If bath & body works is one of your go-to stores for buying presents and other products for the home, you may be wondering whether or not the candles they sell are suitable for canines.
This company’s candle products contain paraffin wax and synthetic fragrances, which may irritate a canine’s respiratory tract, causing respiratory issues. Some candles sold at bath & body works stores are safe for dogs, while some of them are not safe for dogs.
If your dog exhibits any signs of distress after burning one of these conventional candles, such as scratching his face, you should extinguish the flame as soon as possible. If a dog is rubbing his face with his paws, it may indicate that something is bothering him, such as an offensive smell or an allergen, causing him to have an allergic reaction to candles.
It is essential to remember that not all candles sold at bath & body works include natural ingredients that might be dangerous to pets and pet owners. Because of this, it is essential to examine the components of the candle so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to burn it while your dog is there.
We have also written an article about whether scented candles are bad for dogs or not.
The bath & beauty product range sold under bath & body works was initially made available at Express department shops in the 1990s.
The company had its stores open within one year, although the products offered were the same as those of The Body Shop.
Because of this resemblance, some employees at The Body Shop felt compelled to file a legal complaint. Therefore, the “heartland” concept for bath & body works came into being, and along with it came the fictitious “founder” of the company, Kate, who was a rural girl.
She was a biology major in college and eventually became successful enough to sell her homemade beauty products to customers through bath & body works stores. Kate has a full history: she spent her childhood on a farm, creating skincare products using fresh ingredients; she made these products as a child. Kate was the “conscience” behind the brand, and she personified country kindness, items based on nature, and strong morals.
Most people who bought the product weren’t even aware of the Kateness behind the brand. Nonetheless, employees were educated on her principles and the back story of who she was.
Her clients were to be handled in the same manner as guests. Even the businesses were decked out to seem like “Kate’s” warm and inviting country house, complete with the gingham in red and white, wooden barrels, and a general atmosphere of country living.
It was revolutionary when bath & bodyworkers customers could browse through their entire product line without buying anything. These days, you probably don’t even give it a second thought when you go to a bath & body works location.
Both vegetable and paraffin wax is utilized significantly in producing candles sold by bath & body works. (In just a moment, we’ll go into further detail regarding paraffin.)
It would appear that the “Signature Collection Candles” sold by the company are free of paraffin and are made with a combination of vegetable and soy wax.
It is stated on the website that our signature collection of candles is made from natural plant oils. Still, the type of oil referred to is not specifically mentioned.
Although it is stated on the packaging that soy wax is utilized, these candles do not qualify as true soy candles.
The only issue is that we cannot locate their paraffin-free Signature Collection Candles on their official website.
To ensure that we had covered all of my bases, we started a conversation with a Customer Service Representative on the bath & body works website. Her name was Chloe, and we asked her to point me toward the candles that did not contain paraffin.
She replied positively that she had passed the matter onto her customer service department and that they would call me back to discuss the items in their inventory that didn’t contain paraffin. Instead, we requested for a response to be sent to my email, which she gladly agreed to do; however, she demanded that the last name be supplied to get a response.
After making another attempt, we politely requested an explanation from the bath & body works online person, who responded curtly, “I’ve forwarded you the message, and you will receive an e-mail with a listing of products that don’t include paraffins.”
Most of the company’s candle formulas contain hydrogenated soy oil (HSO), paraffin, and hydrogenated palmitic acid (HPA) as their main components.
While creating this post, we read through over 40 ingredient descriptions and could not find a single one that did not include paraffin.
Paraffin is waxy hydrocarbons produced during petroleum refining. They can be used as lubricants, solvents, and fuels. Paraffin is also used to produce margarine, waxes, detergents, plastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and perfumes. Paraffin is generally insoluble in water, but they dissolve readily in alcohol.
When colors and perfumes are added to paraffin candles, the issue of safety is much more difficult to deal with. Most of the colors and perfumes used in candles are created in a laboratory setting.
If animals or humans are present when these items are heating up and burning, they’re inhaling these unnatural substances, which could put their health at risk and may even be dangerous.
