The Best Non-Toxic Candles that are Safe for Pregnancy

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Written by Shandra Williams

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Pregnancy isn’t without stress, so it’s no surprise if you want to light candles, put on some soft music, and draw a bubble bath to help you relax. That’s a great way to unwind, but it’s important to remember that not all candles are pregnancy-safe. 

The best non-toxic candles that are safe for pregnancy are those made with cotton or wood wicks (not metal or lead) and non-paraffin-based, natural wax such as beeswax, coconut, or soy. Finally, choose scented candles without hazardous chemicals, using natural essential oils that are safe for pregnant women.

This article will provide my top three picks for the best pregnancy-safe candles, including the best for relaxing, the best aromatherapy candle, and the candle that smells the best (to our testers, anyway!).

1. Best for Relaxation

Brooklyn Candle Studio Maui Escapist Candle

Is there any better trick for relaxation than sitting back and enjoying a delightful scent that can transport you to a faraway tropical island? Short of actually hopping on a plane and flying there, I don’t think so. And that’s precisely why Brooklyn Candle Studio’s Maui Escapist Candle is our choice for the most relaxing pregnancy-safe candle. 

You can feel safe and secure burning this candle, knowing it’s made of 100% soy wax and features a non-toxic cotton wick. A few of the fragrance ingredients are synthetic, but they are wholly safe. In fact, Healthline recommends Brooklyn Candle Studios in its list of the six safest, most non-toxic candles on the market (source: Healthline). 

You can also feel good about yourself as a person since the candles are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly. 

The only thing you need to pay close attention to with this candle brand is the essential oils used in each one. I like the Maui Escapist scent because all the essential oils are pregnancy-safe. Unfortunately, some of the company’s other options use oils that pregnant women should avoid. 

For example, their Santa Fe Escapist candle uses juniper and sage essential oils, both of which are not recommended for use by pregnant women (source: WebMD).

2. Best Aromatherapy Candle

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Scented Soy Aromatherapy Candle

Most people are familiar with Mrs. Meyer’s eco-friendly cleaning products, but not everyone realizes there are eco-friendly, non-toxic Mrs. Meyer’s candles, as well. You can choose from five different scents: 

  • Lavender
  • Honeysuckle
  • Basil
  • Lemon verbena
  • Geranium

I find lavender to be the best option for you if you’re a pregnant woman, as it’s safe, light, and not likely to overwhelm your heightened senses of smell. 

To be such a small candle – 7.2 ounces (204.11 grams) – it has a remarkable burn time of 35+ hours, and you’ll appreciate that it’s made not just with safe ingredients but renewable ones, as well. Even the glass jar the candle comes in is reusable once you’ve used up all the wax. 

Mrs. Meyer’s is also a more affordable option for budget-conscious shoppers. Bringing a new baby into the family comes with a significant monetary investment, so even if you’re not budget-conscious yet, you might want to get that way soon. This candle is a great place to start. 

3. Best Smelling

Wax Buffalo 9-Ounce Blood Orange Candle

For those of us who like to support small, women- and American-owned businesses, purchasing Wax Buffalo candles is an excellent, non-toxic way to do that. Each Wax Buffalo candle is hand-poured by one of the women who run the Wax Buffalo candle company in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

If that’s not enough to sell you on these candles, their bold, room-filling aromas and gorgeous aesthetic might still do the trick. These candles look great, and they smell even better.

My favorite is the blood orange candle, which mixes citrusy notes of grapefruit, mandarin, lemon, and blood orange with the warmer notes of sugar, honey, and bergamot. 

And because they’re 100% soy candles with cotton wicks and essential oil scents, you don’t have to worry about releasing harmful chemicals into the air when you burn them. 

The only downside to these is the burn time, which is only about four hours. The price is steep for something with such a short burn time, but if you’re looking for a soy candle that’ll fill your entire house with scent, this one is the way to go. 

Most soy candles can’t deliver the same powerful fragrance punch as paraffin candles, but Wax Buffalo does. 

What Are the Best Candle Scents for Pregnancy?

The best candle scents for pregnancy are citrus scents (mandarin, lemon, orange, etc.), peppermint, cardamom, ginger, jasmine, and lavender. The citrus scents, peppermint, cardamom, and ginger can help relieve nausea and morning sickness. Jasmine and lavender can help with frayed nerves and stress.

All of these scents are safe for pregnant women in moderation. However, some may not be safe for topical use or ingesting, so don’t use any essential oils in those ways without talking to your doctor first (source: American Pregnancy Center). 

Additionally, some popular essential oils aren’t safe for pregnant women even to smell, so it’s good to know what those are and avoid candles that use them. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following: 

Just remember, when in doubt, talk to your doctor before trying any new essential oils. 

burning non-toxic candle in a jar

If you’re an avid candle burner like me, hopefully, this article has put your mind at ease. You don’t have to give up burning your favorite scents while you’re pregnant; you’ll simply need to adjust the brand of candles that you use.

If you frequently burn candles, then you’ll need our other article which goes in-depth on the safety of burning candles during pregnancy.