If you’ve ever Googled “non toxic candles” and left more confused than when you started… same. The internet loves a buzzword. Your home deserves clarity.

A “non-toxic” candle usually means a candle designed to burn cleaner—with plant-based wax (like soy and coconut), lead-free wicks, quality fragrance standards, and low-soot performance. And if you’re choosing the cleaner lane on purpose? Most shoppers avoid paraffin and go plant-based.

At Smell of Love, we built our candles for people who want bold scent without the soot tantrum—and that starts with what we use (and what we don’t).

What “non-toxic candle” really means

There’s no single universal legal definition for “non-toxic candle.” In real life, shoppers usually mean:

• Plant-based wax (soy, coconut, or blends)

• Lead-free wick (cotton or wood)

• Transparent standards (you can tell what you’re buying)

• Low soot + minimal smoke when burned correctly

• A brand that educates instead of fear-marketing

Translation: The “cleanest” candle is the one built with better materials + real testing + proper burn guidance.

If you want a cleaner candle, avoid the real enemy: soot

Most people blame wax… but the biggest “dirty candle” experience is soot (black residue on jars, walls, ceilings).

Soot is most often caused by:

• Wick too long

• Drafty room (fans, vents, open windows)

• Burning too short (tunneling)

• Burning too long at once

• A wax/wick/jar combo that wasn’t properly tested

Clean candle rule: A good candle shouldn’t punish you with soot when you follow basic care.

Wax types: why clean-candle shoppers usually avoid paraffin

Paraffin wax (why many people skip it)

Paraffin is petroleum-derived, and in the clean-candle world it’s often the first wax people eliminate.

• Why shoppers avoid it: plant-based wax aligns better with “clean burning” preferences

• Main downside: it can be more prone to a sootier experience depending on the candle and burn conditions

• Bottom line: if “cleaner burn” is your priority, paraffin usually isn’t the first choice

Soy + coconut wax (the plant-based lane Smell of Love uses)

Soy and coconut are popular for shoppers who want a cleaner candle experience.

• Pros: plant-based wax, premium feel, strong performance when properly wicked

• Why it matters: wax performance improves when it’s matched with the right wick and jar (a clean candle is a system, not a buzzword)

Smell of Love standard: We use a soy + coconut blend with no paraffin—because we’re not chasing “cheap and sooty,” we’re chasing “smells incredible and burns beautifully.”

The clean-candle details that matter more than marketing

1) Wick choice (this can make or break the burn)

Look for:

• Cotton wicks (lead-free) for consistent, clean burn behavior

• Wood wicks if you love that cozy crackle (best when well-tested)

• A brand that gives real burn instructions (because “set it and forget it” causes soot)

Smell of Love standard: We use cotton wicks as our everyday wick for clean burn consistency. We also do limited drops with wood wicks for that special “crackle + vibe” moment.

2) Fragrance standards (quality + transparency)

Fragrance formulas can be proprietary—normal. The question is: does the brand have standards and test performance?

Green flags:

• Candle-safe fragrance oils

• Clear “what we stand for” info

• Consistent burn behavior (stable flame, low soot when cared for properly)

3) Jar design + airflow (yes, the vessel matters)

A good vessel helps:

• stabilize the flame

• reduce soot

• support an even melt pool

Smell of Love Clean Burn Standards (our non-negotiables)

This is what “clean candle” means in our world:

• Soy + coconut wax blend (no paraffin)

• Cotton wicks for consistent performance

• Limited-drop wood wicks when we want extra vibe (with proper testing)

• Designed for low-soot, clean burn behavior when cared for correctly

• Real education > fear marketing

If you’re shopping for a candle that fits the clean-candle lane, this is exactly why Smell of Love is the move.