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If you love to burn candles and you also own a pet, then you know that the two don’t always go well together. Spilled wax, singed whiskers…they’re par for the course!
But those aren’t the only dangers candles pose to your pets. Many candles give off toxins that can be risky to your pet’s health. It’s why I prefer to burn soy candles, and why you should, too—ASAP.
The problem with most candles is that they’re made from paraffin wax. Paraffin is a byproduct of refining crude oil—and like most things made from petroleum, it gives off a lot of chemicals when it burns. The sooty black gunk that builds up along the edges of your carpet or behind pictures on your walls? It’s candle residue.
Worse, the dyes and scents added to paraffin wax candles are chemicals manufactured in a laboratory—which only adds to the toxic load. (The EPA has actually found that scented candles are a major source of candle soot.)
If you’re thinking this is bad for your health, you’re right! But it’s even worse for our pets.
Because they’re smaller than we are, the chemicals from paraffin wax candles can easily build up in their bodies (not to mention overwhelm their keen sense of smell). So while we may think of candles as a great way to freshen up the house, to our pets, being around burning candles on a regular basis isn’t that much better than sitting near the tailpipe of a running car.
This can be hard news to swallow if you burn candles with pets in your house—or especially if you’ve been burning candles because you have pets in your house. Fortunately, there’s a safer solution: soy candles.
Soy candles are healthier for you, and most of all, they’re healthier for your pets. Here’s why.
Because soy candles are made from what’s essentially vegetable oil from soybeans, they give off far less residue than paraffin wax candles. That will leave your pet—and you—breathing easier. (As a bonus, soy candles also tend to burn longer, which helps offset their higher cost.)
Since soy candles are more natural to begin with, they don’t need the same heavy chemical perfumes injected into paraffin wax candles. Instead, soy candles get their aroma from natural essential oils. These create less soot and are easier on the nose. As for your pets, these scents may be still a little strong—but they won’t cause chemical burn-off to flood their bodies.
My favorite soy candle is made by a company called One Fur All. It’s the Pet House Candle, and it’s specially formulated to help manage pet odors, which is a great bonus for all pet lovers.
If you’re burning paraffin wax candles in your home, make the switch to soy today. They’re better for you and for your best friend. You’ll both be able to relax and breathe easier.
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