Every self-care post on social media always has a few quintessentials; satin pajamas, Korean sheet masks, and of course, scented candles. Not only are they a symbol of sophisticated luxury, they’re also a great source of aromatherapy. The scents used in these candles, like lavender, vanilla, eucalyptus, are known to calm your stresses and release happy hormones like serotonin, lifting your mood and helping you relax.
But for them to actually work, they also need to be devoid of any harmful chemicals. Candles made with paraffin wax (which we get from petroleum) and synthetic fragrances release toxic chemicals when burned and can cause coughing, headaches, and even make existing respiratory problems worse.
The alternative? Organic candles that are made with beeswax or vegan soy wax, and natural essential oils. These candles do not cause any harm to our bodies, and only create a relaxing ambience. So, if you’re ready to enhance your rooms, here are 7 organic and clean candle brands by women entrepreneurs that you would love to shop from.
1. Doft Candles
Doft Candles was established in 2017 by Gauri Aggarwal. This woman-led brand’s name is inspired by the German word “Düft” which translates to ‘experiencing the world by scents’. They have a myriad of options when it comes to their scents, be it floral (like, lily blossom, lavender, or rose) or gourmand (such as Aldehydic, Oud, or Bergamot), to enhance your living space. And if you’ve been wishing for something more sophisticated than a plain glass container for your organic scented candle, this woman-led brand has creative and unique designs like a honeycomb pattern bowl, or shimmering duo-toned jars. They also offer diffusers, wax tablets, and other décor items.
Price range: Rs.599 to Rs.15,899
2. Remeha
Vandana Arora, the founder of Remeha Candles, found her calling while attending a candle making workshop. For those looking for scented candle brands that are a decor item themselves, Vandana offers a wide range of them where the candle has 3D wax flowers placed around the wick. These intricate designs of roses, sunflowers, and daisies add an aesthetic touch, making them perfect as centerpieces. All of their candles are made with vegan soy wax, thereby promoting sustainability without making you compromise on the looks of your interiors. They also offer gift hampers where every little detail, such as fragrance, flower colors, and the size, can be customized.
Price range: Rs. 500 to Rs. 5,000.
3. Misa Candles
The candles from this next female founder come to you made by perfumers in France and the USA. Misa Candles, founded by Hargunn Jayaswal, brings you a range of choices with minimalistic and monochrome design, and scents that are not too overpowering. The quirky names such as ‘Magic Fleur’ (jasmine, tuberose) and ‘Goodnight Kiss’ (lavender, eucalyptus) only add to the charm. All of the candles are made exclusively with either plant-based wax, or a traditional blend of wax, keeping the environment in mind. For proper care of your candles, they also offer accessories like a wick trimmer lessen soot that comes because of a long wick, and a wax dipper to help straighten the wick.
Price range: Rs. 790 – Rs. Rs.2,990
4. The Umbrella Store
Founded in 2019 by Davneet Kaur, The Umbrella Store is for the fangirls and fanboys. Their candles have pop culture themes like ‘Taylor Swift’s Speak Now’ that smells like lavender and vanilla, and ‘Slytherin Common Room’ with a blended scent of patchouli, vetiver, citrus, and spice. Some other themes include their ‘Cold Brew Coffee’ candle (coffee, chocolate, vanilla) and ‘Autumn’ candle (citrus, patchouli) ( And if you do not like scents but want something more than simple pillar candles, they have unique figurine candles, in shapes such as a teddy, a Christmas tree, or even Greek characters like Medusa or Apollo. This woman-led brand gives you 100% soy wax and a wooden wick which adds a natural ‘crackling’ sound in all of their scented candles
Price range: Rs.199 to Rs.1,995
5. Niana Candles
Niana was started in Leena Labroo’s kitchen in 2011. Named after her daughters, Nisheeta and Aneesha, Niana Candles has a unique collection of scents like Citronella which is a natural insect repellent, and Nicotiana which is known as the ‘Tobacco Flower’. This is one of the candle brands where you will find products made with a blend of multiple scents named whimsically like ‘Quest’ or ‘Eternal Romance’. The creativity doesn’t end here; in a collaboration with Siraj Saxena, a painter and sculptor, they launched an ‘Eclectic’ collection that offers candles in ceramic containers shaped like a ‘matka’ and ‘kulhad’. They also have a range of room sprays, scented bead sachets, and reed diffusers.
Price range: Rs.480 to Rs.5,525
6. Artisan Lab
Artisan Lab, founded in 2018, is a concept store and café owned by the sister duo – Noor and Neimat Sethi. It is one the luxury candle brands that also offers all kinds of home décor items like tableware, furniture, and of course, candles. The luxurious designs not only make for an aesthetic addition to your own home, but are great for gifting as well. Their ‘Jorum’ candle collection with stainless steel containers are perfect for the outdoors. They also have a range of fragrant candles for your spiritual journey that are infused with healing crystals like amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone etc., in colorful bell jars.
Price range: Rs.1,890 to Rs.7,990
7. Seva India
Female founder Arushi Agrawal brings distinct scents in her candles that are made with soy wax, with top, middle and base notes, much like you’d find in a perfume. In addition to their fragrances like ‘Blanc’ (vanilla, coconut, peach), ‘Aqua’ (geranium, ceder, peppermint) or ‘Berries’ (red current, oak wood, amber), they even have scents dedicated to the cities of India. The name ‘Seva’ in Sanskrit means ‘selfless service’ and this brand lives up to it. They employ and train underprivileged women in need of jobs, and for every 10 candles that are bought, they sponsor one cataract surgery in the villages of Maharashtra.
Price range: Rs. 530 to Rs. 22,000
Candles which were once an object of utility, have now become something synonymous with comfort and luxury. The different fragrances, the stylish containers, and the organic wax; all add up to make an irreplaceable item that not only elevates your interior, but also your mood. So bookmark these candle brands and make sure to check them out.
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