The word vegan gets used a lot in the candle industry. Sometimes it means something real. Sometimes it is a label slapped onto a product made from paraffin wax with synthetic fragrance oils because there is technically no animal-derived ingredient in it. That is not quite the whole story.
I made Aroma Quartz vegan from day one, not because it was a trend, but because the ingredients I believed in happened to be plant-based. Here is what it actually means for a candle to be genuinely vegan, and what to look for when you are buying.
What makes a candle vegan?
A candle has four main components. The wax, the fragrance, the wick and the packaging. For a candle to be truly vegan, all four need to be free from animal-derived ingredients.
The wax is the most important factor
Most people focus on the fragrance when thinking about vegan candles, but the wax is actually where most non-vegan ingredients hide.
Beeswax is not vegan. It is the most naturally clean-burning wax available, but it is an animal product. If you are strictly vegan, beeswax candles are out.
Paraffin wax is technically vegan because it is a petroleum by-product, not animal-derived. But it releases soot and potentially harmful pollutants when it burns, which is a different kind of problem.
Soy wax is vegan, but the environmental credentials of the soy industry are complicated. Most commercial soy is grown on land cleared from rainforest. Some brands use certified sustainable soy, which is better, but still not straightforward.
Coconut wax is where I landed. Vegan, clean-burning, sustainably grown and it holds fragrance better than any other natural wax. It burns cooler and slower than soy or paraffin, which means more hours of scent and no black marks on the jar.
Shop Our Vegan Coconut Wax Candles
The fragrance
Fragrance is where things get complicated. Candle fragrance oils can contain dozens of individual chemicals, and historically some of those chemicals included animal-derived musks, civet and castoreum. In modern fragrance production these are largely replaced with synthetic equivalents, but it is not always clear from a label.
What matters more from a health perspective is phthalates. These are plasticising chemicals added to fragrance oils to help the scent bind and throw further. They are not vegan or non-vegan specifically, but they are hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to reproductive issues and developmental problems.
All of our fragrance oils are phthalate-free, paraben-free and formulated without ingredients that would compromise the vegan status of the product. We check every single one.
The wick
Most modern candle wicks are cotton, which is vegan. However, some older or cheaper candles still use wicks with metal cores, occasionally including lead (though this is now largely banned in the UK and EU). Some natural wicks use beeswax coating. It is worth checking if this matters to you, though for the majority of candles on the market today the wick is not an issue.
We use natural cotton wicks throughout our range.
Why most people do not realise their candle is not fully vegan
Most candle brands do not clearly disclose their ingredient lists. You will see claims like natural, plant-based or eco on labels without any specifics about the wax, the fragrance composition or the wick. If a brand is genuinely transparent, they will tell you exactly what wax they use, confirm their fragrance oils are phthalate-free and make their vegan credentials clear without you having to dig for them.
Transparency is a design principle for us. If you ever want to know exactly what is in any of our products, you can ask and we will tell you.
Vegan wax melts and diffusers too
The same principles apply to the rest of our range. Our botanical wax melts use 100% coconut wax and phthalate-free fragrance oils. The botanicals on top are dried flowers and herbs. Our reed diffusers use a 100% plant-based carrier. Everything we make is vegan.
Shop Vegan Botanical Wax Melts
Frequently asked questions
Are all coconut wax candles vegan?
Coconut wax itself is vegan, but the fragrance oils used in a candle may not be. Always check that the fragrance is also vegan and phthalate-free. A candle can use coconut wax and still contain non-vegan or potentially harmful fragrance ingredients.
Is soy wax vegan?
Yes, soy wax is vegan. However, the environmental footprint of commercial soy farming is complicated by deforestation concerns. Sustainably sourced soy is a better choice if you do use soy products, but coconut wax has fewer environmental question marks.
Are beeswax candles vegan?
No. Beeswax is an animal product and not considered vegan. It is one of the cleanest burning natural waxes available, but it is not suitable for those following a vegan lifestyle.
How can I tell if a candle is truly vegan?
Look for clear disclosure of the wax type, confirmation that fragrance oils are phthalate-free and vegan, and a cotton wick. If the brand does not disclose these things clearly, that is itself a signal worth paying attention to.
Are Aroma Quartz candles vegan?
Yes. All of our candles, wax melts and diffusers are made with 100% coconut wax, phthalate-free fragrance oils and natural cotton wicks. Everything we make is fully vegan and free from animal-derived ingredients.
