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Just as humans are attracted to the sweet aromas of scented candles, it’s no surprise dogs and other pets may be, too. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and may be drawn to the appetizing scents of the delicious-smelling candles throughout your home.
Before you worry too much, though, on the whole, candles don’t pose a significant health risk to dogs. While it’s good practice to keep candles, especially lit ones, out of the reach of your furry friend, some candles help eliminate foul pet odors and offer many other benefits–from aromatherapy to enhanced relaxation.
Are you wondering, “Are candles bad for dogs?” The quick answer is no. But if you’re concerned about an open flame around an energetic pup, you have other options available to you to keep your space smelling sweet and inviting.
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Risks of Candles and Air Fresheners
While the scents used in Homesick scented candles are not harmful to dogs and other pets, some scented candles and air fresheners, such as plug-ins and aerosol types, may contain irritating or harmful ingredients.
Some of these products may release synthetic fragrances that aggravate existing respiratory illnesses like asthma in people and pets or harmful toxins, such as naphthalene or phthalates. There have been cases in which phthalates released from some burning candles were suspected to have caused endocrine system disruption, leading to other serious diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.
Essential oils, used in some air diffusers and scented candles, are another substance that can cause some sensitivities to humans and pets alike. Several essential oil varieties should be avoided if you have pets in your home, as they have been shown to adversely impact your pet's health. These oils include eucalyptus, tea tree oil, wintergreen, pine, peppermint, camphor and clove. Depending on the oil concentration, even a few drops can cause illness, ranging from vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, depression and more. Even when they are diffused, some oils may still cause mild allergy symptoms or a cough. With this in mind, it’s recommended you don’t apply essential oils directly to your dog’s skin or fur.
Are Soy Candles Safe? Find Out in Our Guide!
Safe Candle and Scented Options
While some scented products should be avoided for you and your dog’s health and safety, at Homesick, we make safe candles with a natural soy wax blend and 100 percent organic cotton wicks for a smooth, long-lasting burn. If you’re wondering: “Are soy candles safe?” we can say with certainty they are.
Soy wax burns clean, and when you follow safe candle-burning practices, it produces little or no airborne particulates. And these delightful candles can help eliminate unwanted odors from your dog’s coat and leave your home smelling fresh. Like any candle, it’s best to keep an open flame away from happy dog tails to avoid the possibility of knocking them over and starting a fire.
If you’re concerned a strongly scented candle may irritate your pooch’s sensitive nose, try burning it in a well-ventilated room to keep your dog’s eyes and nose from becoming irritated.
Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell that scientists believe is 10,000 times as acute as our sense of smell. For this reason, they may immediately pick up on the presence of a new scented candle and sniff it out.
Because some pets might find our candles’ scents so delicious, there’s always the possibility their strong noses might mistake it for a tasty snack. While ingesting these candles will likely result in nothing more than an unhappy stomach or diarrhea, it’s a good idea to keep your unlit candle out of your dog’s reach so they can avoid digestive distress and you can continue to enjoy delightful scents in your home.
If you’re looking for a fragrant solution that doesn’t pose a fire hazard, you can choose from one of our many reed diffuser scents that releases a wide range of delicious fragrances. A reed diffuser is a liquid air freshener that uses reeds to absorb the scent from the liquids and releases pleasant fragrances into the air. From tropical to energizing and comforting fragrances, reed diffuser oils offer an array of delicious scents to help mask pet odors and sprinkle your home with uplifting notes from your favorite aromatic ingredients.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a candle lover or someone who likes to diffuse their home with scented oils, with the proper safety precautions, you can fill your home with beautiful aromas posing no health risks to your dog. When you buy a Homesick candle reed diffuser, be assured all our ingredients are non-toxic and free of lead, paraben, phthalates or synthetic dyes to keep your home smelling great and your dog happy and healthy.
FAQs
Scented candles have the potential to contain chemicals that are harmful to pets. "Aside from some essential oils that can cause several harmful effects, the fumes and smoke from any candle, scented or not, can make it more difficult for pets with respiratory issues to breathe normally," she continues.
Can you light candles near dogs? ›
Generally, scented candles are safe for pets as long as you're vigilant. While we enjoy lighting a scented candle to set the mood, you should always keep a close eye on your pets when a candle is lit.
What kind of candles are bad for dogs? ›
Poisonous candle ingredients
They're often used to give candles strong, delicious scents. Unfortunately, essential oils are very toxic to dogs. VCA Ark Animal Hospital says wintergreen, tea tree, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, cinnamon and citrus essential oils are some of the most harmful.
What candles are safe to burn with pets? ›
Use organic wax candles
There are a lot of better options for candles than those made of paraffin wax. Opt for organic wax candles, such as candles that are made from soy, beeswax, vegetable wax, or coconut wax. Not only are these candles better for you and your pet, they're better for the environment!
What scents are safe for dogs? ›
Pet Safe Essential Oils For Dogs Include:
- Myrrh.
- Frankincense.
- Chamomile.
- Peppermint.
- Lavender.
- Ginger.
- Rosemary.
Here are a few ideas for you. Here is what Dr. Beckers has to say about candles and plugins.
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Although natural soy wax or any other 100% plant or vegetable waxes are also safe.
- 100% beeswax or other plant/vegetable waxes for example soy.
- Made with a cotton or paper wick.
- Use safe essential oils for the scent.
