dog friendly

we all love a great smelling home, that's a given, but when you add dogs into the mix it gets a bit trickier!

to be clear, no scented candle or diffuser (or any other scent-filled items) can be classed as totally dog safe. just like humans have allergies, dogs can also have allergies and reactions to scents. however, there are some scents that are a complete no-go for dogs as they can be toxic. unfortunately, many of these scents are used in candles and diffusers and scent-lovers may be unaware of the harm they're causing

we realise there are many different types of pets loved by you. our collections are focused on being dog-friendly. if you're unsure which fragrances are OK to use with your pet (for example, cats have different toxic reactions to dogs), please check with your vet before using any products

candles can vary enormously in their wax fragrance and other ingredients. burning candles that contain wax such as paraffin can release combustion products and airborne compounds including acetaldehyde, benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and acrolein. the amount released can vary depending on the wax, wick, fragrance, additives and how the candle burns. some of these compounds can irritate or affect the respiratory system, particularly at higher levels or where ventilation is poor. when creating honey & me, we wanted to know exactly what we were using in our home, so we deliberately chose coconut & rapeseed wax, natural wood wicks and carefully screened fragrances

even some natural essential oils can be toxic to dogs and should be avoided (list of harmful essential oils below). just because an oil is natural, it doesn't mean it's always ok to use!

dogs experience smells differently than we do. some scents that we love might be overwhelming to their super-noses (dogs can have up to 10,000 times our sense of smell!). that’s why it’s important to introduce new scents gradually and keep an eye on how your dog reacts

some dogs may be more sensitive to fragrance than others, including very young dogs and dogs with existing respiratory or other health conditions. if you're unsure whether home fragrance is suitable for your dog, check with your vet

some research suggests certain scents, including vanilla, coconut, lavender and chamomile, may have calming effects for some dogs. the key is choosing carefully screened fragrances and, just as importantly, watching how your individual dog responds

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how we're dog friendly

making sure much-loved dogs are safe is at the heart of everything we do

100% natural wax

we only use completely natural coconut & rapeseed wax; 100% plant-based, our wax is non-palm, non-soy, non-gm, non-paraffin and additive free

phthalate-free

phthalates are chemicals commonly used in fragrances (some may disrupt hormonal systems); we ensure all our fragrances are phthalate-free

vegan & cruelty-free

our products are fully vegan, with no animal by-products, they are cruelty-free and never tested on animals

screened scents

just because an essential oil may be natural, it doesn't mean it's safe to use around dogs. we screen our fragrances to exclude ingredients identified as toxic to dogs

paraben-free

parabens are chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives (some have been studied for hormone-disrupting effects); our products are completely paraben-free

10% profit to dog charities

we donate 10% of our profits to local dog charities in the UK; every single dog helped is another paw on our heart!

dogs & fragrance

introduce gradually

a great way to check your dog is happy with a new scent is to introduce it slowly into the home. with honey, I bring a new scent into the room by following this process:

day 1 - 10 minutes per day

day 2 - 20 minutes per day

day 3 - 40 minutes per day

day 4 - 1 hour per day

day 5 onwards - normal use

give them a choice

always allow your dog to leave the room. you'll soon find out if your dog doesn't like a particular scent!

keep it ventilated

home fragrances should always be used in well-ventilated spaces; this is especially important when you have dogs. keep a door open to let the air flow naturally

watch their response

keep an eye on reactions and stop using a fragrance if your dog shows irritation or discomfort

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