Where to Buy Locally-Made, Non-Toxic Candles

Throughout the season, it’s nearly impossible to not have candles lit 24/7 to achieve ultimate cozy vibes. Unfortunately, many of the candles lining department store shelves burn out quickly, leave black residue on anything in a nearby radius and release lots of toxins into the air. 

This is why Emily Petrovskiy, founder of ScentsbyEm, set out to start making her own. “I had the idea a few years ago because I was obsessed with candles but noticed the ones I was getting from stores would create black stains, and I started to notice they weren’t the healthiest option,” Petrovskiy says. “I was having some health problems and trying to switch all my products over to cleaner alternatives but wanted to still be able to enjoy beautiful, high-quality candles that smelled good.” 

From there, she started diving into the process of making candles and slowly began selling them to friends and family before opening ScentsbyEm in the summer of 2021. She now sells her candles at Farmers Market of the Ozarks monthly, online at scentsbyem.com and in stores at Serendipity and The Local Bevy. 

Her fall bestsellers include stunning glass pumpkins and pillar pumpkins. While her candles come in a variety of scents, our favorites for fall are Pumpkin Chai—a warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel—and Cashmere Plum, a cozy mix of scents that includes citrus and amber sugar.