Light It Up
The best candles to hygge up your space
Consistently scoring a top spot in the annual World Happiness Report 2021, Denmark is as famous for it’s content citizens as it is for its environmental values. But the Danes also famously love their candles. When dark and cold winters hit the Nordic countries, there’s nothing more hygge than a warm candle-ambient. Candles play a crucial role in Scandi ‘hyggeligt’ homes, where Danes are known for being massive wax consumers. A study from The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen showed that 28% of Danes light up candles every day of a week. This got us to thinking, maybe candles are the secret to happiness.
This got us to wondering, since when are candles sustainable? Traditional candles are typically made with paraffin wax, which is a petroleum-based byproduct of oil refineries, and stearin wax, which is made of animal or vegetable fat, which are highly detrimental to indoor air and eventually contribute to atmosphere pollution when burned. Not only that, the exposure to those mineral and animal origin waxes can cause severe allergies and health conditions like asthma or eye irritation, and in some cases even cancer.
Thankfully for those candle happy Danes (and for us), there’s a natural and sustainable solution for candle burners. Next time you’re ready to light it up, opt for soy or alternative vegetable-based candles like the ones made from 100% organic non-GMO wax. Below we’ve rounded up our favorite stylish and responsible Nordic candle brands.
Five eco-friendly Scandi candle brands you’ll love:
This Swedish family business produces a wide array of vegan, sustainable, and hand-made scented candles. Made of plant-based and clean ingredients, the aromatherapy collection includes a variety of fruity, relaxing, citric, flowery, woodie, and other essences. Klinta is on the mission to make your home smell like a heavenly meditation state. And beyond that, you can also use the melted wax as a body massage oil. What a treat to your home and your body!
Here’s where art and fragrance meet. This Swedish brand offers luxury vegan candles that diffuse natural scents. The packaging and wax container carry caveman-inspired drawings that are Muro’s signature. If you want your space smelling earthy and fresh while adding bits of character, go for Muro’s scent candles.
Again comes Sweden on the forefront with these handmade scent candles produced with rapeseed wax locally sourced, renewable and eco-friendly. Yvelis candles are scented with exotic combinations of French fragrance and essential oils. Mixing smells like Rosemary, Lemongrass, Blueberry Muffin, Pomegranate, Sunflower, and Cinnamon, is an art that makes Yvelis stand out. You can then choose between jarred candles or simple votives.
This Danish company manufactures all its candles with 100% natural, GMO-free soy wax and 100% cotton wicks sourced within Europe. Its fragrances are of high grade and biodegradable natural colors. Special commendation to the Log Fires tealight! It’ll bring a genuine fireplace experience to your home with its notes of smoky woods. Nothing can’t be more hygge than that!
Organic coconut wax is what characterizes this Swedish candle maker. Since the common coconut melts at room temperature, the wax is made from hydrogenated and refined coconut oil. Candles made of coconut wax tend to burn slower and cleaner than other types of resins. This ingredient choice makes Candlenord products more expensive than its peers, but the natural coconut fragrance, even non-scented candles, makes it worth the price.
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