Are Candles and Wax Melts Safe for Dogs and Cats? Your Quaver and Lyric Guide to Pet-Friendly Fragrance

This is a question many pet owners ask: Are candles and wax melts safe for dogs and cats? At Quaver&Lyric, our love for animals runs deep, and the safety of your cherished pets is paramount. We understand your desire to enjoy beautiful home fragrances while ensuring your furry family members remain healthy and happy. While a fragranced room undoubtedly enhances our mood, it's crucial to understand if your favourite scented candles and wax melts pose any risks.

The straightforward answer to "Are candles and wax melts safe for dogs and cats?" is: it depends. Many fragranced products can be safe when chosen and used carefully, but certain ingredients and practices can indeed be harmful. There is no singular "pet-safe" or "pet-friendly" industry standard for fragranced products. Just like humans, any animal can have an individual reaction to components within a fragrance oil or any other product, meaning nothing is ever 100% risk-free. Our advice is always to introduce fragranced products with caution and closely monitor your pet for any adverse reactions.

Crucial Advice for Specific Pets:

It is vital to never use fragranced products around animals with sensitive respiratory systems, particularly birds and reptiles. Their delicate systems are highly susceptible to airborne irritants. If you have exotic pets, always seek advice from a veterinarian before using fragranced products nearby, and avoid using them near fish tanks or animal cages.

Understanding the Potential Risks to Determine If Your Candles and Wax Melts Are Safe for Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats possess an incredibly powerful sense of smell compared to humans. This means what might be a pleasant aroma to us could be overwhelming or even irritating to their sensitive respiratory systems. The primary concerns that help us assess "Are candles and wax melts safe for dogs and cats?" typically fall into these categories:

1. Physical Hazards:

• Burns: Curious paws or wagging tails can easily knock over lit candles or active wax warmers, leading to painful burns for your pet or, more severely, posing a fire hazard. Always ensure products are completely out of reach.
• Ingestion: Pets might try to eat wax melts or even spilled melted wax. This can lead to digestive upset or, in rare cases, more serious health issues.

2. Wax Type & Quaver&Lyric's Commitment:

While paraffin wax (a petroleum byproduct) can release tiny particles and chemicals when burned, opting for natural waxes generally minimizes potential irritants. At Quaver&Lyric, we commit to using only premium quality waxes in all our candles and melts. We offer a selection of three carefully chosen wax blends:

• Rapeseed and Mineral Wax Blend: This blend does contain mineral (paraffin) wax. However, we use an exceptional quality, refined mineral wax, which has undergone processes to remove harmful chemicals during production. In rigorous burn tests, this blend surprisingly produces less soot than either our soy or plant waxes.
• Soy Wax: Our high-quality soy wax comes from a manufacturer actively working towards certification that their soy is 100% sourced from sustainable, deforestation-free origins by 2025.
• Plant Wax (Coconut & Rapeseed): Our luxurious plant wax blend uses only coconut and rapeseed oils. It offers a naturally clean burn.

Furthermore, we rigorously soot-test all our candle recipes to ensure they do not emit more than the allowable amount of soot during burning, prioritizing a cleaner experience for your home and pets.

3. Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils & Quaver&Lyric's Approach:

This area often generates the most questions regarding "Are candles and wax melts safe for dogs and cats?" Many essential oils, despite being natural, are highly concentrated plant extracts and can be toxic if inhaled, ingested (even through licking fur where scent particles settle), or absorbed through the skin. Cats are particularly sensitive due to their unique metabolic pathways, which hinder their ability to process certain compounds common in essential oils. Common essential oils known to be toxic to pets include Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Citrus oils (d-limonene), Pine, Wintergreen, Pennyroyal, Clove, and Ylang Ylang.

Fragrance oils can be synthetic or may contain some essential oil components. At Quaver&Lyric, we meticulously check the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) certification for all our fragrance oils to ensure their safety for use in candles. While all our fragrances are deemed safe for use in candles, some have restrictions on the maximum percentage allowed for use in animal sprays (products applied directly to animals). Critically, the lowest such restriction is at a concentration much higher than what we use in any of our candle and melt products.

However, it's important to note that all fragrance oils contain allergens, which can potentially cause an allergic reaction in both humans and pets. These allergens are clearly listed on the CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) labels for each product. Just as with humans, every cat or dog can react differently; most will not be affected, but some may be.

Introducing New Fragrances with Your Pet in Mind:

When asking yourself, "Are these specific candles and wax melts safe for dogs and cats in my home?", careful introduction is key. If you are new to using candles and melts around your pets, we recommend starting cautiously. Our Quaver&Lyric Candles with no warning words on their labels might be a good starting point for testing. Examples include:

• Christmas Tree (RCX)
• Citronella and Lemongrass (RCX)
• Damson Plum Rose and Patchouli (CS1)
• Velvet Peony and Oud (CS1)

When introducing any new fragrance, always use it in a large, well-ventilated area. We specifically suggest trialing a new fragrance using one of our wax blend candles first, as these contain a lower concentration of fragrance. Our wax melts contain the highest concentration of fragrance oil, so it's best to avoid them until you've successfully tested the scent with your pet using a candle.

Key Safety Tips for Enjoying Scents Safely with Cats and Dogs:

1. Ventilate Your Space: Always burn candles or use wax melts in a well-ventilated room. Open a window slightly (but not so close to the candle/warmer that it creates a draft) to ensure good air circulation, which helps disperse any airborne particles.
2. Placement is Paramount: Keep all lit candles and active wax warmers (both electric and tealight) well out of reach of curious paws and tails. High shelves or areas your pet cannot access are ideal. Most importantly, never leave them unattended.
3. Observe Your Pet Closely: Pay keen attention to your pet's behaviour. If they show any signs of discomfort—such as sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, lethargy, or if they actively try to leave the room—extinguish the candle or turn off the warmer immediately. Their heightened sense of smell can easily become overwhelmed. If the problem persists, take your pet outside into fresh air and consult a vet if symptoms continue.
4. Avoid Direct Contact: Never apply essential oils or fragrance oils directly to your pet's skin or fur, or allow them to lick or ingest the products.
5. Consult Your Vet: If you have any ongoing concerns, or if your pet exhibits worrying symptoms after exposure to scented products, contact your veterinarian immediately for professional advice.

By making informed choices about your fragrance products and diligently practicing these sensible safety measures, you can confidently answer the question "Are candles and wax melts safe for dogs and cats?" in your own home, continuing to enjoy the beautiful aromas of Quaver&Lyric candles and wax melts while ensuring the comfort and well-being of your beloved companions.