Are Candles Safe for Pets? (Candle Safety 101)

Candles are and were always the best mode of ‘Scent Therapy. Adding Scented candles to your home has been a tradition for centuries and why not? The sense of smell is the oldest and original sense of all. But do you know not all scented candles are good for your home? Especially if you share your home with any animal companion or someone with a sensitive sense of smell, candles can make blunders.

Just because you have been using a candle for a long and it says ‘Safe,’ it may not be the same for your pet. Dogs and cats are more prone to potential toxins than humans. You may not realize that your favorite candle is creating discomfort for your dog or, more profoundly, for the cat. So, should you give scented candles rest at your home? Well, not really. We are here with all the information that will put your worries at rest, but definitely not your candles. Read the guide below and learn how and which Scented Candles are safe to have around pets. And so on.

Are Scented Candles Bad For Your Dog And Cat?

Depending upon the type of fragrance and wax, Scented Candles can be both good or bad for your dogs and cats. Most scented candles aren’t toxin to pets, especially if you know what wax and fragrance you are buying. For example, cheaper, paraffin-based candles are never a good choice if you have pets or sensitive humans at home. Not just that but a less sustainable option for our environment as well. Paraffin-based candles can be economical and, of course, easier to use. However, paraffin, when burned, releases toxic chemicals such as toluene which is also a popularly known carcinogen for humans.

That was about the Candle wax; similarly, dogs and cats aren’t very well-versed in handling different scents. They will do safe around scents like Lavender, Lemongrass, Chamomile, Frankincense, Cormint, Rosemerry, and more. In contrast, they won’t find it suitable around scents like Citrus, Clove, Tea Tree, Juniper, Pine, and Cinnamon.

Are Beeswax Candles Safe For Dogs and Cats?

Beeswax candles are safe and more effective than regular paraffin-based candles. 100% pure beeswax candle is safe to use around dogs and people who are suffering from Asthma. Beeswax candles are made with products that come directly from nature and are not considered toxic.

Beeswax naturally has a nice and clean smell. While burning fights against the activities of microbes, bacteria, and fungi in the air. Not just that, but Beeswax candles are often used around young and elderlies, usually to clean/ purify the air. These candles have long burn hours, and even the residue is easier to clean. However, all of that is applicable only when you are using unscented Beeswax candles.

Essential oils have been becoming more popular in the last decade and therefore part of many households. But dogs, and especially your cats, don’t do well around such scents. Using Beeswax candles that have a scent is something pet owners must avoid. Regrettably, if the essential oil is harmful to your pet, one contact with smelling or licking it can do reasonable damage to their health. The level of exposure will determine how bad things can go, but remember, no level is safe.

Therefore, while using Beeswax Candles at home with pets, go with unscented and non-fragranced ones.

Also, in addition to fragrance, avoid anything listed below mixed in your Beeswax candle:

Lead
Paraffin
Acetaldehyde, Formaldehyde, and Acrolein
Toluene
Beeswax candles with colors.

Use only 100% organic Beeswax candles around dogs and cats.

Are Beeswax Candles Safe For Birds?

An all-natural and 100% organic Beeswax candle is safe to have around a house with birds.

Birds have an extremely sensitive respiratory system, and therefore anything even mildly toxic can be heavily harmful to them. The actual Beeswax is safe for birds, but the problem arises if it has any hidden ingredient along. Or, if the candle wick is made with lead or zinc, it again becomes more toxic for birds.

Therefore, whenever using Beeswax candles around birds, always go with 100% organic Beeswax and cotton-based wick. But still manage to expose your birds least around candles, even if it is Beeswax made. Remember, birds have a very sensitive sense of smell, and sometimes even the safest ingredients can harm them. Therefore, either keep your candle room separate or keeps birds away and try to provide them with the best air quality possible.

Are Soy Candles Toxic To Dogs and Cats?

