A Sustainability Guide: Rethinking Candles for a Healthier Home

For some of us, candles are part of daily life. They bring warmth, atmosphere, and a sense of ritual to our homes. In their simplest form, they mark a pause, a moment of calm where we get to breathe and step back from the pace of the day.

A Closer Look

Yet, what we burn indoors matters more than we might think. Most candles are still made from paraffin wax, releasing pollutants into the air; others come in little metal cups, creating unnecessary waste.

In this month’s sustainability guide, we take a closer look at candles and why choosing more natural, low-waste alternatives can make a meaningful difference.

What Are We Really Burning?

Candles are often chosen for their scent or appearance. However, what they are made from is often overlooked.

Many conventional candles use paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum. When burned, it can release substances that affect indoor air quality. While the impact may seem small, it becomes more relevant when used regularly in enclosed spaces.

Alongside this, there is the question of waste. Single-use containers, particularly aluminium tealight cups, are used briefly and then discarded. Over time, these small items quietly build into something far less significant.

Candles are often chosen for the way they make us feel, yet what sits behind that experience is rarely questioned.

Paraffin wax, used in most candles, is a by-product of petroleum refining and releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when burned. Alongside this, candles produce fine particulate matter that can affect indoor quality, particularly when used regularly in enclosed spaces.

Tealights are among the most widely used candles, yet they are the most disposable. Across Europe, hundreds of millions are burned each year, each one held in a small aluminium cup used only once. In practice, many of these are not recycled, often due to their size and residual wax, contributing to a steady and largely overlooked stream of waste.*

“It is believed that regular burning of several candles in indoor environments can expose people to harmful amounts of organic chemicals” **

What's the Answer?

Our Naked Tealights are created with this in mind.

Made from 100% vegan soy wax and free from any outer casing, they are designed to burn cleanly while leaving nothing behind but the tiny metal sustainer. Each one is hand-poured here in the Highlands, using a process that focuses on simplicity and care.

Our Naked Tealights are hand-poured in our candle studio in Glen Urquhart, where Liz works in small batches, focusing on a more natural and low-waste approach.

Sustainability is often found in the smallest choices we make each day. Candles remain an important part of how we shape our homes, bringing warmth and atmosphere to everyday moments. By choosing more natural materials and reducing what we leave behind, that simple ritual becomes more considered.