Have you ever stopped to question whether those candles you keep in the drawer for emergencies contain hidden animal ingredients? What about the ones on the last birthday cake you decorated?
As with many consumer products, candles aren’t always vegan by default, and as they often don’t boast an ingredients list on the package, it can be easy to overlook the hidden animal products that were used to manufacture them.
While paraffin wax overtook animal fats such as tallow or lard as the dominant type of candle on the market in the late 19th century, sustainability and health concerns around the burning of petroleum has led to a resurgence of interest, sadly, in candles made from rendered animal fat. In addition, even candles made primarily with paraffin can still contain stearic acid (which is made from tallow or lard) to harden the wax and improve burning performance.
Beeswax, a product of honey production, is often used in “natural” candles, such as those you might find in a healthfood shop or gift store, because it burns cleanly without releasing chemicals into the surrounding air. However, just as is true for honey itself, beeswax isn’t vegan, as it’s produced using the labor of bees.
The following are some other, less-obvious animal ingredients that can be found in candles:
- Goat’s milk: Goat’s milk is sometimes used in candles as a hardening agent and to provide opacity.
- Carmine or cochineal: Carmine and cochineal are red pigments derived from animal sources that are sometimes used to color the wax in candles. They are not vegan, as they are derived from crushed beetles.
- Fragrances: Some natural scents are derived from animal secretions, such as civet or musk deer. However, there are also synthetic musk scents that are vegan.
Thankfully, there are vegan candles available, such as the extensive range produced by GoodLight candles, which uses vegan wax and dyes, pure cotton wicks, and botanical scents, as well as environmentally responsible packaging.
As with any search for vegan products, when looking for vegan candles, read the ingredient list carefully, if there is one! Look out for animal ingredients such as beeswax, stearic acid, goat’s milk, carmine, cochineal, “natural colors or fragrance” or musk scents. Look for candles that are labeled “vegan,” and buy from brands that are open to answering your questions (even if you have to call or email the company to find out.)
And for those who are crafty, you can also make your own vegan candles at home using plant-based waxes, such as soy wax or coconut wax.