"Non-toxic" gets used loosely in the candle world. If you live with a dog, a cat, or a small child, you deserve a straight answer about what you're actually burning. Here's ours.
What's not in a Sweetwick candle
Most of the concern around candles and indoor air comes from a short list of ingredients. We leave all of them out:
- No paraffin. Paraffin is a petroleum by-product. When it burns it can release compounds like toluene and benzene. Our wax is a blend of pure beeswax and coconut oil.
- No phthalates. Phthalates are sometimes used to make fragrance last longer. Every fragrance we use is certified phthalate-free.
- No lead or zinc wick cores. Our wicks are wood, soaked in avocado oil. There is no metal core to release particles into the air.
- No synthetic dyes. The colour you see is the natural colour of the wax.
Why the wax blend matters for air quality
Beeswax burns slowly and at a lower soot level than paraffin. Coconut oil helps the blend hold and release fragrance evenly at a lower temperature, so you get the scent without a hot, smoky burn. A wooden wick that has been soaked in avocado oil lights more reliably and burns more steadily than a dry wick, which also keeps soot down. Cleaner combustion means less of everything ends up in the air of the room.
Burning safely around pets
The wax and wick are the easy part. The honest nuance is fragrance. Cats and birds in particular have sensitive respiratory systems, and strong scent — from any brand, natural or not — can bother them in a closed room. A few sensible habits cover it:
- Burn in a room with some airflow rather than a sealed space.
- Keep the candle on a stable, high surface where a tail or a paw can't reach it.
- Never leave a lit candle unattended with a pet in the room.
- If your bird's cage is in the room, burn the candle somewhere else. Birds are unusually sensitive to airborne particles of any kind.
- Trim the wooden wick to about 3–4 mm before each light. A trimmed wick means a smaller, cleaner flame.
If a pet has a known respiratory condition, talk to your vet before introducing any scented product into their space.
Burning safely around children
There's nothing in a Sweetwick candle that is dangerous to be near. The risk with any candle and a small child is the obvious one: an open flame, hot wax, and a glass jar that stays warm after the flame is out.
- Place candles well out of reach and away from edges.
- Extinguish before you leave the room or go to sleep — every time.
- Let the jar cool fully before moving it.
- Keep matches and lighters stored separately and out of sight.
The short version
Sweetwick candles are made without paraffin, phthalates, metal wick cores, or synthetic dye, and the beeswax-and-coconut blend burns cleaner and cooler than a standard candle. That removes the ingredient concerns. The rest is normal open-flame common sense: keep it out of reach, give the room some air, and never leave it burning unattended.
Questions we didn't cover here? Send them our way — we'll add the good ones to this page.