Candles Without Essential Oils
What are essential oils in candles — and why do they matter?
Most scented candles are fragranced with essential oils — plant-derived compounds extracted from flowers, herbs, and bark. Essential oils are natural, but natural does not mean safe for everyone. Many contain terpenes and volatile organic compounds that can trigger headaches, skin reactions, and respiratory irritation, especially in people with asthma, eczema, or heightened fragrance sensitivity.
Why fragrance oils are the safer choice for sensitive households
Twenty8Degrees candles use only IFRA-certified fragrance blends — laboratory-created scents held to the International Fragrance Association's safety standards. These blends are tested for allergens and do not contain the volatile terpenes found in essential oils. The result is a consistent, stable scent that is kinder to sensitive airways and skin. If you have ever avoided scented candles because of headaches or irritation, this is worth knowing.
Coconut wax burns cleaner than paraffin
The wax matters as much as the fragrance. Paraffin — the standard in most affordable candles — is a petroleum by-product that releases black soot and trace chemicals when burned. Twenty8Degrees uses pure coconut wax: plant-based, clean-burning, and free from the toxins associated with paraffin. Lower soot means cleaner air, and cleaner air matters when you are already sensitive to airborne irritants.
Who should choose Twenty8Degrees
Our candles are a particularly good fit for people with sensitive skin or eczema, those with asthma or respiratory sensitivities, households with young children, anyone who loves scent but has given up on candles after bad reactions, and fragrance-sensitive environments like therapy spaces or yoga studios.
Why Twenty8Degrees specifically
Every Twenty8Degrees candle is hand-poured in Hertfordshire using pure coconut wax and IFRA-certified fragrance oils. No essential oils. No paraffin. No compromise on scent — our oud-forward blends are rich, distinctive, and long-lasting. The combination of clean wax and certified fragrance oils is what makes our candles genuinely allergy-friendly, not just marketed that way. Forty hours of clean burn time per candle, and free UK delivery on orders over £100.