Today’s Small Step: Light my fire

By Faran Krentcil

1 min read

Someone lighting a sustainable candle

Candles are a default holiday gift for dinner hosts and favorite yoga teachers—and yes, we also gift them to ourselves. But an estimated 2 billion candles end up in landfills each year, and many are made with paraffin wax (aka fossil fuel), which harms our air, soil, and water. 

We can help with today’s small step: Buying reusable candles made from natural wax, and committing to refill them once they’ve wicked out. We’ll save literal tons of plastic and glass from the trash heap, we’ll help our lungs breathe better, and we’ll get points for super-chic gifts and home decor. 

Some favorites:

TO REFILL YOUR OWN CANDLE STASH

Everly soy + coconut refill wax with lead-free wicks in a compostable bag, $35.

TO GIFT YOUR THANKSGIVING HOST


Arbor Made soy wax candle with a handmade ceramic vessel and organic cotton wick, $78

FOR AN UPSCALE DIY EXPERIENCE

Sibling coconut wax + essential oil scents with a Swedish Skultuna vessel, $64

BONUS: THIS CANDLE TURNS INTO A HOUSEPLANT

Really. $42 from Modern Sprout.