle’s scent will depend on the quality and concentration of the fragrance oils used, regardless of whether it is considered “non-toxic” or not. If you enjoy a strong scent, you should seek candles with higher concentrations of natural oils rather than synthetic fragrances. Clean candles are often made from soy wax, which tends to hold scents and has a better scent throw than paraffin wax, which is often used in traditional candles. To find the right balance of scent strength and natural ingredients to match your needs it’s recommended to experiment with different scents and brands.

Instead of throwing candle jars or containers away once your candle has finished burning, you can recycle or repurpose them. Many candle jars make great containers for small items or can be used for a variety of DIY projects. When it comes to safely disposing of leftover soy wax, you can simply add it to your compost bin or throw it in your normal bin to be taken to a landfill, as most clean soy wax candles are biodegradable.