Try these vegan scented candles made with a soy wax blend in a zero-waste tin container that is refillable.
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What do I want from my candles? An incredible aroma that makes my home smell amazing. But, it has to be made from waxes and scented ingredients that are nontoxic. And make it vegan. And packaged in a beautiful vase that is easy to clean and reuse or from a brand that offers refills. If I’m being honest, these are desirable traits for most personal care, cleaning, or similar products I have in my home. I want them to work well, be nontoxic, and sustainably packaged. Yet, despite many consumers sharing a similar sentiment, there are still 5,000 tons of toxic chemicals that we are exposed to from everyday products. Statistics aren’t much better when it comes to packaging with less than 40% of plastic packaging used for personal care products being recyclable. So, I’ve often wondered whether or not an item like candles can be clean and eco-friendly.
The answer is ‘yes’. At least for the fragrance brand Illume, nontoxic ingredients, sustainable packaging, and amazing aromas can all go hand-in-hand. The brand has taken conscious steps to choose a combination of natural and safe synthetic ingredients that are PETA-certified and free from toxins such as paraben, glycol, dye, phthalate, and propylene. These formulas are also biodegradable and packaged in reusable tin or glass containers that can be refilled. There commitments definitely check a lot of boxes off of my list.
Cleaning Products That Don’t Contribute To Plastic Pollution
Trying the products meant that I had a chance to test their sustainable packaging claims. I’m pleased to share that the packaging was minimal. A single cardboard box stuffed with brown paper. All of it was recyclable. All of the products- from the tin containers for the Illume candles to the glass ones for Good Chemistry – are both reusable and recyclable. Personally, I like the aesthetic of the glass containers best. I have plans to reuse them for plant propagation or cuttings I’ll gift to friends. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the Eucalyptus and Lemon Love scents. Normally, I avoid these scents. But the Good Chemistry candles have a softer scent than others I’ve tried. The balance or sweetness coupled with a forestry vibe made my home smell fresh. Alternatively, despite being my signature scent, the Cafe au Lait was too strong for my taste.
Personal tastes aside, the brand ticks a lot of my boxes, making it one I’ll revisit for refills and share with friends and family. To learn more about the brand, I asked an Illume representative to answer common questions about the brand’s sustainable and clean initiatives.
How do you practice sustainable sourcing?
We’re extremely mindful of the materials used in our products as we’re committed to delivering a product with quality in ingredients and performance. For example, we are PETA-certified cruelty-free, and vegan, and offer premium plant-based wax.
There’s a debate about about the safety of natural versus chemical ingredients. Which do you use and why?
We use a combination of natural and chemical ingredients, as there’s a place and formulation for both. With our Good Chemistry brand, we have full ingredient transparency, so consumers can read our full ingredient list along with the source and “why”. When creating a fragrance, the botanical option may be the best, but other times not. For example, we use a safe synthetic for the lily of the valley scent because its aromatics cannot be expressed from the plant themselves.
What is the best way to refill/ recycle the candle containers?
If you’re using one of our refillable formats, we always suggest replenishing with a candle refill. It’s a simple way to reduce by having one vessel that you use, while the candle refill cup is compostable. If you have a vessel that isn’t refillable, there are numerous creative ways to reuse it: flower vase, trinket holder, planter, and desk organization.
*I've burned through the Lemon + Love candle. I have to say that this was one of the easiest candles jars to clean out. When the wax burned up along the sides of the glass, it was easy enough to push down. And, this is one of the few candles that I found was soft enough to be easily cleaned from a jar with soap and water.
