Bath and Body Works candles are well known in the fragrance industry for their unique and savory products.
The candles effectively hide any odor and give your house a refreshing smell. However, are these candles safe to burn near dogs? Scroll down because we answered everything you need to know!
Are Bath and Body Works candles safe for dogs?
Not all of the Bath and Body Works candles are safe for dogs. Especially the candles with essential oils or are made of paraffin, formaldehyde, and VOCs release dangerous pollutants upon burning. Dogs are susceptible to airborne toxins. These chemicals badly affect the health if ingested.
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You should never light any candles around puppies less than 8 weeks old. Because of their less resistance power, the carcinogens emitted upon burning these candles could be fatal to them.
However, not every candle is bad for dogs, which will be discussed later.
Paraffin, the common ingredient for candles, causes various respiratory issues in dogs. The fragrances act as a trigger. When lit, these candles produce elements like benzene, acetone, alkane, alkenes that are highly toxic to dogs.
The smoke will irritate the lungs and eyes. This will lead to coughing, sneezing, or wheezing. Your dog may even ingest some of the candles out of curiosity which will result in gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea.
The benzene and alkanes produced from these candles settle on the ground where your dog stays all the time. During grooming sessions, the particles find their way inside dogs, causing more gastrointestinal problems.
Another type of candle is aromatherapy candles. As the name suggests, the aromatherapy candles spread your surroundings with sweet fragrance and give you a soothing experience. The purpose of these candles is to reduce stress.
But they are not as therapeutic for dogs. Aromatherapy candles contain essential oils, which are highly toxic for dogs. Aromatherapy candles are not safe to burn around dogs.
This is because dogs, in general, are more sensitive than humans. Dogs cannot withstand the high phenol content found in essential oils. So, high amounts of such elements cause health complications in dogs.
What harm can scented candles cause for dogs?
Scented candles are highly discouraged around dogs because of the toxic chemicals used to make them. Lead, paraffin, and naphthalene should not be kept near dogs.
Dogs have a sensory capacity that is a thousand times better than humans. The delicious smell does entice our furry friends. So, it is tempting for them to try out the intriguing object spreading the lovely scent.
Upon inhaling the burnt chemicals, dogs will face many respiratory issues. It gets worse when they consume the candles out of curiosity. The toxic elements settle on the floor where dogs roam all around, so the toxins stick to their fur too.
The potential issues that your dog may face are discussed below.
Respiratory issues:
You will find your dog coughing or getting irritated at the smell of candles. Sneezing, seizures, vomiting are the common symptoms of discomfort your dogs will show.
Other allergic reactions will also be visible. If you see your dog showing these signs, put out the candle and contact a veterinarian immediately.
Gastrointestinal issues:
The toxic particles from the candles can get into your dog’s stomach and internal organs very easily. Your dog’s liver cannot metabolize the toxins found in these candles.
Common symptoms include throwing up, dizziness, stomach upset. If the chemicals get into your dog’s body in high amounts, your dog may get severely sick. Contact a veterinarian immediately if your dog shows unusual behavior.
Other issues:
The fumes and carcinogens are not good for their skin either. Skin irritation or itchiness occurs coming in contact.
What Bath and Body Works candles are safe for dogs?
Paraffin-free Bath and Body Works candles are generally safe for dogs, such as soy waw or coconut wax candles. Here is a complete list of them.
- White Barn Bath and Body Works 3 Wick Scented Candle Cactus Blossom
- Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Scented Aromatherapy Candle – Energy – Orange & Ginger
- Bath and Body Works White Barn Salted Butterscotch 3 Wick Candle
- Pumpkin Vanilla Creme Candle by White Barn ~ 3 Wick Bath and Body
- Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus plus Spearmint Scented Candle
- Bath and Body Works Perfect Peony 3-Wick Candle
- Bath and Body Works Coconut Colada 3-Wick Candle
- Bath and Body Works White Barn Mango Waters 3-Wick Candle
- Bath and Body Works Sun-Kissed Coconut 3-Wick Candle
- Strawberry Pound Cake Bath and Body Works
- Bath & Body Works White Barn Scented 3-Wick Candle Mahogany Balsam
What candles are toxic to dogs?
Generally, candles with essential oils and made of paraffin are toxic to dogs.
