One hot topic for 2025 is mindful consumption.
Where are we spending our money? Does that company align with my values? Are their products sustainable for the planet?
As we all become more aware of how our purchases affect our communities and the environment, it is becoming increasingly important to pair our values with our dollars. Honestly, I get it. It’s how we shop in my household. So if you’re wondering what Apothecary 19 is doing to offer high-quality home fragrance that is safe for you and those you share your space with and the planet, I have some great news. I will continue doing what I set out to do when I opened the virtual doors of this small-batch self-care apothecary—offer high-quality, safe, sustainable products that I use and love.
Refillable and Recyclable
One thing I am most proud of is my candle refills. Sustainability is a big part of the Apothecary 19 mission. These refills took a lot of work and investment to get just right, but it was worth it. Once your 11-ounce jar candle is empty, wash the jar with hot soapy water (the wax is water soluble and won’t ruin your pipes) and remove the wick. Then order a refill and drop it in. Voila! (Pro tip: most of my labels are removable. So if the label on your jar isn’t shiny, gently pull it off and you have a plain black jar).
My refills cost significantly less than a full jar candle, shipping is cheaper, and you’re reusing something that would likely end up in the garbage.
I also offer a subscription that will keep your home smelling lovely and I sweeten the deal a bit with a 10% discount. If you sign up for a 4-week subscription, you can have a new candle refill delivered to your home every 4 weeks for $18 plus shipping. That is $12 off the retail cost of a new candle. You can order a single or a refill subscription here.
Look at how easy this is:
Didn’t buy a jar candle? No problem! All of our candle tins are aluminum (just like a soda can). Remove the label, wash with hot soapy water, and toss it in the recycle bin.
Eco-Friendly Ingredients
When I first developed Apothecary 19’s product lines, I knew that the ingredients that I used would be the first place that I didn’t compromise. I wanted stuff that was safe and non-toxic and made in the United States.
The Wax
I use wax that is manufactured by AAK. You can learn more about their values and operations here. For the last 150 years, they have specialized in working with plant-based oils and fats to make them healthier and more sustainable. They publish their annual sustainability efforts, which made choosing one of their waxes a no-brainer.
Apothecary 19’s candles are made with a coconut-soy blend that gives them their high-quality, even and slow burn as well as that rich cream-white consistency that I really love.
The Fragrance
One of the most frequently asked questions that I get is what type of fragrance I use. Are they clean, all-natural, non-toxic, safe for pets, etc.? This question is so hard to answer because “clean” and “all-natural” mean so many different things and are often misleading.
My simple answer is that I use synthetic fragrances that are labeled CleanScents by the manufacturer, meaning they are non-toxic and better for the environment.
I will devote a whole post to this someday, but I do not use essential oils in my candles. They are finicky and the amount I would need is environmentally unsustainable at best. If essential oil candles are what you’re after, there are plenty of chandlers that offer these.
CleanScents, manufactured by Candle Science, have been awesome to work with. The fragrance is consistent and gives the hot and cold scent throws my customers have come to expect. Candle Science is continually researching and figuring out ways to improve and always raising standards when new techniques and research are available.
CleanScents are free from all toxins on the California Proposition 65 warning list. When you purchase a candle from Apothecary 19, you can rest assured that your candles are free from the five main toxin groups:
- Carcinogens: ingredients that are confirmed to cause cancer.
- Mutagens: ingredients that can change the DNA of a cell and can cause harm and disease.
- Reproductive toxins: ingredients that can cause birth defects and or harm to the reproductive system.
- Organ toxins: ingredients that cause harm to specific organs either within the tissues or how they function.
- Acute toxins: ingredients that can cause harm from a single exposure, such as spilling and getting on your skin or accidental ingestion.
My goal is, and always will be, to bring you and those you gift my products to, safe and sustainable self-care options. Hopefully this answers any questions that you have. Transparency is equally important to me, so please don't ever hesitate to contact me with any questions you have along the way.