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When you light a scented candle in fall and close the windows, you are also closing in everything that candle releases into your indoor air. Most conventional scented candles are made from paraffin wax (a petroleum byproduct) and scented with synthetic fragrance — a catch-all ingredient term that can represent dozens of undisclosed compounds, many of which EWG's Skin Deep® database flags as ingredient concerns. For families trying to reduce indoor exposures, candle season is a real tradeoff worth understanding.
At NonToxicFinder, we checked EWG's databases to see what independent certification exists for candles. We are not affiliated with the Environmental Working Group — all references to EWG's ratings and programs come from their own public databases.
What EWG Rates for Candles
EWG's Skin Deep® database primarily covers personal care and home products — shampoos, lotions, sunscreens, cleaning sprays. EWG's Healthy Cleaning Guide rates household cleaners on a letter-grade system (A through F). Neither database currently includes a broad candle rating category, and no candle brand holds the EWG VERIFIED® mark for its candle products.
What EWG's research consistently highlights for candles and home fragrance products is the synthetic fragrance concern. "Fragrance" or "parfum" on any ingredient label is a legally protected trade-secret term that can conceal dozens of individual chemical compounds. EWG flags synthetic fragrance as one of its most common high-concern ingredient categories across product databases. That is why the "non-toxic candle" question leads parents to ask what they can burn instead.
For broader EWG context, see our guide on what EWG VERIFIED® means and how EWG rates products.
The Best Non-Toxic Candle Certification: MADE SAFE®
The most rigorous independent certification we found for candle products is MADE SAFE®, from the nonprofit Made Safe. MADE SAFE® certifies products free of known and suspected hazardous substances — an ingredient-by-ingredient review against a database of chemicals linked to toxicity, carcinogenicity, hormone disruption, and environmental harm. The program covers not just product ingredients but also raw material sourcing and manufacturing processes.
Fontana Candle Co. holds MADE SAFE® certification across its candle line — more than 100 certified products, more than any other company at the time they earned the designation. Their candles use beeswax and coconut oil for the wax base and pure essential oils for scent. No paraffin, no synthetic fragrance, no phthalates, no lead wicks.
Fontana also holds EWG VERIFIED® status — but that designation covers their personal care line (bath soaks), not their candles. The candle products are certified under MADE SAFE®, which is a separate certification from a different organization. We are reporting each certification accurately to avoid any confusion.
Our Non-Toxic Candle Picks: MADE SAFE® Certified from Fontana
| Product | Certification | Best For | Price | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fontana Wood Wick Beeswax Candle, Cinnamon Orange Clove | MADE SAFE® | Fall scent, lead pick | $25.99 | Check price → |
| Fontana Wood Wick Beeswax Candle, Spiced Latte | MADE SAFE® | Warm/cozy scent variant | $25.99 | Check price → |
| Fontana Celebration Collection, Love You Always 9oz | MADE SAFE® | Gift, lighter scent | $25.99 | Check price → |
| Fontana Wood Wick Beeswax Candle, Unscented | MADE SAFE® | Fragrance-sensitive households | $21.99 | Check price → |
| Fontana Non-Toxic Wax Melts, Cinnamon Orange 3-Pack | MADE SAFE® | Flameless option | $14.99 | Check price → |
1. Fontana Candle Co. Wood Wick Beeswax Candle, Cinnamon Orange Clove
This is the fall scent anchor in Fontana's MADE SAFE® certified candle lineup and the natural first pick for families switching from conventional seasonal candles. Cinnamon Orange Clove captures fall warmth without synthetic fragrance — the scent comes entirely from pure essential oils. The formula is beeswax and coconut oil, with a wood wick that crackles quietly. No paraffin, no synthetic fragrance compounds, no lead. 35+ hour burn time. Hand-poured in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Certification: MADE SAFE®
Wax: Beeswax + coconut oil (no paraffin)
Scent: Pure essential oils — no synthetic fragrance
Burn time: 35+ hours
Best for: Fall fragrance, switching from conventional paraffin candles
Fontana Candle Co. Cinnamon Orange Clove, 9oz — Buy on Amazon ↗
2. Fontana Candle Co. Wood Wick Beeswax Candle, Spiced Latte
The Spiced Latte variant is for households where the coffee-and-spice scent profile feels more like home than cinnamon-orange. Same MADE SAFE® certified beeswax + coconut oil formula, pure essential oil scenting, wood wick. If someone you know loves conventional fall candle scents but wants to move away from synthetic fragrance, this is a natural bridge: familiar and cozy, with an ingredient list that has been reviewed against MADE SAFE®'s hazardous chemicals database. 35+ hour burn time at $25.99.
Certification: MADE SAFE®
Wax: Beeswax + coconut oil
Scent: Pure essential oils
Burn time: 35+ hours
Best for: Warm/cozy fall scent, gift for conventional candle fans
Fontana Candle Co. Spiced Latte, 9oz — Buy on Amazon ↗
3. Fontana Candle Co. Celebration Collection, Love You Always (9 oz)
From Fontana's Celebration Collection — a lighter, floral scent for households where the spice-heavy fall palette is too much. Same MADE SAFE® certified beeswax + coconut oil formula, pure essential oil scent. The Love You Always name and packaging make it a strong early-holiday gift: the ingredient story is worth telling, the 9 oz size is practical, and the floral scent profile travels well as a present. A good choice if you want a clean ambient candle without committing to the cinnamon-forward fall range.
