Beeswax, Soy Wax And Onyx Accessories: Commune Talks The Craft Of Candles

Candles have long been companions to ritual. A flame at dusk, a fragrance that lingers — they invite stillness and presence. Yet within clean beauty communities, candles have increasingly come under scrutiny. Concerns range from the materials they’re made of to the air they release when lit. At Commune, we welcome this questioning. Not all candles are created equal, and these conversations matter if we are to reimagine daily care with integrity.

Much of the debate centres around paraffin wax — the dominant ingredient in mass-market candles. While technically safe to use, paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. When burned, it can release trace amounts of volatile organic compounds such as benzene and toluene — substances linked to air pollution and, in high concentrations, to health concerns. Paraffin candles are also known to create excess soot, leaving residue on walls, furniture, and lungs alike.

Adding to the confusion is the language often used. “Mineral wax” has an appealing, almost natural ring to it, yet it’s often simply a rebrand of paraffin — derived not from plants, but from fossil fuels. For those seeking products that are both beautiful and considered, this feels like a compromise too great.

At Commune, we pour each of our candles from a paraffin-free blend of natural soy and beeswax. Both materials burn cleanly, with minimal soot and a softer release of fragrance. Our soy wax, derived from renewable crops, offers a smooth texture and long-lasting burn. Beeswax, one of nature’s oldest resources, adds refinement — a steadier flame, a purer light, and the faintest honeyed undertone. Together, they create a candle that illuminates without compromise.

This choice is not incidental. It reflects our belief that sustainability begins with the materials themselves. We wanted candles that are not just safe to burn, but that align with a wider respect for nature and for the homes they inhabit.

Although building our Lux and Nox candles with integrity has not been without its challenges. Natural waxes are temperamental: they require care in formulation, testing, and pouring to ensure consistent performance. Our decision to avoid single-use plastics in packaging also demanded new systems: bespoke aluminium vessels, and marble and onyx accessories designed for longevity. These were not the easiest routes, but they were the right ones. Each challenge has reinforced our conviction that design and sustainability must go hand in hand.

Our use of soy and beeswax is about more than cleaner air. It speaks to a philosophy of permanence over disposability, integrity over appearance. Commune was born from a desire to slow down, to strip back excess, and to create with care. Every material, every process, is a chance to live those values. A candle, in this sense, is not just an object of light, but an expression of the world we want to help shape.

Another layer of concern often arises around fragrance. While we are deeply committed to natural perfumery, essential oils alone do not translate well when burned — the scent can be muted, sometimes acrid, and often fails to linger. For this reason, we use small amounts of safe, carefully selected synthetic fragrance. This ensures the scent profile remains balanced and beautiful while maintaining our ethos of transparency. It is a considered concession, one that allows the candle to offer a true sensory experience without reverting to petrochemical-heavy waxes.

To light a Commune candle is, we hope, to experience more than scent. It is an invitation to pause, to reconnect with the elemental act of flame, with the purity of natural materials, and with the possibility of a slower, more intentional way of living — all core elements of Commune.

Commune began in Somerset, born from a shared feeling of disconnection — from nature, from ritual, from each other. As founders, we came to wellness from careers in luxury fashion and creative direction, carrying both a sharp eye for design and a longing for something more rooted. Somerset, with its ancient rhythms and community of growers and makers, gave form to that vision.

Today, Commune is as much about unlearning as it is about creating. We seek to honour slowness, sensory connection, craftsmanship, and respect for nature. From aluminium vessels designed to be replenished, to fragrances inspired by place and season, every element reflects this grounding ethos.

Our Lux and Nox candle collection is only the beginning. Just as each fragrance we create is rooted in memory and place, each product reflects a broader aspiration: to cultivate rituals of care that are lasting, considered, and beautiful.