14 best non-toxic candles that smell great and bring a clean burn

Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

This large 300g candle is made of soy wax plus a cotton wick and is presented in a chic black glass holder with a simple branded sticker. Because of this minimalist vibe, it looks stylish in our living room. Our tester noticed the small, still flame created when lighting this candle doesn’t cause any smokiness and we liked its clean, botanical scent.

Clear fragrance notes include bergamot, honeysuckle, coconut, sandalwood, and carnation, reminding us of enjoying a warm evening in a blooming summer garden. The luxurious looking and smelling candle has a whopping 60-hour burn time too, making the £35 price tag stretch a bit further.

Best: Supersized candle

Rating: 9/10

This offering from ESPA isa hand-poured soy wax candle with botanical essential oils that comes presented in a branded white glass holder with an accompanying silver metal lid which acts as a handy cover to stop the candle from becoming dusty between uses. We tried the supersize 410g version, but it is also available in a smaller size.

The scent itself comes from ESPA’s positivity range, and we detected sweet, citrus, and floral notes across ingredients including jasmine, rose geranium, bergamot, and orange. Our tester noted the burn to be impressively even, with no dips in its 100 per cent natural wax afterwards, just a smooth flat surface. Fragrance quickly filled our room, bringing a brightening, vibrant aroma, and we found the lid handy to stand this candle on while lit too.

Best: Unique holder

Rating: 9/10

Hand-poured into a clay pot designed by ceramist Nina Paloma, this 360g candle comprises 100 per cent soya wax and two eco-cotton wicks. Our tester noticed the double wicks bring extra scent intensity to this citrus blend. We saw the flames light up its holder’s bronze shaded inside edge too, adding an extra ambience. Its burn is notably flat and even, not dipping at all. We picked up on earthy vetiver and patchouli as well as relaxing lavender and softly floral red mandarin. Although this is an investment, the clay pot is exquisitely detailed and will be an interior addition for years to come.

Best: Sustainable buy

Rating: 9/10

In keeping with UpCircle upcycling ingredients for every product, this hand poured candle has been made using repurposed coffee grounds and sustainably sourced soy wax. There are visible coffee particles in the candle for a unique textured finish and we liked the glass holder’s minimalist aesthetic. We saw a smoke-free flame and the holder sides were residue-free too as the wax melted down evenly with use.

The creamy scent is rich yet delicate, creating subtle whiffs of coffee without being overpowering. Plus, its 180ml size is usefully compact but still offers up to 35-hours of burn time, and our tester took this candle away for some added luxury on a weekend break.

Best: For a smoke-free flame

Rating: 8/10

This soya wax candle contains rose damascena, rose geranium, tuberose and vetivert essential oils and is packaged in a bright pink glass holder. All that’s featured on the outside is the Ila logo, which would be perfect if you prefer a simple, colourful candle holder.

When burning, our tester saw a tall, slim flame burning calmly without creating smokiness. And the sweet scent is a heady floral combination, finished with fresh grassy vetivert notes. The fragrance quickly filled our living room, and we could also smell it when the wick wasn’t lit. There’s an expected 55-hour burn time, so this buy will last ages too.

Best: Hand-poured effect

Rating: 9/10

Offering a total burn time of 40-hours, this 30cl natural soya wax candle is hand-poured in two stages with Hebridean seaweed sprinkled into each layer. Set in a white glass holder, there’s also a silver metal lid with sealant edges to secure in place between uses. While burning we noticed the hot wax melts in circular layers, showing those tiny hand-harvested seaweed particles. The fresh scent is gently warming and added a definite spa vibe to our living room, with the lavender, rose, geranium, juniper berry and lemongrass oil blend. Its clean flame doesn’t create any smokiness either.

Best: For cosiness

Rating: 8/10

This soy wax candle has a cotton and paper wick, is housed in a black glass container and has an estimated burn time of 50-hours. The logo is etched onto its side, so we saw a cosy glow when lit. The orange and geranium essential oil blend makes for a tangy, happy scent that is mood-lifting. Dispersing throughout our lounge, we noticed how much of a widespread aroma the candle brings. Plus, its molten wax pool reaches close to the holder’s side, resulting in an even burn with quite a small, but completely clean, flame. The joyful scent lingered in our room afterwards too.

Best: For an interior accessory

Rating: 9/10

Coming in a pale pink chunky holder mirroring the simple porcelain interior accessory trend, this Ouai candle is made from soy and coconut wax. The rose scent also features bergamot, lychee, cedarwood and white musk to add a rich, earthy edge. As the wax burned down evenly with use, our tester noticed this flame lit up the holder from inside and brought a warming, cosy glow. The estimated burn time is 55-hours, and while we’ve not quite got to the bottom yet, our tester will be repurposing this holder after use.

Best: Alternative wick

Rating: 8/10

The wick element of this soy wax candle is slightly different because it’s a wide flat piece of wood, which we found creates a soothing, subtle crackling sound. Coming complete with a wooden lid as a heat protective stand on surfaces, this keeps dust off the candle when not in use too. Our tester saw the candle burn without any wax dips and its glass holder stayed clean around the edges. Plus, the sweet almond scent is a gentle fragrance which carried throughout our living space while lit.

Best: For a gift

Rating: 8/10

You can personalise this soy candle’s holder with a matching pink leather letter covering an entire side and we think this tailored touch would make a special gift.

This is a fragranced candle for those favouring a noticeable aroma, and we enjoyed the potent ambience it brought. The patchouli and ylang ylang scent blend served up a floral and musk mix, that quickly filled our tester’s living space. There’s around 40-hours burn time, and other scent picks are available in different coloured pots too.

Best: Summery scent

Rating: 8/10

This hand poured soy candle has a sweet summery scent, thanks to notes of coconut, pineapple, and vanilla. Basically, the fragrance is like summer holiday sunshine in candle form. Because of this, we lit it on dreary days needing a happy lift.

The white glass holder features a colourful sticker with gold detailing, and our tester didn’t notice any wax dips from the candle burning.  Its 220g weight is a generous size, which should offer at least 45-hours of burn time.

Best: Multi-layered fragrance

Rating: 8/10

Presented in a vibrant orange glass holder, this coconut and soy wax candle has a cotton wick. All the fragrance notes are helpfully outlined on the back, and these include rose, cherry, apricot, cardamom, and tobacco. Our tester noticed the scent is satisfyingly multi-layered, meaning we could detect sweet, floral, fruity, and woody components.

The candle is slow burning and while the wax did dip slightly near the edges, there was no smoke to be seen. The 240g buy has a burn time of around 55-hours, delivering long-lasting candle enjoyment.

Best: For a strong aroma

Rating: 8/10

This soy and rapeseed wax candle creates an instantly noticeable aroma, with rich, earthy notes of fig and cedarwood that are velvety smooth. We noted its flame is strong too, which helped the scent spread throughout our room.

The 220g candle’s glass holder is a shade somewhere between grey and purple, fitting well with our tester’s décor. We were pleased to see the burn time is over 55-hours, especially after soaking up so much scent from a few cosy evenings already.

Best: Essential oil blend

Rating: 8/10

Arriving in colourful and compostable packaging, this soy candle features an essential oil blend including clove, patchouli, rose, geranium, vanilla, orange, and olibanum. Our tester picked up on a soft and creamy citrus scent with botanical notes, which smells uplifting. We took the candle outside for al fresco drinks on a summer evening and enjoyed its clear flame and brightening fragrance boost.

The 220g candle has an estimated burn time of 40-hours, and while this holder depicts a hummingbird, other scent options are available with bee, butterfly, dragonfly, and ladybird designs.