The question of whether or not paraffin candles and scented air products, in general, are safe to use is one that is hotly debated. Even though it is unclear if burning candles creates a sufficient amount of potentially harmful compounds to cause harm, it is generally best to avoid using them.
Moreover, we have also read our article on whether does scented candle makes you sick or not.
This response could take you by surprise! An eco-friendly candle labeled as being made of vegetable wax is not, in reality, manufactured from vegetables; rather, it is made from various plant oils such as soy, coconut, palm, rapeseed, and sunflower, to mention a few.
These plant oils are then treated by adding heat and pressure to turn them into saturated fatty acids, which have a higher melting temperature than unsaturated fats.
After being mixed with a few other components, the wax mixture known as “vegetable” wax is created from these oils, which are subsequently utilized in various traditional unscented candles.
Paraffin wax is where most of the toxic components of bath & beauty products begin. However, the problem doesn’t stop there. Other substances and synthetic compounds that give those glitter for candles their lovely scent also contribute to the chemical mixture that causes smog.
These chemicals and synthetic ingredients create the candles. We all like the warm light, soft flickering, and appealing smells of candles around puppies, particularly those sold at bath & body works. However, at what expense?
The fact is that a candle is meant to be burned, regardless of how “clean” it may be, and this is its primary function. This indicates that whatever is contained within the nontoxic candle is dispersed into the surrounding air.
We were hoping you wouldn’t believe me when we told you that you don’t want to own beautiful fragrances of candles with paraffin use or burn these in your house. Even if they come from the bath, the body works and smells good. It would help if you didn’t buy them.
It has been demonstrated that burning candles manufactured from paraffin wax causes the production of chemicals that are both poisonous and carcinogenic. If you burn it, you’re going to breathe it!
When we burn something, gases and soot are released into the atmosphere. These gases and soot cause the wax to evaporate, reacting with the surrounding atmosphere and producing environmental pollutants.
Breathing in cigarette smoke causes the body to produce several toxic substances, including some that are also carcinogens. These toxins circulate through the bloodstream and eventually reach every organ in the body.
If you're looking for an answer if scented candles are bad for dogs. Read this!
Paraffin wax is found in many common household items, including candles toxic, lip balm, and even some cleaning products. If you use a candle, make sure it’s labeled as such. They often list the ingredient for candles on the packaging but don’t always mention paraffin wax.
When paraffin burns, it creates toxic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. These are formed into tar balls floating out of the air and settling onto everything around you. You might think that because these harmful substances are confined inside the candle, they won’t affect you. But they do.
The problem lies in how those toxins are dispersed once the candle is lit. When paraffin candle wax heats up, it expands and turns into liquid form. As it does, it releases volatile organic compounds like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzenes, and xylenes. These VOCs mix and become what’s called BTEX.
BTEX is a mixture of chemicals, including benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Benzene is considered one of the most dangerous types of cancerous compounds. So it makes sense that it’s listed under “known carcinogens.”
A study published by the American Chemical Society explains why paraffin is so dangerous. Researchers tested five different brands of impressive candles and discovered that each contained varying amounts of BTEX. One brand had over 20 times the amount of BTEX compared to another.
BTEX isn’t just present in hour candles but also other consumer goods. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency warns consumers against using scented products, such as body lotions, perfumes, shampoos, and deodorants. Even though they’re supposed to be safe, the EPA says they could cause problems.
Moreover, it would help if you also read our article, where we will explain why candles cause coughing in most people and pets.
If you aren’t persuaded yet and want to hang on to your beloved candle from bath & body works even if it might be dangerous to you, here are a couple of methods that can help minimize volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and burn your candles more cleanly:
Even while candles from the bath & body works make your house smell amazing, you should probably avoid using them around your dog since they might be harmful and bad for his health. Many of these candles are manufactured using potentially hazardous paraffin, colors, and perfumes not found in nature.
Moreover, you should also read our article, where we briefly explained whether or not scented candles cause seizures in dogs.