This month is Organic September! To mark the occasion, we take a closer look at how organic candles are made, before sharing our favourite organic candles available on the market...
What is Organic September?
Organic September is a month-long organic lifestyle campaign, created by Soil Association Certification in collaboration with the Organic Trade Board.
The campaign hopes to raise awareness around the benefits of organic products, for individuals and the environment.
In 2020, the month-long campaign included the fashion & textiles and beauty & wellbeing industries for the first time, alongside the food and drink industry.
What makes products organic?
Unlike common descriptors like 'natural' or 'green', organic is a protected term that companies can only use on a certified organic product. The Soil Association explains that getting organic certification is not easy, as 95% of a product’s ingredients must come from an organic source.
The ingredients that go into organic products must be grown in conditions that use fewer or no pesticides, no artificial fertilizers, no genetic modification, no routine use of antibiotics and no artificial colours or preservatives. If animal products are involved, the animals should be looked after to the highest welfare standards.
What makes a candle organic?
How are organic candles made?
As explained above, the ingredients that go into an organic product must be grown organically. For candles, this could mean that the crop the wax is sourced from (e.g. soy, coconut, or rapeseed) is grown without excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers.
For beeswax candles, the bees should also receive the best quality of welfare treatment. Any fragrance oils or essential oils should also be from an organic source.
Are organic candles better for me?
If you’ve never bought organic products before, you may be wondering if it’s really worth making the swap - especially for candles, as you won't be ingesting these or applying them to you skin.
However, candles directly impact the air you breathe, meaning it's important to know exactly what is going into them. Non-organic candles might include remnants of toxic chemicals that were used in the production process.
In contrast, organic candles are made without the use of fertilizers and pesticides, they are less likely to release toxic chemicals when burnt. This means they won't pollute the air you breathe.
Are organic candles better for the environment?
Organic candles are also better for the environment too: the Soil Assocation reveals that organic farms tend to use less energy and produce less carbon emissions. Plus, organic farms are home to 30% more wildlife and 75% more bees than conventional farms!
This increase in wildlife is largely due to the fact that organic farmers use fewer pesticides. If an organic farm does use any pesticides, an organic certifier will closely monitor and restrict this usage.
Instead, the Soil Association explains that organic farmers rely on a whole ecosystem to keep pests under control. For example, animals like beetles and birds feed on pests such as aphids and slugs. When farms use fewer pesticides, biodiversity can restore and wildlife can flourish.
5 of the best organic candle brands
Note: the only certified organic candle company in the UK is Skär Organics - the other candle companies below use organic ingredients, however, the candles themselves have not been certified by an official certification body.
1. Certified by the Soil Association, Skär Organics is the UK’s first and only officially certified organic candle company. Each natural candle is made with certified organic beeswax, coconut oil and a blend of four organic essential oils. Even the cotton wick is certified organic!
Disclaimer: The following candles are NOT yet certified by an official organic certification body. We have included them in this roundup, based on the fact that they use natural and organic ingredients. However, we hope that these other candle companies follow the example set by Skar Organics and seek organic certification, to ensure they do not mislead consumers.
2. Ode to the Wild creates dreamy natural candles that are made using organic wax and organic essential oils, both of which have been certified by the Soil Association.
Each candle is packaged using eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. The company is currently working on a range of zero waste refill candles too!
3. SUN.DAY of London's natural candles are made using GMO-free coconut wax and palm-free plant waxes, along with high-quality essential oils and pure cotton wicks. Each candle is free from synthetic perfume and paraffin. They are also cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.
4. Daylesford's botanical candles are all made on an organic farm in Gloucestershire using clean-burning, GM-free wax. We love the ceramic containers, that are hand-made by Stoke-On-Trent potters, and the wooden boxes that are made from sustainably grown wood, which is sourced from carefully managed forests.
One for the candle makers...
5. If you're and candle maker, and you're looking to start making organic candles, check out BioCERE. This company supplies a range of arts and crafts materials, including Organic Candle Wax, which is made from an organic blend of coconut, beeswax, palm and carnauba wax. The wax is certified organic by the Soil Association!
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