You'll see "phthalate-free" on every Noiréa label, and it's worth explaining what that actually protects you from — because the term gets thrown around loosely in the candle industry.
Phthalates are a class of chemicals historically used to help fragrance oils cling to a carrier and disperse more evenly. They're not illegal in candles, and plenty of mass-market candles still use them. The concern isn't about candles catching fire or burning unsafely — it's that some phthalates are linked to hormone disruption with repeated exposure, and a lit candle is one of the more direct ways fragrance chemicals reach the air you're breathing in an enclosed room.
When we say phthalate-free, we mean the fragrance oils we use are formulated without that class of chemical, full stop — not "reduced," not "trace amounts only." It's one of the few claims on our label that's a yes-or-no fact rather than a judgment call, which is part of why we're comfortable stating it plainly instead of hedging it.
We'll be just as plain about what we're not claiming. "Phthalate-free" doesn't mean "unscented" — our scented lines still use fragrance oil, just without that ingredient class — and it doesn't mean "hypoallergenic." If you're sensitive to fragrance generally, our unscented soy candle is the better choice, not just a phthalate-free scented one.
Small operation, short ingredient list, plain language on what that list excludes — that's the whole philosophy. If a claim is on our label, it's because we can stand behind exactly what it says, not because it sounds good.