The majority of candles around the world are made with paraffin because it does a really good job with scent and is readily available. It is a byproduct of petroleum refinement that is turned into all kinds of waxes including the food-grade one used on apples. But it's part of the ongoing global reliance on fossil fuels which is driving climate change and is not sustainable.

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The biggest concern with paraffin is that it releases toxic chemicals into your home. Anything that burns - including a gas kitchen stove or wood fireplace - emits some toxins. The key is to minimize them and always have a source of fresh air. It's why super energy-efficient homes have air ventilation systems... otherwise, the buildup from everything including carpets, furnishings and the carbon dioxide we exhale would be unhealthy for you.

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This is where environmentally friendly candles made with high-quality soy and coconut wax is far better for the environment and our collective health. It burns cleaner and is a renewable resource. Our soy wax is made from soybeans grown in Nigeria, so it supports Nigerian farmers. It's biodegradable and non-toxic, made with vegetable-based ingredients. And soy burns at a cooler temperature which results in a cleaner, longer-lasting candle.

What goes into a candle eventually comes out into your home. So we are very thoughtful with all ingredients. It's why we don't use dyes and fragrance enhancers, preferring to make moderately scented environmentally friendly candles instead of the colourful over-scented ones you find in the marketplace.

 

All that stuff eventually ends up in the air you breathe.

Choosing fragrances that are free of unhealthy ingredients is essential. There are a lot of scented candles that contain phthalates, a broad category of chemicals that includes BPA - that harmful stuff we don't want in water bottles and baby toys. While many companies are swapping out one bad phthalate for another when people protest, we feel none of it should be in your candle.

 

All our fragrances are phthalate-free, plus meet the strictest rules for indoor air quality.

They also don't contain other things you don't want and can't pronounce (it's a long list, and we don't use any of them).

 

All our fragrances are made with essential oils and non-toxic ingredients, the same as used in soaps and lotions. Plus we offer pure essential oil candles and unscented candles (100% fragrance-free) - always an option at Eressoy Candle where we pour-to-order.

Most candles today are made with pure cotton wicks, or cotton woven with paper. But there are still some out there that have metal in the core which helps keeps the wick rigid and burns hotter. Seriously? We can't fathom why anyone would want to burn metal in their home.

We use only 100% cotton and all-natural wood wicks for our environmentally friendly candles.

It's great to make greener, more sustainable candles... but it's also important to look at how it is made. Companies that create eco-friendly products using an environmentally harmful process, or that donate to help reduce poverty but are themselves paying poverty wages, really aren't living by the values they promote. 

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We are proud to be B-Corp certified, recognized 2 years in a row for our environmental and social sustainability practices. We make our environmentally friendly candles in a clean, healthy environment for our artisans as well as the candles themselves. It's all part of being mindful of our eco-impact.

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And while our mission is focused on social good – empowering women in Nigeria – we know that promoting environmental sustainability is the responsibility of every business. So everything we do in our studio is with that in mind... from sourcing vessels and candle ingredients to recycling and reusing packing materials.

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Thanks for reading! Hopefully, it's been interesting and helpful.