A Guide to Eco-Friendly Candles

Pure beeswax and vegetable-oil-based candles are the healthiest
choices for us and for the environment. We have a range of helpful
information about candles on Care2, from how to make beeswax
candles yourself, to the dangers of candle soot, to how to safely
remove dripped candle wax, and resources. Here is an index page for
it all:

Candle soot can cause indoor air pollution. Make sure you don’t burn candles with metal wicks and be aware that aromatherapy candles can cause serious soot problems but for health and for objects such as computers. Some mistakenly think that the soot they are getting from their candls is coming from their furnace. For more on soot, read this.

Tips for Making Safe Candles Yourself: How-to Guide.

Paraffin is a petroleum product, which is not a renewable resource and causes pollution in its production.

Pure beeswax and vegetable oil candles are readily available. Some brands include Beeswax Candles; Pure Light Candles; and Pure Essential Oil Candles.

Read more: Home, Health & Safety

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

8:28PM PDT on Apr 27, 2012

It would be nice if people did not use the comment section to sell their candles and other wares, it is like junk mail in the comment section.

If you do not cease and desist I will start selling bridges made by my township on this site, so be warned. The bridges are made out of bees wax so that cars can soundless pass over them. They have a tendency to melt and fall apart on hot and humid days but what is a little entertainment?

Bees wax is a delightful candle. Interesting, did not know that burning some candles would do damage to my dear computer! I knew that some of the cheaper candles with toxic ingredients could do a lot of damage in time to one's health but the poor computer! I imagine it also is a health threat to many of our pets.

send a green star

Maija S.

10:53AM PST on Jan 14, 2012

Hmmm... I think Regina C missed the whole point of this article!
Thank you, it's a great article.

Catsy D.

7:40PM PST on Nov 20, 2011

Thanks heaps!

Melinda offline K.

4:10AM PDT on Oct 15, 2011

Its not just the soot, its also the fumes that you cant see.

Jennifer C.

6:39AM PDT on Oct 13, 2011

Thanks for the post.

Michele W.

12:59PM PDT on Sep 12, 2011

Thank you

Robert O.

12:22AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Thanks Annie.

Emily B.

12:46PM PST on Jan 8, 2011

Thank You

Regina C.

9:04PM PST on Jan 1, 2011

We heat our home with a wood -burning stove and we often need to start a fire from scratch. I saw some fire starters made from recycled materials and bought some. That got me to thinking of ways to make my own. I had a box of candle ends and candles that didn't burn quite right. In the past, when I'd have collected enough, I would melt the wax and pour new candles using wicks I made out of cotton crochett thread I picked up at the thrift shop. This is also a good place to find candles very cheap. Check on line for how to make wicks. They need to be soaked in a solution and dried before use.
I had quite a bit of wax and had enough candles made so I came up with a way to make my own fire starters based on the ones I had bought. I began saving my used coffee grounds and the paper filters which, I then let dry. When I had enough, I melted the wax, added the dry coffee grounds, put the dried coffee filters in large muffin tins and ladled the hot mixture in to fill the cups. If I didn't have enough filters, I used cardboard egg cartons and filled those as well. Other containers that can be recycled into starters are paper towel or toilet paper inner cardboard roll or used paper coffee cups.
When ready to use, just set the starter on the grate, ad whatever kindling or small logs you have then, light the paper on the outside of the starter. The paper catches, the wax and coffee grounds ignite and burn for quite some time, the coffee grounds working as a material that bur

Lady K.

10:43AM PST on Jan 1, 2011

thanks