What to Look for When Buying Candles: A Guide to Safe, Natural and Therapeutic Light

There’s something sacred about lighting a candle. That soft flicker. The gentle scent rising. The way a room subtly changes.

But not all candles are created equal.

In a world of mass-produced fragrance and synthetic blends, it’s important to know what you’re really bringing into your home and breathing into your body. A candle should offer comfort, not compromise your wellbeing. So if you’re looking for a candle that’s truly clean, kind and therapeutic, here’s what to look for.

1. Natural Wax — No Toxins, Just Calm

Start with the base: the wax. Many mainstream candles use paraffin wax or they may call it 'mineral wax', a petroleum by-product that, when burned, can release potentially harmful chemicals into your space. Even some of the biggest, most well known candle brands use this type of wax. 

Look for 100% natural waxes, like soy, coconut or rapeseed, which are clean burning, renewable and biodegradable. At Chapter Organics, we use a natural soy wax blend made in Europe that burns evenly, slowly, and safely.

2. Cotton Wicks — Gentle, Clean, Reliable

A candle’s wick might seem like a small detail, but it matters. Some cheaper candles use metal-core wicks that can release trace heavy metals when burned. Instead, choose pure cotton wicks, which provide a stable flame, reduce soot, and support a clean burn.

Our wicks are 100% cotton, free from lead, zinc and other additives, so your flame stays pure and your space stays soot-free.

3. Essential Oils, Not Synthetic Fragrance

There’s a difference between scent and therapy. Many scented candles rely on synthetic fragrances that can overwhelm the senses or trigger headaches and sensitivities. They may add a very small 1% dose of Essential Oil but then market their candles as containing Essential Oils but when you look closely they mix with synthetic lab grown fragrances such and may have scents like 'Sea Breeze' or 'Fresh Linen' 

Chapter candles are blended only with pure essential oils, never synthetic fragrance. These oils don’t just smell beautiful,  they do something. Lavender to calm. Eucalyptus to clear. Bergamot to lift the mood. Each blend is carefully considered to support your wellbeing, not just scent your room.

4. A Therapeutic Dose of Oils

It’s not enough to list essential oils on the label. To have an effect, they need to be present in a therapeutic concentration, not just a drop for marketing. 

Our candles are blended with a true therapeutic dose of essential oils,  so that when you light them, you’re not just filling the air with a lovely scent, you’re inviting in something deeper: emotional support, nervous system calm, and a sense of grounding that lingers long after the flame goes out.

5. Transparency and Intention

Ask yourself: who made this candle? Do they tell you what's inside? Are the ingredients clearly listed? Was it made with care, or churned out by a factory line? 

At Chapter, our candles are hand-poured in small batches in Yorkshire using considered, safe and natural ingredients. They’re created not just to be lit.  but to be felt. To become part of your rituals. To support your mind, body and space through every chapter of life.