Pet Safety
The truth you don’t hear elsewhere….
No candle wax or fragrance is 100% pet safe.
It’s important to know the facts before you use wax or fragrances around pets. While some oils and fragrances and waxes are better than others and are quite safe when used with care, there is no 100% safe fragrance or wax.
Sukh Living Fragrance Promise
We only use Certified Natural Plant-based Fragrance Oils
Certified Natural Plant based fragrances are made solely from natural, raw botanical sources from which are derived absolutes, extracts, pure essential oils, and aromatic isolates. They are ISO 9235 certified and contain no harmful synthetic chemicals. They are hypoallergenic and gentle and thus, safe for sensitive individuals. They are environmentally sustainable and biodegradable.
These oils contain less than 2% Essential Oils and the fragrance itself is further diluted to be only about 10% of the final product (the rest is wax or a spray base). So, in the end, there is a very small amount of essential oil in our products. However, when it comes to pets, care should always be taken to keep you loved ones safe!
How to enjoy candles and fragrances around pets
The tips below will help you keep your pets safe while you enjoy candles, wax melts, or other fragrances in your home.
Pet Safety FAQs
Learn about using Candles and Fragrances around pets
We provide honest information about using scented products around animals. So the simple answer is NO. No wax or fragrance product is ever 100% safe around animals.
While our ingredients are plant-based and free from harsh synthetics, some essential oils can be irritating or toxic to certain pets (especially cats and birds). We have a dedicated, curated section on our website for Pet-Friendly Candles & Melts that features scents known to be safer for use around most household pets, provided proper ventilation is used.
Learn more about pets and candles on our Pet Safety page.
We encourage all pet owners to read our comprehensive guide on essential oils and pet safety located in the Sukh Living Pet Safety Page. When in doubt, always consult your veterinarian before introducing new fragrances into your pet’s environment.
- Tea Tree (Melaleuca): Highly toxic and can cause severe illness or death.
- Citrus Oils: (Limonene, e.g., Bergamot, Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit).
- Peppermint & Eucalyptus: Can cause respiratory irritation and other symptoms.
- Pine & Wintergreen: Contain compounds that can lead to severe issues like liver or kidney damage.
- Cinnamon, Clove, & Ylang Ylang.
- Pennyroyal & Sweet Birch.
Learn more about our waxes, fragrances, and oils on our pet safety page.
- Watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, or wheezing.
- Excessive drooling or pawing at the mouth/face.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Lethargy, weakness, or difficulty walking (uncoordinated gait).
- Muscle tremors or unusual behavior changes.
- If your pet has pre-existing respiratory conditions: (e.g., asthma, chronic bronchitis). Any airborne irritant, even from natural wax, can worsen their symptoms.
- If you have birds: Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems, and veterinarians recommend avoiding all air diffusers and most scented products around them completely.
- In small, enclosed spaces: Always ensure the area is well-ventilated, and the pet has the ability to easily leave the room and access fresh air.
- If your pet is unsupervised: Never leave a lit candle unattended where a curious paw or wagging tail could knock it over, causing a fire or burn hazard.
Transparency is important to us. Every product page in our Pet-Friendly Collection includes a full ingredient list. We carefully select scents that do not contain the known toxic essential oils mentioned above, offering safer choices for your household.
Both methods pose a reduced fire hazard compared to an open flame if placed out of reach. The safety mostly comes down to the fragrance ingredients used and ventilation. The primary risk remains the essential oil composition and ensuring pets cannot ingest the wax or the warming oil itself. Always store all products securely out of reach.
Compare Fragrance Types for Pet Safety
Discover why choosing products made with virgin coconut wax and plant-based fragrances is better for your health, your home, and the planet.
Essential Oils Safety
Which essential oils are safe to use around pets?
That depends on how you plan to use them, how much oil is used, and how the pet might be exposed to the oils. Compare the methods of exposure below to see which oils might put your pet at risk.