Product Care & Safety: Pets & Home Fragrance

Enjoy your home fragrance with care. Always follow the instructions and warnings supplied with each product. This guide covers everyday candle care, incense use and precautions for homes with pets. It does not mean a product is pet-safe.

Can I burn incense around my pets?

As a precaution, avoid burning incense in rooms occupied by pets. Do not expose pets to incense smoke or confine them in a fragranced room. Cats with asthma are particularly sensitive to airborne particles: veterinary guidance recommends avoiding incense, sprays and plug-in diffusers in their environment. Ask your vet for advice suited to your pet’s species and health before using home fragrance.

Keep unlit sticks, ash and incense holders out of reach. Use a suitable heat-resistant incense holder that catches falling ash, on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from anything that could catch fire. Never leave burning incense unattended. Ensure it is fully extinguished before leaving it, and allow the holder and ash to cool before handling or disposal.

How do I use a candle safely?

Read the candle’s label before lighting, including its wick-trimming, maximum burn-time and stop-use instructions.
Remove all packaging and the lid before lighting. Keep the wax free of matches, wick trimmings and other debris.
Place the candle upright in a suitable holder or its intended vessel on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from curtains, furnishings and anything flammable. Leave clear space above it and keep it away from draughts.
Keep candles out of reach of children and pets, where they cannot be knocked over.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish it before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Do not move or touch a burning candle or hot vessel. Allow it to cool completely first.
If the flame becomes unusually high or the candle smokes excessively, extinguish it and allow it to cool. Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions before using it again.

Can I use a bamboo lid to put out my candle?

No. Do not place a bamboo or wooden lid over a lit candle. A storage lid is not a candle snuffer and should not be exposed to the flame. Use a purpose-made candle snuffer to extinguish the flame, following its instructions. Never use water to extinguish a candle.

Check that the flame is completely out. Once the candle and vessel have cooled completely, replace the lid to help keep dust and debris out. We do not promise a smoke-free or odour-free extinguishing method.

What about diffusers and essential oils around pets?

Keep diffuser liquids, oils and reeds out of reach and prevent spills, licking and contact with fur or skin. Never apply home-fragrance oils to a pet. Essential oils can be harmful to cats, and some exposure risks depend on the oil, concentration, diffuser and the animal’s health. PDSA advises keeping cats away from rooms where diffusers are used and ventilating those rooms before allowing them back in. Do not assume that “natural” means safe for pets. Ask your vet before using these products around your animal.

What should I do if my pet seems unwell?

Stop using the fragrance and keep your pet away from the source. Contact your vet promptly if you suspect exposure, ingestion or illness, and keep the product packaging available. Difficulty breathing needs urgent veterinary attention.