Are Soy Candles safe or toxic? Have always been a topic of big debate. Soy wax is definitely on trend right now, given it is a renewable resource, is sustainable, and is unneedful for fossil fuels. But is Soywax 100% safe?

Several wax companies and even self-proclaimed researchers claim that Soy candles or wax are 100% safe, though it isn’t. Sox Candles are better than paraffin wax candles, but they aren’t truly toxin-free to burn around dogs and cats.

Soy Wax isn’t a natural product, and for producing Soy candles, addictive are added. The phrase 100% soy wax can be misleading since, during production, manufacturers need to add other addictive to make an effective candle burning.

Not since these additives can be harmful, Soy Candles aren’t considered 100% safe. Also, until now, no scientifically backed evidence can prove Soy Candles are 100% toxin free. Some studies do prove that Soy Wax is safer than Paraffin wax, but if there’s some level of toxin present, it doesn’t make any bigger difference.

Also, Soy isn’t natural wax but a heavy metal hydrogenated oil. Plus, since candles are made on huge industrial levels, they use Monsanto genetically- modified (GMO) soybeans. This means a lot of pesticides and other chemicals have been used during soybean farming.

Soy wax is plant friendly and vegan, but just by being that it cannot be 100% safe to burn around pets. They are better than paraffin wax candles, but classifying them as the safest isn’t justified.

Are Soy Candles Toxic or Safe For Birds?

Most candles are bad news for homes with birds. A bird’s sensitive physiology can attract damage from even the smallest addictive present in candles. Though Soy Candles or Soy Wax are comparatively safer options, claiming that it isn’t toxic is still arguable.

Soy Candles do not generate much smoke and heat that can irritate birds. Soy wax is a clean burner; therefore, it doesn’t harm birds on a visible level. However, it is always better to keep your birds minimally exposed to such candles, or not at all if possible.

Even though when Soy Candles are safe, a lot of them have hidden ingredients. If you are unfamiliar with those ingredients, you are probably burning a dangerous bird at home.

Are Yankee Candles Safe For Dogs and Cats and Birds?

Yankee candles are probably one of the most popular candle brands around us. And with that, many people have a conception that Yankee candles are safe to have around pets, including dogs, cats, and birds. But is that true? Well, to claim that we first need to know about Yakee Candles’ ingredient list.

Yankee Candles use wicks made of cotton or 100% natural fibers (as per their website claims). However, again as per their website claims, Yankee Candles use Paraffin and Soy Wax as their base product of all candles. Now considering both can prove toxin to pets at some level, we can’t conclude Yankee Candles is 100% safe.

In addition, fragrant candles from Yankee have artificial fragrances as well as natural essential oils. Though dogs can manage to have many such around them, mind birds and cats are too sensitive for fragrances.

So Can I Burn Yankee Candle Around My Pets? Well, if you keep the room well-ventilated, the candle away from the animal, and choose a fragrance that is safe for your pet, you can occasionally burn Yankee candles in an animal home.

Things To Know While Burning Candles In Home With Pets

Always make sure the candle is made with safe and toxin-free ingredients.
Choose fragrances that are safe for your pet.
Never position your candle too close to your pet’s cage or tank.
Never burn candles if you have a pet with respiratory allergies.
Keep the candle’s flame at a very safer distance from your pet.
Never allow the pet to sniff or lick the candle at any cost, no matter how animal-safe it is.
Always keep the house well-ventilated when lighting a candle around pets.
If you notice your pet leaving the room right after you lit a candle, stop doing it right away.

Pet Safe Candles 2022

PLEASE NOTE: The above products are marketed as pet safe though we do not claim such. Before using them around your pets, please make your research well.

Wrapping up…

That’s all, folks.

Candles aren’t the safest things to have around pets, given most wax materials have some level of toxins. However, today the market is full of many pet-safe candles, and few of them are doing great as well.

If you have pets at home and you are keen about using candles around, do your research right. Also, make sure the strategically places away from pets.