Essential Oils, Cats, & Our Candles
We’re releasing some new scents/collections of our hand-poured tealight candles and making a change to their components. Previously, we’ve used a blend of essential oils and phthalate-free fragrance oils. With this newest collection, we’re moving away from essential oils completely, using only phthalate-free oils.
Why?
Though they’re helpful in so many ways to humans, essential oils can pose a very real health threat to cats (birds as well). And around here, our cats have it better than the humans—and they eat/lick everything they find on the floor. Since I blend our candles in my kitchen with the assistance of at least one cat (see Pooja, above), the essential oils were becoming a safety issue.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition says, “Much like common houseplants that are toxic for cats, essential oils pose a threat, even in small amounts and especially when concentrated. … Tea tree [essential oil], in particular, is very hazardous. Tea tree is ‘never safe to use on cats.’ … In short, there aren't any safe essential oils for cats; they all have the potential to be toxic to your fur baby.”
And the ASPCA says, “In their concentrated form (100%), essential oils can absolutely be a danger for pets. Dogs and cats who have either walked through oils, gotten some on their coat or had oils placed directly on them can develop health concerns.
“Symptoms include:
Unsteadiness on the feet
Depression
Low body temperature (in severe cases)“
Even when used in diffusers, essential oils can cause neurological issues in cats. In my research, I read some truly heartbreaking stories of strange behavior, illness, and even death that baffled cat owner until they discovered the essential oil connection (see this one from the Today Show).
So, we’ve switched to phthalate-free scent oils only. The rest of our blend remains the same, and you won’t notice a change in scent or throw (we’ve tested them here at home).
We at Green Witch Vintage & Handmade still encourage you to use essential oils in your practice and for your health but use care if you have pets.
We hope you still enjoy our hand-poured candle offerings (they still smell amazing!) and understand why we made this change.
Now, go give your cat a hug.
