Looking For The Best Soy Wax Candles? These Wintery Scents Have All The Cozy Vibes.

These soy wax and soy wax blend candles come in a variety of scents, and offer healthier alternatives to paraffin wax candles.
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Left: Brooklyn Candle Studio, right: Snif
Brooklyn Candle Studio's Woodsmoke candle, left, and the Snif Instant Karma candle.

When temperatures outside are (below) freezing, the only thing I want to do is  live under my heated blanket and think about all the warmer days I took for granted. Until spring and summer approach, though, one saving grace I take advantage of is lighting a cozy candle that makes the chilly months a bit more bearable. 

As a strong believer in aromatherapy and an asthmatic who has flares during colder seasons, I also recognize the importance of clean fragrances, which is why I tend to stick to candles made from soy wax or soy wax blends. Though burning pretty much anything releases chemicals that are potentially harmful into the air, soy wax candles produce less soot and toxic chemicals than those made with paraffin wax.

And when it comes to wintertime scents, the warmer and woodsier, the better. Candles with notes like amber, cedar, musk and teakwood instantly make your home feel like a comfy restful cabin nestled deep in the woods. Below, we rounded 11 candles that, when lit or warmed, will tide you over until temperatures rise again. 

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1
Harlem Candle Co.'s Speakeasy candle
Each candle from Harlem Candle Co. is handcrafted with a soy vegetable wax blend, including their sensual Speakeasy candle. The base notes include palo santo, patchouli, vanilla and dark chocolate, while the middle gives off saffron and tobacco leaves and the top finishes with notes of cardamom, bourbon and incense.

Get it at Macy's for $45.
2
Brooklyn Candle Studio's Woodsmoke candle
Take a trip to a woodsy cabin without ever having to leave your home with this 100% soy wax candle. Its notes of cedar leaf, labdanum, incense and leather create the feeling you're sitting in front of a mini fireplace.

Get it at Brooklyn Candle Studio for $28.
3
SaltedBurns' Shh I'm Reading candle
Curl up with your favorite book and light this candle straight from a literature lover's dream. Meant to smell like the depths of a library, the notes include teakwood, leather, cedar, sandalwood and dark musk. It's made of 100% soy wax.

Get it from SaltedBurns on Etsy for $20.
4
Snif's Instant Karma candle
A blend of cardamom, cinnamon and vetiver and soy and vegetable wax will guarantee this will be your "night in" candle. This spicy, warm candle burns for up to 60 hours, and is non-toxic, paraffin-free, vegan and cruelty-free.

Get it at Snif for $49.
5
Public Goods' Cedar and Suede candle
For warm and woodsy spice scent lovers, this candle from Public Goods is a must-have. It's completely plastic-free and made with natural soy wax, cotton wicks and natural oils. Bask in its notes of sandalwood, jasmine, Turkish rose and amber.

Get it at Public Goods for $15.95.
6
Homesick's Ski Trip candle
Whether you're an avid skier or prefer to live life on flat surfaces, this snowy slopes-inspired candle is a winter essential. Its top notes include frosted air and warm amber, while the middle and bottom notes consist of cinnamon, guaiac wood, cedar and vanilla. The burn time is 60 to 80 hours.

Get it at Homesick for $34.
7
P. F. Candle Co.'s Teakwood and Tobacco candle
Made with 100% domestically grown soy wax, this amber jar candle has 40 to 50 hours of burn time. It belongs to the woody fragrance family and features notes of leather, teak and orange.

Get it at P. F. Candle Co. for $20.
8
Paddywax's Bergamot and Mahogany candle
With base notes like aged cedar, dark mahogany and amber, this woody candle smells just as nice as it looks. It's vegan and made with a soy wax blend and a 100% cotton wick.

Get it at Paddywax for $32.
9
Frères Branchiaux Candle Company's Amber Nights candle
This nature-scented candle comes in 4-ounce and 8-ounce jars and is made of a vegan soy wax blend. With notes like amber, oakmoss, sage and lavender, this cozy candle is an ideal burn for a cold, winter night.

Get a 4-ounce jar from Frères Branchiaux Candle Company for $25
or an 8-ounce jar for $33.
10
Skylar's Fall Cashmere candle
Even though "fall" is in the name of this soy-coconut wax candle, don't write it off too soon. Warm notes like cinnamon bark, roasted almond and spiced ginger grant it a spot among winter candle contenders.

Get it at Skylar for $45.
11
Madewell's White Birch candle
Poured into a reusable matte glass container that you can use as a planter later, this soy wax candle has a burn time of 50 hours. It'll take you on a ski journey through a peaceful forest with its notes of bergamot, eucalyptus, white birch, fir needle and moss.

Get it at Madewell for $24.

Before You Go

18 Products To Make Your Own DIY Candles From Home
A set of three different premium natural waxes(01 of11)
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Not all candle melts are created equal, and sometimes you want to try a few different waxes or a combination of waxes in order to find something that's just right for you. This natural wax sampling kit by one of the most trusted brands in candle supplies, The Wooden Wick Co., includes 11 ounces each of hemp coco soy, beeswax coco creme and 100% soy flakes, each one completely free of toxins for a safe burn.