- Fresh Balsam 3-Wick Candle
- Mahogany Teakwood Intense 3-Wick Candle
- Eucalyptus Spearmint 3-Wick Candle
- Cotton Candy Champagne 3-Wick Candle
- Frosted Cranberry 3-Wick Candle
- Winter Candy Apple 3-Wick Candle
- Black Tie 3-Wick Candle
- Black Cherry Merlot 3-Wick Candle
- A Thousand Wishes 3-Wick Candle
- Rose Water & Ivy 3-Wick Candle
- Watermelon Lemonade 3-Wick Candle
- Pure Wonder Single Wick Candle
- Peach Bellini Single Wick Candle
- Watermelon Lemonade 3-Wick Candle
- Holiday Single Wick Candle
- Sugared Cherry Crisp 3-Wick Candle
- Marshmallow Fireside Single Wick Candle
- Under the Christmas Tree Single Wick Candle
- Winter Candy Apple Single Wick Candle
- Turquoise Waters 3-Wick Candle
- White Eucalyptus & Sage 3-Wick Candle
- Sugared Pomegranate Single Wick Candle
- Spiced Gingerbread 3-Wick Candle
- Black Cherry Merlot Single Wick Candle
- Peppermint Sugar Cookie Single Wick Candle
- Pumpkin Pecan Waffles 3-Wick Candle
Are candles with essential oils safe for dogs?
Candles with essential oils are not safe for dogs. Essential oils contain compounds excreted from plants or other natural sources in high concentrations.
Your dog will be attracted to the savory scent, but you should remember that it is not good for your dog’s health.
Candles with essential oils are beneficial for humans. They remove odor and give your house a refreshing scent. Essential oils are known to reduce stress and relax the human mind.
But your dogs do not enjoy the same benefits. Dog’s senses are a thousand times stronger than ours. So, the concentrated chemicals more often than not harm our furry friends upon inhalation of ingestion.
Dogs simply cannot metabolize the compounds used in essential oils. The essential oils irritate dogs’ skin. Your dog may sneeze or vomit if it inhales fumes of essential oils.
Ingestion in large quantities could be lethal for your dogs, so keep candles with essential oils away from them.
What essential oils are safe and bad for dogs?
You will see the tag “natural” with essential oils. But do not be confused because even though these oils have natural ingredients, they are harmful to your dogs. Let’s see which essential oils are safe and which are not.
Essential oils safe for dogs:
Cedarwood oil, Chamomile oil, Cardamom oil, Citrus oil, Eucalyptus oil, Fennel oil, Frankincense oil, Helichrysum oil, Lavender oil, Lemongrass oil, Spearmint oil, Rose oil
Essential oils harmful for dogs:
Eucalyptus oil, Cinnamon oil, Peppermint oil, Pine oil, Spruce oil, Juniper oil, Grapefruit oil, Lemongrass oil, Tea tree oil, Wintergreen oil, Clove oil, Oregano oil, Anise oil, Thyme oil, Sweet birch oil
How to make dog friendly candles?
To make nontoxic candles, you need the following items.
- A pitcher
- A measuring cup
- Natural candle wicks (6-8 inches)
- A kitchen thermometer
- A long stainless steel stirring spoon
- Glass jars
- Pencils or pens
- Natural wax (dog friendly)
- Essential oils (dog friendly)
Fill pitcher with wax:
Fill 80% of the pitcher with wax you bought. Also, it is good to measure the wax before putting it in the pitcher because you will get a general idea of how much wax is needed.
For starters, put 12 ounces of wax in the pitcher and put it on the stove on medium-low heat.
Not more than 200-degree F:
Overheating will decrease the quality of your candles. The ideal temperature is 170-degree Fahrenheit, but it should never cross 200. Periodically stir the wax with a long stirrer.
Remove the pitcher from the burner once it is fully melted.
Add essential oils:
Add one ounce of essential oils per pound of wax. Add the oil at 160 degrees Fahrenheit and stir it well.
Slowly pour into a jar:
Fix the wick so that it is in a straight position and is at the center. Then slowly pour the wax into the jar. Leave some space above if you need to pour again. Leave the wax overnight to harden.
Final thoughts
Even though there are natural dog-friendly candles out there, most of the candles manufactured by Bath and Body Works are made of paraffin and other toxic elements that are harmful to dogs. Consult a vet to know more about which candles are safe for your dog.