Conclusion. Even though Bath and Body Works candles make your home smell wonderful, they may not be great for your dog. Many of these candles are made from potentially harmful paraffin and unnatural dyes and fragrances. Do your dog (and yourself) a big favor and snuff those candles out!
Can smell from candles make dog sick? ›
Yes, candles can be bad for your dog. Many candles emit nasty toxins and chemicals into the air. These toxins can be harmful to both humans and dogs.
Can scented candles cause seizures in dogs? ›
Some other things that could trigger a seizure but are less common include lightning, loud music, smoke from a cigarette or cigar, medicines, anxiety, and scents from candles or perfumes. Though these are less common it is still a concern to be aware of if you know your dog may experience dog seizures.
Can wax melts make dogs sick? ›
It is indeed the fragrance which can be harmful to your pooch or feline. Fragrances are made up of chemical compositions which contain natural ingredients such as Benzene, which has a sweet scent and is incredibly common in wax melts, but can cause respiratory problems in humans and pets alike.
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Are Yankee candles pet safe? ›
Sadly, because of the paraffin wax, harmful fragrance ingredients, and lack of transparency, Yankee Candles cannot be considered safe or non-toxic.
What smells are too strong for dogs? ›
Perfumes, colognes and scented candles
So a few spritzes of your favorite bottled fragrance can likely be way too strong for your pup.
What smells will dogs avoid? ›
At the top of the list? Citrus. Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.
Is Febreze safe for dogs? ›
"Like all our products, Febreze and its ingredients were tested extensively to ensure that the product is safe for humans, pets, and the environment," the P&G fact sheet said.
What makes a candle non toxic? ›
There's no single definition, but a nontoxic candle should be free of questionable ingredients and additives, like phthalates or lead. It can be helpful to look for candles made with 100 percent plant-based waxes, essential oil-based or certified nontoxic synthetic fragrance, and wicks made of cotton, hemp, or wood.
Are fragrance oils in candles safe for dogs? ›
No, fragrance oils are not safe for dogs … and they're not safe for people either. These chemicals can cause all sorts of health issues.
Does eucalyptus candle hurt dogs? ›
Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
Can peppermint candles hurt dogs? ›
Which oils should never be used around pets? Some suggest pine, wintergreen, cinnamon, citrus based oils, peppermint, camphor, clove, bitter almond, garlic, horseradish, mustard, and pennyroyal essential oils are dangerous to dogs and cats.
Are Bath and Body Works candles toxic? ›
Problem #1: Bath & Body Works Candles Use Paraffin Wax
Paraffin is a petroleum-based product, and when burned, it releases toxic chemicals into the air like benzene and toluene. These toxins have been linked to several health problems, including cancer, respiratory issues, and asthma.
Dogs exposed to fear smells showed more signs of stress than those exposed to happy or neutral smells. They also had higher heart rates, and sought more reassurance from their owners and made less social contact with strangers.
What smells can trigger seizures in dogs? ›
Other factors considered household items that can potentially trigger seizures in dogs include scented candles, perfumes, loud music, and cigarette smoke. Popular household products are also potential triggers.
Are Glade scents safe for dogs? ›
The answer. No, plug-in air fresheners are not safe for pets. If you use them, make sure to ventilate the area.
Can I burn a eucalyptus candle around my dog? ›
To be safe, with pets in your home, you should avoid: Eucalyptus, peppermint, clove, tea tree, wintergreen, and pine oils. Note: This mostly comes down to the concentration of essential oils - certainly don't put any of the aforementioned oils in direct contact with your pet's fur or skin.
Is Lavender safe for dogs? ›
Lavender contains linalool, a compound toxic to pets, including dogs. However, while linalool is toxic to dogs in large amounts, toxicity in dogs is rarer than it is in cats. That being said, dogs can become poisoned by eating a large amount of lavender from the plant or essential oils.
What are dog safe essential oils? ›
Best Essential Oils for Dogs
- Lavender Oil. Known for its calming effect, lavender oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils for humans. ...
- Frankincense Oil. ...
- Chamomile Oil. ...
- Cedarwood Oil. ...
- Frankincense Oil. ...
- Helichrysum Oil. ...
- Fennel Oil.
So, Is Scentsy Toxic to Pets? If used correctly and safely, and if your cat is not sensitive to volatile oils, then no, Scentsy is not toxic to pets, but it does have the potential to be. So, you need to make sure that you are using Scentsy safely in your home.
Are scents harmful to dogs? ›
All artificial scents are toxic for dogs. The only scents that are safe for dogs are those made with all-natural ingredients, like herbs or some essential oils. Artificial scents can cause nervous system disorders, breathing difficulty, kidney issues, seizures and endocrine problems.
What are the healthiest candles? ›
Beeswax candles are the healthiest choice in candles. Made from the caps of bee honeycombs, beeswax candles burn clean, are very long-burning, and give off a pleasant natural fragrance as they burn. Beeswax candles are dripless when burned properly, and release negative ions which help clean the air in a room.
Are Yankee candles toxic? ›
Sadly, because of the paraffin wax, harmful fragrance ingredients, and lack of transparency, Yankee Candles cannot be considered safe or non-toxic.
There are some types of pet safe candles out there that are safe to burn around your cat or dog.
...
Although natural soy wax or any other 100% plant or vegetable waxes are also safe.
- 100% beeswax or other plant/vegetable waxes for example soy.
- Made with a cotton or paper wick.
- Use safe essential oils for the scent.
