Scented candles get a lot of scrutiny in the US, and some of it is fair: cheap paraffin candles can release soot and volatile organic compounds when burned in a poorly ventilated room. The good news is that this is mostly a wax-and-wick problem, not a scented-candle problem. Look for soy, coconut, or beeswax rather than paraffin, and a cotton or wood wick rather than a metal-cored one — the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned lead-core wicks back in 2003, but zinc-core wicks can still shed trace particulates. Fragrance itself is not automatically "toxic"; candles sold in California also carry Prop 65 warning labels for a wide range of consumer products, which can look alarming out of context but does not mean a candle is unsafe when used as directed. The picks below all use natural waxes, cotton wicks, and clearly labeled ingredients.