Get it from Michaels for $46.99.
(credit:Michaels)
A foolproof way to melt your wax(02 of11)
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Kandace Florence is the owner of Glo Through It, a holistic and eco-friendly candle brand. Florence said that "if you're serious about candle making, invest in a big wax melter. It saves you a lot of time and energy."

This 6-quart wax melter quickly melts down any kind of wax in larger batches and has a non-stick tank for easy cleanup. The glass lid prevents fragrance from escaping while the nickel-coated pour spout on the bottom of the melter means you can easily disperse your product into their heat-safe vessels or pitchers.

Get it from Amazon for $89.95.
(credit:Amazon)
An ideal capacity pitcher to pour your wax(03 of11)
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Kevin Fischer, owner of Armatage Candle Company, shares his industry knowledge of candle making on his YouTube channel. If you don't want to invest in a wax melter, Fischer uses this dripless pour melting pitcher by EricX Light because of its excellent heat conductivity and non-stick surface.

Get it from Amazon for $22.95.
(credit:Amazon)
A set of assorted clean-burning wooden wicks(04 of11)
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For a truly safe and relaxing experience, Dascoli recommended "100% wood wicks from the Wooden Wick Co. because they are eco-friendly and clean burning. Not only are they FSC certified wood, they are hand-crafted, made in the USA and have a crackling sound like a mini fireplace."

This sample kit includes all of The Wooden Wick Co's. classic wicks and clips in assorted sizes.

Get it from Michaels for $46.99.
(credit:Michaels)
Ten different fragrance oils to get your own customized scent(05 of11)
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To avoid encountering any harmful chemicals in fragrance oils, Florence recommended phthalate-, carcinogen- and toxin-free fragrance oils, like these created by The Wooden Wick Co.

This set of 10 curated fragrance oils include some of the brand's top selling scents that run the gamut of spicy saffron and tobacco to cozy cashmere and vanilla and sweet Prosecco and pink raspberries.

Get it from Michaels for $58.99.
(credit:Michaels)
A way to dye your candle that is safe for you and the environment(06 of11)
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Fischer said that if you're planning on customizing the color of your candle, it's important to use oil-soluble dye without any kind of alcohol in its formulation; otherwise, you run the risk of fire hazard. These eco-dyes by The Wooden Wick Co. are made with a renewable solvent system free from parabens and phthalates. You can customize color vibrancy and, according to Fischer, "It’s a ton of fun combining cool scents and colors together, especially when the colors don’t traditionally match the scent. Ever smell a blue cinnamon candle?"

Get it from Michaels for $10.99 each.
(credit:Michaels)
A mess-free thermometer(07 of11)
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Temperature monitoring is an essential part of crafting a candle that will actually provide enough scent to fill the room. For Vu, this is where a thermometer is most vital. "I love my point and shoot one. It’s so much less messy and super quick," Vu said.

This digital temperature gun uses a laser IR gauge to read temperatures more accurately.

Get it from Amazon $22.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A digital scale to correctly weigh your wax(08 of11)
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"There is also a lot of math needed to ensure the proper percentage of fragrance is added to the melted candle wax. The main thing to remember with candle making is that everything is measured in weight, not volume," Boucher said.

This simple kitchen scale by Ozeri can make this process much less daunting with its easy to read display that instantly converts measurements at the touch of a button.

Get it from Amazon for $10.
(credit:Amazon)
Heat-safe vessels to hold your candle and match your decor(09 of11)
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Possibly the most fun part of homemade candle-making is finding just the right vessel to put them in. Tierney said it's important to use "containers that are durable in high heat, such as glass, metal or glazed ceramic." You can also refill them once you are done!

Get the retro purple relief candy jar from Amazon for $15.99.
Get the green apothecary jar from Amazon for $21.99.
Get the assorted set of 20 colorful tins from Amazon for $23.99.
Get the ceramic containers with bamboo lids from Amazon for $33.99 (set of three).
Get the pink ceramic container with golden deer lid from Amazon for $22.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A way to "jazz up" your candle(10 of11)
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Once you have gotten down your candle-making basics, Vu said "you can really jazz up your candles with eco-friendly glitter, dye, dried florals, stones and more."

The biodegradable glitter by EcoGlimmer creates minimal environmental impact and can break down in normal treatment facilities, septic systems and soils unlike traditional glitter made from micro-plastics.

Get the glitter from EcoGlimmerEcoGlitter at Etsy for $6.50.
Get the dried flowers from CapriceFlowers at Etsy for $6.75.
Get the gemstones from BeadNova at Etsy for $2.19+.
(credit:Etsy)
A convenient candle making kit with sultry fragrances(11 of11)
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If you want to ease into the whole candle-making process, Florence said kits would be a good place to start before investing in all the materials. She suggested one from The Wooden Wick Co., because "it comes with all of the supplies you'll need and you won't waste your money."

This particular kit comes in a gift-able box with instructions and sultry complex fragrances like dark rose and labdanum and cashmere and vanilla.

Get it from Michaels for $111.99.
(credit:Michaels)

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