What makes a candle 'clean?'
CLEAN CANDLES, DEFINED:
Ingredients are everything:
WAX
I use a soy/coconut/beeswax blend: this is the most critical piece for me, ensuring that the wax blend I use contains zero paraffin.
Why zero paraffin matters? Paraffin wax is the most common wax used in massed-produced candles. It is also found as ‘food-grade paraffin’ in some candle wax blends which, though it sounds acceptable, is not. Here’s why:
Benzene and toluene are volatile organic compounds released when paraffin wax burns. Benzene is classified by the CDC and EPA as a known human carcinogen, while toluene can affect the nervous system with prolonged exposure. Short-term, lower-level exposure is linked to dizziness, headaches, and respiratory irritation. Waxes like soy, coconut, and beeswax do not produce these compounds.
Countless customers tell me they don’t get headaches from my candles and my really strong hunch this is why (zero paraffin).
FRAGRANCE:
When I first started making candles in 2017, all-natural fragrances were hardly a thing and when they were it was very cost prohibitive. Over the last few years, consumer demand for cleaner fragrances has led to significantly more options for plant-based oils. So while they are still more expensive than synthetic oils, this is the direction I’m currently going.
OILS 101: Fragrance ≠ essential oil. Essential oils are single notes straight from a plant. Fragrance is a built scent: plant-based & synthetic ingredients that mimic a familiar and pleasing aroma.
Synthetic isn't a dirty word. There is some valid confusion, maybe I can help clear it up. Lab-made doesn't mean harmful; it often means more stable and consistent. Fragrance earned a bad reputation decades ago for good reason; but today's industry standards (IFRA, cleaner sourcing) look nothing like that era. All components and ingredients I use/work with meet EU (European Union) standards which are considerably stricter and more precautionary than the US system.
My goal is to have the entire line of Rooted In candles be all-natural or naturally-derived by the end of 2027. It just feels right to me. :)
My three tiers:
- All-Natural — 100% naturally sourced
- Naturally Derived — 51%+ natural
- Blended — under 51% natural, for scents nature can't make alone
WICKS
Because I lean towards doing things outside the box, I opted for wooden (versus cotton) wicks from the get-go. They add warmth and a cozy, fireside ambiance to any space but, more importantly, they’re sourced from FSC-certified mills (Forest Stewardship Council) and made right here in the USA, so every wick carries both a responsibly harvested origin and a domestic supply chain.
My health + well-being commitment to you…
No Prop 65 ingredients, no paraffin/petroleum by-products, no phthalates, no parabens, no Lilial, no Lyral, no synthetic additives or fillers, no dyes, no carcinogens, no mutagens, no reproductive, organ or acute toxins. Meets strict EU certifications and standards.
Handmade with love & your wellbeing in mind,
Jen 🫶🏻