At Southern Oak Artisan, a beautiful home starts with simple, intentional choices, especially in the summer.

Whether you’re trying to reduce waste, avoid harmful ingredients, or make your space feel more refreshing this season, small swaps can make a big difference.

Sustainable Summer Swaps

Here are five easy ways to make your summer more mindful, along with a few scent suggestions to complement them.

1. Swap Plug-Ins for Clean Candles

Try: Refreshing Summer or White Lotus

Synthetic air fresheners may seem convenient, but many contain questionable ingredients and are packaged in disposable plastic.

Our 100% soy candles offer a cleaner, safer way to scent your space. Refreshing Summer lives up to its name, light, clean, and perfect for open-window days.

Prefer something floral and serene? White Lotus is your summer calm in a jar.

2. Swap Disposable Gifts for Sustainable Favorites

Try: Lemon Bake, Sir Isaac, or Loops

Showing up with a thoughtful gift doesn’t need to mean more plastic packaging or last-minute grabs from the grocery store. Candles are always appreciated, and ours are hand-poured, phthalate-free, and beautifully packaged.

For something sweet, Lemon Bake and Sir Isaac are customer favorites. For something playful? Loops smell just like your favorite fruity cereal.

3. Swap Synthetic Odor Sprays for Natural Alternatives

Try: Furr-esh Odor Eliminating Candle

If you’ve pets, you’ve probably reached for the spray can at one time or another.

Furr-esh is our answer to that, with a clean-burning formula that neutralizes odors without the harsh chemicals.

It’s pet-parent approved and perfect for summer when windows are closed tight to keep the AC in.

4. Swap Fast-Burning Tealights for Long-Lasting Jars

Try: Mystic Santo, Namaste, or Emanation

Mindfulness isn’t just a buzzword; it’s how we approach every part of the candle-making process.

Our elemental and ritual-inspired scents, such as Mystic Santo and Namaste, are designed to support your wind-down time, whether that’s meditating, journaling, or simply enjoying a quiet evening.

And yes, the jars are easy to clean and reuse.

5. Swap Scented Wax Melts with Unknown Ingredients

Try: Our full-size candles, which double as room-filling wax melt alternatives.

While we love a wax melt moment, not all waxes are created equal.

Many contain paraffin or synthetic dyes.

Our full-size candles are poured with 100% soy wax and burn clean, with no questionable additives, just beautiful fragrance that lingers.

Not sure where to start? Orange Grove, May Berries, and Euphoria bring that summery scent throw you’re after.

Choose Better, Burn Brighter

Sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the things you love. At Southern Oak Artisan, we create candles that feel good to use, smell incredible, and support a slower, more thoughtful lifestyle.

This summer, start with one or two of these easy swaps, and let the season unfold with intention.

Check out our favorite summer candles, too!

Ready to make a summer shift? Shop the full collection here.

About The Author

Beverly Mecum

Hi, I’m Beverly Mecum, chandler and owner of Southern Oak Artisan. I believe that creating sustainable and health-minded products should not be a compromise. My goal is to curate candles that align with our aesthetic: simple, cozy, and bringing joy to your home.

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