Conscious Candle Guide: Where To Find Hong Kong’s Safest Burn

By Jenny Star Lor Published on Nov 2, 2018 Last updated May 3, 2019

5 Mins Read

The Hong Kong chill is descending upon us, which means sweater weather and finding the perfect seasonal candle to cozy up at home! While the soft, warm glow of a candle can set the tone for a romantic evening or add a relaxing element after a long day at work, not all candles are created equal. Most commercial candles are made from paraffin wax because it is inexpensive and widely available. But FYI, paraffin is a petroleum byproduct of crude oil and is very toxic when inhaled. Add in metal-based wicks, artificial scents and fillers used by candlemakers, and you’re just breathing in carcinogenic poison with heavy levels of airborne metals. If you’ve ever had a headache when a candle is burning nearby, chances are the parrafin was the culprit.

Thankfully, Green Queen has scoured the city for the most conscious candles in Hong Kong. These eco-friendly, non-toxic options are a great – and safe – alternative for your home, environment and lungs. You can feel the burn and enjoy your favourite scents without worrying that you are polluting your surroundings. And herbivores fear not, we have many vegan friendly options 🙂

Moonglade Candle – VEGAN Friendly

Using lead-free cotton wicks to ensure a safe, clean burn, Moonglade Candle makes all of its candles with nothing but natural soy wax, coconut wax and blended botanical essential oils. Soy wax is one of the more popular ingredients used in eco candle-making: it is biodegradable and eco-friendly, and produces a slower, cooler burn, resulting in your candle lasting 30 – 50% longer than mineral oil versions. Stocking an extensive collection of botanical scents and other invigorating aromas like eucalyptus, lemongrass, calendula flower, Moonglade offers you a choice of over 15 different fragrances.

Moonglade Candle start from HKD 260.

Shop online here.

Essencial Candles

Made from all natural beeswax, Essencial Candles works with a local bee farm in Hong Kong to organically source pure beeswax for a natural burn. Producing negative ions when lit, beeswax candles help to neutralize pollutants in the air, clear odors, and eliminate dust and mold in the atmosphere – a plus for those with allergies or asthma! Blending pure essential oils with their locally sourced beeswax, Essencial helps you unwind from a chaotic day with a collection of 12 relaxing aromatherapy scents- think bergamot, lavender, frangipani and our favorite, rose.

Essencial Candles start from HKD 100.

Shop online here.

BeCandle Mason Jar Collection – VEGAN Friendly

Made in small batches and hand poured into modest, minimalist jars, artisanal candle and scented product company BeCandle is a local crowd favorite, you can even visit them at their Sai Kung atelier. We particularly love their Mason Jar Candle Collection using a non-toxic blend of vegetal wax and coconut oil. With a natural luxurious and creamy texture, vegetal (or vegetable) wax has a great ability to improve fragrance load; it also emits a cleaner, longer burn. Working with a team of collective candle artists and designers, BeCandle has created a range full of cozy, rich aromas like bergamot and cedarwood and nutmeg and ginger- perfect for warming a room. We also spied the cleansing lemon and thyme blend- ideal to accompany a morning meditation session.

BeCandle’s mason jar candles start from HKD 180.

Shop online here.

8 Wang Street, Sai Kung, New Territories, +852 3586 0320, info@becandle.com.hk; Open Tuesday – Sunday from 11:30AM – 7:30PM.

Lion Rock Press – VEGAN Friendly

Famous for their No Plastic Mm Goi series and their hispter-tastic Hong Kong inspired cards and wrapping papers, the Lion Rock Press has also created a striking Hong Kong Candle encased in glass jars adorned with faux rose gold cutouts of the city’s gorgeous skyline. The candles are hand-poured locally with natural soy wax and lead-free cotton wicks. It’s the ideal gift candle!

Lion Rock Press Hong Kong Candle retail for HKD 250.

Shop online here.

Candle Up – VEGAN Friendly

Hong Kong Mom Ryhtma upcycles glass jars, coconut shells and tea cups and fills them with 100% soy wax and pure cotton wicks to create 100% vegan, soot-free, non-toxic, pollution-free hand-poured candles that burn clean for up to 25 hours.

Order via Facebook

Zero Waste Tip: Emelia & Mum Will Take Your Old Candle Jars

After you have enjoyed your safe, non-toxic candle, get in touch with Emelia & Mum, a new service that wants to prevent candle wastage. They will arrange to collect* your finished candles in exchange for credit: you receive HK$ 5 for every candle or glass jar donated. You can then use your credit to purchase one of the upcycled candles on their e-shop (they make them themselves using the collected jars). *They also have a collection point at zero waste shop Edgar in Wan Chai and TST. More details here.

February 2019 Update: Emelia & Mum has closed.

Images courtesy of Freepik (lead), Moonglade Candle, Essencial Candles, BeCandle, the Lion Rock Press and Candle Up.

Author

Jenny Star Lor

Jenny Star Lor is Green Queen’s resident eco wellness writer. She is passionate about reducing her carbon footprint, loves all things fitness and enjoys tasting her way through Hong Kong’s veggie dining options. Originally from Los Angeles, she now calls Hong Kong home. Previously, she wrote and reported for global publications such as The Hollywood Reporter and US Weekly. She is also a passionate pole dancer and teaches classes across Hong Kong.

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