ThisNext Blog

Apart from bubble bath, candles are maybe my most frequently relied-upon gift solution for the ladies on my holiday shopping list: Every girl loves a new pretty thing that makes her house smell lovely and feel all nice and cozy. But after a recent experience with some gorgeously packaged, heavenly scented, and rather pricey candles that ended up coating practically every surface of my home in grosser-than-gross black soot, I’ve made some changes to my candle-selecting criteria: From now on it’s only clean-burning, petroleum-free waxes that won’t cause any indoor air pollution or make bad things happen to my lungs. I’m going to stick with essential-oil-infused blends based in soy, which is nontoxic, renewable, and helps support our country’s farmers.

Luckily my most beloved candle, Pacifica’s Persian Rose is available in a soywax variety. One of the most fragrant candles I’ve ever lit – but never in an overpowering way – this Pacifica product gets its scent from “the Queen of the flowers,” along with notes of violet and myrrh. (Perfect for unapologetically girly-girl types and hopeless romantics, if you happen to know of any such characters.)

For the yogi (or wannabe-yogi) in your life, there’s Beeswax Candles’ Asana line, available in such enlightened aromas as Jasmine & Honeysuckle, Lavender, and Sandalwood. Sensualists and/or spa junkies, meanwhile, can indulge with an UndercoverWear Body Soy Massage Candle. Made with hemp and soy, the product “burns at body temperature so you can use the melted wax as a moisturizer or to give a sexy waming massage,” explains shopcaster ngambone.

Aesthetes will be sure to swoon for the Manchurian Dragon Fruit Pure Soy Candle selected by saltimbanca, who notes that “these Asian-inspired soy candles are lovely, and they smell fantastic.” For those who like a simpler look, bshaurette recommends turning to the the SOI Company (“I’ve never used a candle that was better for scenting a room - the fragrance is nice and strong, and really lasts,” she raves).

ThisNext’s soy candle fave, however, comes from Archipelago. “The scent from an Archipelago candle is so relaxing, not heavily perfumed, but will linger in your home for hours to come,” says hollyaguirre, a sentiment echoed by both chirky and glennglasser.

Seasoned travelers who want to stay eco-conscious while racking up those frequent flyer miles should appreciate Aveda Shampure Soy Wax Candle. “Big ones and travel size, I can’t get enough of these scents, they make me feel so relaxed/happy and perk up a hotel room in seconds,” says amyvcooper. Equally portable and Earth-sensitive are the soy-based, sublimely scented Mad Gab’s Soywax Candles and Way Out Wax Aromatherapy Travel Tin Candle. The former comes in fabulous fragrances like Clove Almond Orange, while the latter can light up your home or hotel room with winter-perfect aromas such as clove, cinnamon, orange, and peppermint.

See more of my Gift Guide: Soy candles list at ThisNext.