Certification: MADE SAFE®
Wax: Beeswax + coconut oil
Scent: Pure essential oils (floral/lighter profile)
Size: 9 oz
Best for: Lighter scent preference, gift-giving, early-holiday
Fontana Candle Co. Love You Always, 9oz — Buy on Amazon ↗
4. Fontana Candle Co. Wood Wick Beeswax Candle, Unscented
For households where even essential oils are a consideration — fragrance sensitivity, asthma, infants in the room, or simply preference for no added scent — this is the right pick. MADE SAFE® certified beeswax and coconut oil, wood wick, and nothing else. Beeswax naturally carries a faint, mild honey scent as it burns; that is the only thing you will notice. Warm ambient light, quiet wood wick crackle, zero fragrance load. At $21.99, it's the lowest-priced candle in the Fontana wood wick lineup. 35+ hour burn time.
Certification: MADE SAFE®
Wax: Beeswax + coconut oil
Scent: None (faint natural beeswax honey scent only)
Burn time: 35+ hours
Best for: Fragrance sensitivity, asthma, infants, scent-free preference
Fontana Candle Co. Unscented Beeswax Candle, 9oz — Buy on Amazon ↗
Flameless Option: MADE SAFE® Certified Wax Melts
5. Fontana Candle Co. Non-Toxic Wax Melts, Cinnamon Orange (3-Pack)
For homes where an open flame is not a good fit — toddlers, curious pets, or simply a preference for flameless fragrance — Fontana's wax melts use the same MADE SAFE® certified beeswax + coconut oil base scented with pure essential oils. Drop a melt into any standard electric wax warmer: no candle, no open flame, no drip. Cinnamon Orange is seasonal and clean. The 3-pack provides several weeks of fall fragrance depending on how often the warmer runs. At $14.99, it's the most accessible entry point into Fontana's certified candle line.
Certification: MADE SAFE®
Base: Beeswax + coconut oil
Scent: Pure essential oils — Cinnamon Orange
Format: Flameless (electric wax warmer required)
Quantity: 3-pack
Best for: Households with toddlers or pets, flameless preference, lower price point
Fontana Candle Co. Cinnamon Orange Wax Melts 3-Pack — Buy on Amazon ↗
What to Look for in Non-Toxic Candles
Wax type matters. Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum and is by far the most common candle wax. When burned, it releases combustion byproducts and carries whatever synthetic fragrance is blended in. Beeswax burns clean. Coconut oil-based waxes are plant-derived and free of petroleum compounds. Soy wax is often marketed as natural, but sourcing and processing vary considerably — "soy wax" alone does not tell you much about the full ingredient picture.
Fragrance is the critical concern. "Fragrance" or "parfum" on any ingredient label is a legally protected trade-secret term. A single fragrance entry can represent dozens of undisclosed chemical compounds. This is what EWG's research consistently flags for candles and home fragrance products. Essential oil scenting discloses naturally: if a candle says "scented with cinnamon essential oil," that is what it is — no hidden chemistry. All Fontana candles are scented exclusively with named essential oils or left unscented.
Wick materials. Cotton and wood wicks are the standard clean options. Lead-core wicks, more common in older candles and some imported products, are now rare in the U.S. All Fontana candles use wood wicks.
Third-party certification. MADE SAFE® and EWG VERIFIED® are both legitimate independent review programs. They cover different product categories and use different review standards. For Fontana's candles specifically, MADE SAFE® is the applicable certification. We describe each certification accurately for each product — we do not apply one label to products covered by another.
For a broader look at how EWG rates cleaning and home products, see our guide to non-toxic cleaning products top-rated by EWG. For air freshener alternatives, see our non-toxic air freshener guide. If you're also looking to replace plug-in air fresheners, our guide to non-toxic air freshener alternatives including diffusers covers what EWG rates on Glade and Febreze plug-ins alongside room spray and diffuser options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are all the picks from one brand?
Fontana Candle Co. is the only candle brand we found with MADE SAFE® certification and consistent Amazon availability. Other non-toxic candle brands exist, but without confirmed third-party ingredient certification and an available purchase link, we do not feature them here. We update this guide when new certified options become available.
Q: Does EWG rate candles?
EWG's databases — Skin Deep® for personal care products and the Healthy Cleaning Guide for household cleaners — do not currently include a broad candle rating category. EWG research highlights synthetic fragrance as one of the most common high-concern ingredients in home fragrance products. MADE SAFE® certification, which covers Fontana's candle line, is a separate program from a different nonprofit organization that does evaluate candles for ingredient safety.
Q: Are these candles safer for asthma or fragrance sensitivity?
We do not make health claims about any product on this site. MADE SAFE® certification means these candles have been reviewed for known and suspected hazardous substances by a third-party nonprofit — it is not a medical safety guarantee. For fragrance sensitivity or asthma, the Fontana Unscented candle eliminates all added fragrance ingredients. For questions specific to your health situation, consult your doctor.
Q: Are wax melts less of a concern than candles for indoor air?
Wax melts heated in an electric warmer produce scent without combustion. There is no flame, no combustion byproduct. The fragrance concern for wax melts is the same as for candles: whether the scenting agents are synthetic or natural. Fontana's wax melts use the same MADE SAFE® certified beeswax + essential oil formula as their candles, so both the wax and the scent source are the same clean ingredients.
