What are pet safe candles?

As a chemist, candle lover and a cat owner, I wanted to shed some light into the topic of pet safe candles. Whether your pet is furry, scaly, or covered in feathers, it is important to consider how the candles and wax melts you are using in your home could be affecting their health. Birds are particularly susceptible to air quality issues because of their unique respiratory systems, so households with birds should be extra careful when selecting candles and other fragrant products.

The first thing to note is that if a candle burns with a real flame, it should be kept out of reach of pets. Period. Yes, even if it’s labeled as a pet friendly candle. This is due to the simple reason that pets, especially furry and/or curious ones (my cat checks both boxes), can get burnt.

Now that we got the obvious out of the way, let’s discuss more about the fumes coming off your candles and what separates a regular candle from a pet safe candle.

What is the essence of pet friendly candles?

Let’s start with the primary component of every candle – the wax. Most candles are still made of paraffin wax, which comes from a petroleum byproduct and can release chemicals into the air such as benzene, acetone, and toluene. These can cause respiratory issues in your pets, especially birds that are more sensitive to changes in air quality. It’s safer to look for natural candle wax options such as coconut wax, beeswax, soy wax, and other plant-based waxes.

Another potential issue for your pets is the fragrance used in candles. Just like paraffin wax, certain synthetic fragrances can have byproducts that can be harmful to pets when inhaled in large enough concentrations. Even certain candles that are listed as all natural and clean-burning are not always pet safe candles. This is because certain essential oils are known to potentially be harmful and irritating to pets. Some examples of essential oils that can be toxic to pets are peppermint, citrus, tea tree, and cinnamon. Another thing to keep in mind your pets’ sense of smell is much stronger than your own, so even if a certain scent is not irritating to you, it could be too strong for your pet.

A safer candle option with pets 

Foton Pearled Candles are pet safe candles for a variety of reasons:

• They’re made of all-natural plant-based wax and lead-free wicks.
• We use pet-friendly candle fragrances, all free of phthalates and parabens. If you’re extra cautious or your pet is prone to respiratory issues, we even offer unscented options.
• Foton Candles self-extinguish if accidentally tipped over.

 In fact, we had our ingredients reviewed by an Avian Veterinarian (a veterinarian specializing in birds) and they said that Foton Candles are the safest candles they’d seen on the market. 

How to make pet safe candles?

If you’re looking for how to make pet safe candles, Foton is your simplest and safest choice. Just pour Foton pearls into a container, insert one of the included wicks, and light your candle. You can even pick an unscented option and add your own scent to it (just make sure to search for pet safe essential oils or candle fragrances).

Just like with humans, some pets are more susceptible to respiratory irritation than others and more prone to asthma, allergies or similar conditions. Bottom line, keep an eye on your pets and if you notice they may be developing suspicious respiratory symptoms…your candles could be the reason!

About the Author

Heidi Stojanovic is one of the sisters and co-founders of Foton. Before launching Foton Pearled Candles, she spent 9 years leading the Research & Development team of a global chemical company. Foton combines her passions for sustainability and using chemistry to solve real-world problems in simple yet clever ways.