Finding Your Favorite Candle
Candles are functional objects because they shed light, but they also create a whole vibe and make a space feel COZY. Lighting a candle in your home can transform a room because it puts off calm energy - which is great when life can get chaotic!
But with so many options out there—different waxes, scents, sizes, and price points—how do you know which all natural candles are actually worth bringing home?
Here's how to choose all natural candles that are right for you.
1. Start with the Wax
The wax is the foundation of any candle, and it's the first thing you should look at when choosing an all natural option. The three main natural waxes are beeswax, soy, and coconut—and each has its own qualities.
Beeswax is the most natural option. It's made by bees, minimally processed, and burns longer and cleaner than any other wax. It has a naturally sweet, floral scent and produces a warm, golden light. If you're looking for the purest, most sustainable candle, beeswax is the gold standard. That's why at Momo's Place we only use beeswax for our candles. It is the best and we believe you deserve the best.
This is our OG Candle The Honeyglow Vessel- 100% beeswax with a wood wick, nothing else!
Soy wax is plant-based and more affordable than beeswax. It's a good option if you're looking for a vegan candle, but make sure it's 100% soy (not a blend) and ideally non-GMO and sustainably sourced.
Coconut wax is another plant-based option that burns cleanly and slowly. It's often blended with other waxes, so check the label to see what you're actually getting.
It's important to avoid paraffin wax, which is a petroleum byproduct that releases harmful chemicals when burned. If a candle doesn't tell you what kind of wax it's made from, that's a red flag.
2. Consider the Scent (or Lack Thereof)
If you want a scented candle, look for one that's scented with essential oils, not synthetic fragrance oils, which are harmful to inhale.. Essential oils are derived from plants like lavender, eucalyptus or cedarwood, and are used in aromatherapy, which has been proven to help with anxiety, stress and improving sleep.
Essential oils and their aromatherapy benefits are amazing, but beeswax also has an amazing scent on its own. It has a naturally sweet, honey-like aroma that is gentle and grounding—no added scent needed. The fragrance comes from the pollen and honey that bees bring into the hive, and it varies slightly depending on what flowers the bees are pollinating.
We have a whole collection of candles that are scented with organic and/or wild-harvested essential oils. The Moonlight Vessel is one of our top sellers, for its soothing scent and beautiful blue recycled glass vessel. And you can rest easy that it is healthy for your airways!
3. Think About Burn Time
How long do you want your candle to last? If you're someone who lights candles every day, burn time matters. Beeswax candles burn significantly longer than soy or paraffin—often up to twice as long. This means that even though beeswax candles cost more upfront, they can actually be more economical in the long run. Our pillar candles burn what feels like forever and are definitely the biggest bang for your buck for a beeswax candle! I absolutely love the golden glow of the wax you get from a burning pillar candle, there is nothing like it.
Soy and coconut wax candles have a moderate burn time, while paraffin burns the fastest (and least cleanly). When you're comparing candles, look at the estimated burn time on the label, and factor that into the price. A $30 beeswax candle that burns for 60 hours is a better value than a $15 paraffin candle that burns for 20 hours.
4. Look at the Wick
Most people don't think about the wick, but it's an important part of what makes a candle natural. Look for wicks made from cotton, wood, or hemp—never metal-core wicks, which can release heavy metals when burned.
At Momo's Place, we use FSC-certified wood wicks for our beeswax vessel candles. They're sustainable, self-standing, and create a gentle crackle that feels like sitting by a fire. Our pillars and tapers are wicked with cotton. The wick you choose can affect the ambiance of the candle, so think about what kind of experience you want to create.
5. Check for Transparency
A truly natural candle brand will be transparent about their ingredients, their sourcing, and their process. At Momo's Place we are proud to share where their wax comes from, how their candles are made, and what goes into them.
Red flags to watch for:
- Vague language like "made with natural ingredients" without specifics
- No ingredient list
- The word "fragrance" or "parfum" on the label
- Suspiciously low prices for "all natural" candles
Ingredient transparency is so important to us and one of the reasons why we started this business in the first place!!
6. Consider Your Values
What matters most to you? Sustainability? Supporting small businesses? Vegan products? Minimal packaging? There's no one-size-fits-all answer, and the best candle for you is the one that you are drawn to and feel good about having in your house.
If sustainability is important to you, beeswax is the most eco-friendly option. It's a renewable resource, a byproduct of honey production and pollination, and it supports healthy bee populations. Choosing beeswax means supporting beekeepers and the ecosystems that depend on pollinators.
If you're vegan, soy or coconut wax candles are good alternatives—just make sure they're sustainably sourced and free from synthetic additives.
If you care about supporting small, transparent businesses, look for brands that are open about their process and their sourcing. At Momo's Place, we source our beeswax from a New England apiary with nearly 70 years of history, and we're proud to support their work.
7. Think About Size and Placement
Where will you be burning your candles? A small candle might be perfect for a bedside table or bathroom, while a larger candle works well for a dining table or living room. Think about the scale of the space and how much light and scent you want to create.
At Momo's Place, we offer our Honeyglow Vessel in two sizes—small and large—so you can choose what works best for your space. You can use a single candle for a subtle glow, or group both sizes together for a more dramatic arrangement on a mantle or table.
8. Trust Your Instincts
At the end of the day, the best candle is the one that feels right to you. Does it smell good? Does it look beautiful in your space? Does it align with your values? Do you feel good about what's in it?
Choosing candles is a sensory and emotional experience as much as it is a practical one. Trust your instincts. If something feels off—if the scent is too strong, the price is too low, or the brand won't tell you what's in the candle—listen to that.
Final Thoughts
Choosing all natural candles doesn't have to be complicated. Start with the wax, consider the scent, look for transparency, and trust your instincts. The right candle is the one that makes you feel good—about what's in it, where it comes from, and how it makes you feel.
Love,
Momo
