Holiday Scents, Candles & Essential Oils: What’s Safe for Pets?
- Deniza Marcinkevica
- Dec 30, 2025
- 2 min read
By: Sheila Zapata, Social Media Intern, and Deniza Marcinkevica, Manager, Business Development, Skytails.com
A staple for many households during the holidays is making their homes smell like a winter wonderland. Candles are among the highest-selling items during the holidays, and essential oils have become a popular choice among new generations. These scents are pleasant to hosts and guests, but they may be a problem for household pets.
Why is this Risky for Pets?
Humans and pets experience candles and diffusers in different ways. Pets have more sensitive respiratory systems, and they don’t have certain enzymes that are required for processing these fragrances. Holiday scent products usually have stronger aromas because of the high demand for a seasonal experience, and the risk for the pets inhaling scents such as cinnamon, pine oil, and peppermint would be respiratory issues, skin or paw irritation, and internal toxicity if ingested. Signs that your pet might be affected by this risk could be constant sneezing, foaming at the mouth, vomiting or diarrhea, red eyes, and hiding behavior.
The Safe Approach
There are many alternatives to the processed candles and oils you find on the shelf that are a lot safer for your pets.
The Natural Route: A lot of ways to make your home smell festive without the artificial processed items are simmering a pot with your favorite ingredients, such as fruits and herbs, that can last up to three days, and is healthier. Setting up eco-friendly sachets and gel air fresheners with herbs can be a good decor option, and scented wooden logs or firewood, such as applewood or hickory, for your fireplace, which can add a nice aroma to the warm environment.
DIY Ideas: Some DIY ideas would be to make your own room spray free of synthetic scent with orange peels and rosemary plants. You can make eco-friendly wax melts and your own candles with natural scents, such as beeswax and organic oils, that won’t irritate. You can add more decor to your home with the addition of a nice smell with pinecones that can be re-scented when they run out with eco-friendly oils.
Conclusion
Scents are a good way of making your house feel more like a home during the holidays, but they can also be dangerous for your pets. The chemically processed merchandise can cause respiratory, digestive, and skin problems for your pets that could cause more danger down the line. The best way to protect your pets and still feel like you are in a cozy holiday movie is switching to more natural methods, such as firewood, boiling dried-up herbs and fruits, and sachets with herbs. You can also get creative with your decor, as you can use pinecones and make your eco-friendly candles and wax melts.
SkyTails Connection
Don’t worry about the finances when it comes to your pets. If you notice your pet is not at their best this holiday, SkyTails will help you with any of your vet visits to make sure your furry friend is back to their old self, and ready for the new year to come.
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