what candles are safe for my cats and dogs?

04/04/2022

So you've decided you want to make your home smell beautiful, but you're unsure on how candles and wax melts affect your pets? Look no further!

The first thing I'd advise looking for is a natural wax such as soy, beeswax or vegetable - that's for your health and your pets. The alternative to these natural waxes is usually paraffin wax and when paraffin candles burn, they emit black soot and toxic fumes. Paraffin is a petroleum waste product and has to be deodorized and chemically bleached before it can be made into wax, so I needn't tell you how bad it can be for your and your pets health.  The environmental impact of paraffin should also be noted. Crude oil, being the origin of paraffin wax, is considered highly unsustainable, being a non-renewable resource. It has also been the cause of many environmental calamities, in oil spills, damage of natural habitats and climate change. 

Being a pet parent, you have to be extra careful about the ingredients of the scented candles you are buying. Avoiding these candles will not only help your pet but also benefit your health. Here are some of the components you should avoid while purchasing scented candles:

• Lead - Some candles use wicks with a metal core. Most of these wicks contain lead, affecting you and your pets’ central nervous system. If your dog is chomping at the jaw excessively, it might be a sign of health issues related to lead.

• Paraffin Wax - Most of the candles in the market are made of paraffin wax. Theoretically, the paraffin wax is slightly toxic for your dog. If consumed, the paraffin wax will create digestive issues at the very least. In severe cases, it can lead your dog into a coma. Also, as the paraffin wax is created from petroleum waste, it releases carcinogens when burned.

• Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde and Acrolein - A 2009 study has shown that burning candles release undesired chemicals in the air and pollutes our indoor air. Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde and Acrolein are some of the substances that the regular scented candles release in the atmosphere of your home. Please read the label carefully before buying the candle to ensure it does not contain any of these chemicals.

• Along with all the above chemicals, you should avoid all the candles containing artificial scents and colours. When the synthetic oil of such candles burns, they release carcinogenic particles into the air.

So the moral of the story here is to research who you're buying your products from, make sure they're as natural as possible and you're onto a safer path for you and your pets!