The Hidden Dangers of Home Fragrances
Why Air Fresheners and Candles Aren’t Pet-Friendly
The Air Fresheners That Drive Me Crazy
Let me just say it: plug-in air fresheners make me absolutely nuts. They’re one of my biggest pet peeves.
People think they’re harmless because they “smell clean,” but those little scent bombs are loaded with formaldehyde and benzene, which are actual, documented carcinogens. And when they heat up, they release those toxic fragrance chemicals straight into the air we breathe.
And who breathes the most of it? Our dogs and cats. They’re low to the ground, so everything we spray, plug in, and “freshen up” eventually drifts right into their breathing zone. Then it settles onto their coats, and guess what they do next? They lick it.
My Airbnb Plug-In Horror Story
Whenever I rent an Airbnb, I send a little friendly note ahead of time that basically says:
“Hi, I’m super sensitive to chemical fragrances. Please don’t use plug-ins.”
Usually the host listens. But in this case, they completely ignored my request.
I opened the door to the rental and got slapped in the face with that awful smell. I walked around and found EIGHT plug-ins in a tiny two-bedroom house. Eight! I collected them all, put them in the laundry room, shut the door, and never opened it again.
When the review came, the host wrote: “Excellent guest except she moved all the plug-ins to the laundry room and one tipped over and stripped the paint off the washing machine.”
And she STILL didn’t connect that her beloved scent bombs were literally strip-the-paint toxic. If a fragrance can eat the finish off a major appliance, maybe, just maybe, it shouldn’t be in our homes.
Candles: Not as Innocent as You Think
Let’s talk about candles, because this one surprises people.
I love a cozy vibe as much as anyone, but many popular candles are made with:
Paraffin wax (a petroleum byproduct)
Synthetic fragrances
Metal-core wicks
Chemical dyes
When you burn them, you’re basically lighting a tiny chemical factory in your living room. The soot and vapors float through the air and sink right down to where your pets hang out.
If you want candles (I get it!), look for:
Pure beeswax
Unscented or essential-oil–scented options
Cotton wicks
Brands that are transparent about ingredients
But as always, use sparingly, use consciously, and watch your pets.
Carpet Fresheners Are Just Perfume Powders
And while we’re making enemies… let’s talk carpet powders.
If you’re sprinkling that scented powder all over your rugs, please understand what you’re doing:
You’re coating your entire floor in chemical perfume. Your dog walks on it. Your cat lies on it. Then they breathe it in, lick it off, and absorb it through the bottom of their paws.
There is nothing “fresh” about that. You know what’s actually fresh? Opening a window. Using a HEPA air purifier. Sprinkling baking soda and vacuuming it up.
Using natural cleaning sprays instead of perfume dust.
Brands I Stand Behind
Project Sudz
https://www.projectsudz.com/collections/project-home
One Fur All Pets
https://www.onefurallpets.com/pages/about
Companion Candles
https://companioncandles.com/pages/our-story
Question Everything
As I always say: question everything. If it lives under your sink, plugs into your wall, burns on your coffee table, or sprinkles on your floor, your pets are exposed to it even more than you are. The scents we think make our homes “clean” are often the very things making our pets sick. Your home can smell good without harming the creatures who trust you the most.
