Candle Ingredients to Avoid (and What to Look For Instead)

Most candle labels tell you the scent and the size, and not much else. "Clean" has no regulated definition, and fragrance ingredients can legally stay a trade secret, so it's hard to know what you're actually burning. Here are the candle ingredients worth avoiding, what to look for instead, and how to read a label like a pro. If you're still deciding whether the switch is worth it, start with our guide to non-toxic candles.

Here's what to look for, what to avoid, and why it matters more than most people realize.

Most people never think twice about what they're burning. You pick a scent you love, light it up, and enjoy the moment. We get it — that's exactly why candles exist.

But if you've ever burned a Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works candle for a few hours and noticed a headache, a stuffy feeling, or a faint layer of residue on nearby surfaces, it's worth knowing why that might be happening.

Here's what's actually inside most mass-produced candles — and why we chose to do things differently.

Paraffin Wax

The majority of candles sold in big box stores are made with paraffin wax. Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum refining — the same process that produces gasoline and diesel. When burned, paraffin releases compounds including toluene and benzene, both of which are known carcinogens.

Scent of Home uses 100% soy wax. Soy is derived from soybeans, burns cleaner, and produces significantly less soot than paraffin. It's also biodegradable and renewable.

Phthalates in Fragrance Oils

Phthalates are chemical compounds commonly used in synthetic fragrance to make scents last longer and project further. They're widely used in the candle and personal care industry — and they're also classified as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with hormone function with repeated exposure.

You won't find phthalates listed on most candle labels because fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets and don't require full disclosure. That means most consumers have no way of knowing what they're actually diffusing into their home air.

Every fragrance oil we use at Scent of Home is phthalate-free. We check. It's a non-negotiable part of how we source ingredients.

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives used in many fragrance and cosmetic formulations. Like phthalates, they've been identified as potential endocrine disruptors and have been the subject of ongoing research regarding their safety in everyday products.

Our fragrance oils contain no parabens.

Synthetic Wicks

Many conventional candles use wicks that are coated in synthetic materials or contain metal cores to help them stand upright during the pour. These can release trace metals and additional compounds when burned.

We use natural cotton wicks — simple, clean, and nothing else.

Are Candle Wicks Lead-Free?

Lead-core wicks were banned in the US in 2003, but some wicks still use zinc or tin cores to help them stand upright, and imported candles aren't always checked closely. The simplest way to avoid metal wicks altogether is to choose candles with 100% cotton or wood wicks.

How to Read a Candle Label

When you're shopping, look for these four things:
- Wax: The label should name the wax, like "100% soy wax." Watch for "soy blend," which can mean mostly paraffin.
- Wick: Look for "cotton wick" or "wood wick."
- Fragrance: Look for "phthalate-free." If it just says "fragrance," you don't know what's in it.
- Transparency: Brands that make clean candles are usually happy to tell you what's in them. If you can't find ingredient info, ask.

If a candle doesn't name its wax, wick, and fragrance standards, it's safe to assume it's a conventional candle.

What We Use Instead

Every Scent of Home candle is made with:

• 100% soy wax — clean-burning, renewable, no petroleum byproducts
• Phthalate-free fragrance oils — carefully sourced, fully vetted
• Paraben-free formulations — no hidden preservatives
• Natural cotton wicks — no synthetic coatings or metal cores
• Small-batch, hand-poured production — made in our Idaho studio, not a factory

We're not against big candle brands. We just think you deserve to know what's in them. When you burn a candle for two or three hours, you're breathing that air. Your kids and pets are breathing that air. It matters what's in it.

Candle Ingredient FAQ

What ingredients make a candle "clean"?
A clean candle uses a natural wax like soy, a cotton or wood wick, and phthalate-free fragrance, with no parabens or undisclosed additives.

What is a "soy blend" candle?
A soy blend mixes soy wax with other waxes, usually paraffin. Unless the label says 100% soy, there's no way to know how much soy is actually in it.

Are paraffin-free candles better?
Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. Paraffin-free candles made with soy or other plant-based waxes are the choice most people make when they want a cleaner burn.

What does "clean-burning" mean on a candle label?
It usually means the candle produces little to no visible soot. Clean-burning describes how the candle burns, while clean ingredients describe what it's made of. The best candles have both.

The Bottom Line

Switching to a cleaner candle isn't about being precious or overly cautious. It's simply about having accurate information and making a choice you feel good about. We started Scent of Home because we wanted that choice for our own home — and we wanted to make it easy for yours too.

Every Scent of Home candle is hand-poured with 100% soy wax, cotton wicks, and phthalate-free, paraben-free fragrance. Not sure where to start? Try our Scent Discovery Card to sample our scents first.