Ever wondered how a sustainable candle goes from raw ingredients to that warm, flickering flame in your home? In an age of mass production and greenwashing, transparency matters more than ever. Behind every refillable soy candle is a thoughtful process - one that balances beauty, ethics, and environmental responsibility.
In this guide, we’ll take you inside the making of a truly eco-luxury candle, highlighting every step that makes it sustainable, safe, and special. Whether you're a conscious consumer or curious about how brands like Lunaire approach sustainability, this is the story behind the glow.
Step 1: Ethical Ingredient Sourcing
Every great candle starts with clean, safe ingredients—and the most important is the wax.
🌿 Choosing the Right Wax
Most conventional candles use paraffin, a petroleum byproduct that releases toxins when burned. Sustainable candles avoid this completely. Instead, they use:
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100% soy wax – biodegradable, clean-burning, and non-toxic
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Beeswax – natural and long-lasting, though not vegan
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Coconut wax or rapeseed wax – low-impact alternatives with excellent scent throw
Lunaire uses pure soy wax, not a blend - so you get all the benefits without compromise.
🔥 Safer Wicks for a Cleaner Burn
The wick is the candle’s core. Mass-produced candles often use wicks with metal cores, including lead and zinc. Sustainable brands opt for:
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Cotton wicks – braided and untreated for a slow, even burn
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Wooden wicks – FSC-certified, crackling gently like a mini fireplace
These wick choices ensure a non-toxic, soot-free experience.
Step 2: Non-Toxic Fragrance Oils
The scent is what draws many people to candles—but it’s also where many brands cut corners.
❌ The Hidden Dangers of Synthetic Fragrance
Many mainstream candles use fragrance oils packed with:
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Phthalates – chemicals linked to hormone disruption
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Parabens – preservatives that can irritate the skin
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Undisclosed allergens – masked under “fragrance” labels
Sustainable candle brands are upfront about what goes into their scents.
🌸 Clean Scent Standards
Look for candles made with:
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Essential oils – plant-based, therapeutic-grade options
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Phthalate-free fragrance oils – cleaner, safer synthetics
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IFRA-certified blends – meeting global safety standards
At Lunaire, every fragrance is handpicked not just for how it smells—but for how it makes you feel, with seasonal scent drops that align with nature and memory.
Step 3: Handmade with Intention
Mass production often sacrifices quality. Sustainable candle makers take a slower, more mindful approach.
🕯️ Small-Batch Pouring
At Lunaire, each batch is hand-poured in small quantities of just eight candles at a time. This small-batch model ensures:
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Better quality control
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Less waste
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More consistency
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Jobs for local artisans in the Blue Mountains, NSW
No machines. No shortcuts. Just thoughtful craft, one jar at a time.
Step 4: Packaging That Doesn’t Cost the Earth
It’s not just what’s inside the candle that matters. How it’s packaged makes a huge impact on waste and carbon footprint.
♻️ Sustainable Packaging Elements
Eco-luxury candles come with:
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Refillable candle jars – like Lunaire’s Forever Jars, made from infinitely recyclable aluminium
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Compostable mailers – no plastic bubble wrap here
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Minimalist branding – reducing ink, dyes, and unnecessary inserts
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Recyclable refills – so even the new wax pods don't go to landfill
All of this is designed not only for aesthetics, but for responsible disposal and reuse.
Step 5: Refill and Reuse
The most sustainable candle is the one you don’t have to throw away. That’s why refillable candles are leading the shift toward low-waste luxury.
🔁 How Refill Systems Work
Instead of tossing out jars every time your candle finishes, refillable candles let you:
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Keep your original jar (especially beautiful ones like engraved Forever Jars)
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Pop in a new soy wax refill pod
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Light it up, again and again
It’s the same beautiful vessel—just with a new scent or seasonal mood.
✨ Engraving for Personalisation
Lunaire takes it further with free custom engraving. It transforms every jar into a sentimental keepsake—whether you’re gifting someone or treating yourself.
This emotional connection also makes people more likely to keep the jar long-term, which furthers the sustainable cycle.
Why Sustainable Candle Making Matters
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
By choosing sustainable soy candles, you help:
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Lower carbon emissions from manufacturing and transport
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Reduce single-use waste, especially from glass and plastic
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Support ethical supply chains and small-scale makers
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Keep your air cleaner, with non-toxic burns
In a world where nearly 1 billion candles are burned each year, these small choices add up fast.
What to Look for When Buying an Eco-Luxury Candle
Not all “eco” candles are created equal. Here are some greenwashing red flags to avoid—and what to seek out instead.
❌ Beware of:
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“Soy blend” without disclosing other waxes
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Misleading claims like “natural fragrance” (which isn’t regulated)
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Packaging that looks sustainable but isn’t recyclable
✅ Choose candles that are:
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Refillable or recyclable
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Made with 100% soy or natural wax
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Free from phthalates, parabens, and lead
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Hand-poured in small batches
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Designed to last, not be thrown away
The Lunaire Difference
At Lunaire, we don’t just talk sustainability—we live it.
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Our Forever Jars are made from aluminium (not glass), designed to last a lifetime
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We offer free engraving, making every piece personal and purposeful
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Our refill system makes it easy and affordable to enjoy luxury candles without waste
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All candles are hand-poured in Australia, using 100% soy wax and clean fragrance
We believe sustainability should never feel like a compromise. It should feel like a luxury—and a legacy.
Final Thoughts: Let Your Flame Mean Something
A candle can be more than just decor. It can be a statement. A story. A step toward a better future.
So next time you light one, ask: Where did this come from? What does it stand for?
When you choose sustainable, refillable candles like Lunaire, your flame burns brighter—not just in your home, but in the world.
