safe candles?

[TheHolisticNanny]

the holidays are coming and while I don't use paraffin candles, I have used beeswax candles.... unfortunately these are $$$$ and don't usually come in many scent varieties .......

any one have any recommendations?

Thanks, Danielle

[loyallyroyal]

I use those battery operated ones. Between the dogs, the birds, the rabbits and kids running around its easier to not have to worry about things catching on fire.
Costco and Target both have them right now. Michaels has cute little votive candles and tealights also.

[KCHC8809]

My bird isn't coming home for another few weeks, but I've been transitioning to soy candles with 100% cotton wicks. I won't be burning it around my bird (not even on the same level of the house, for fire safety reasons), but they give off virtually no soot and the cotton wicks are safe as well.

Like the beeswax candles, they're a little pricey, but come in tons of scents!

P.S. Have you seen that Yankee Candle is coming out with a beeswax line?! I was SO happy to hear that.

[debbielabella]

soy candles are OK but gotta make sure wick is pure cotton, lead free and the candle is pure soy.

[KCHC8809]

Here's where I ordered my soy candles from (they should be coming in on Tuesday!) Soy Wax Candles - Scented Soy Jar Candles

As you can see, tons of scents.

[Jag]

Are the scents an issue also? I did get an electric candle a month or so ago. We used to light candles all the time. It's really the only thing that has changed that I miss.

If you lit a candle on another level of the home... would it still be dangerous? I'm thinking that if I had a candle lit downstairs, and had the fireplace going downstairs.... it wouldn't be harmful for the birds upstairs.

[diljaa]

God, I have so many scented candles I bought last Christmas right before I got Pixel in January. I have been using them as gifts though so it's handy to have some in stock.
My bf likes candles and he's allways bugging me about not being able to light any, especially now when it's getting dark and cold outside.
I don't know where I would get soy or beeswax candles. Healthfood store maybe?

[hollyhawkz]

Originally Posted by debbielabella

soy candles are OK but gotta make sure wick is pure cotton, lead free and the candle is pure soy.

Soy and beeswax with lead free wicks, but absolutely no scents......

[KCHC8809]

I have no experience with this at all, so please take my thinking with a grain of salt, but I think that if they're not releasing soot or lead into the air, that they're okay.

I understand where some people may feel that the scent of the candle may interfere with the respiratory tract of a bird, but again, my bird would be on a different level of the house, probably within a room with the door closed.

I think by taking precautions such as this, it's definitely safe for candles to be used. It may even be a good idea to not bring your bird around until 20 or 30 minutes after the candle is blown out, so some of the fragrance can die off.

I'm with you Jag, living without candles would be a huge problem for me!

[loyallyroyal]

Its not the scents, it the lead in the wick and the chemicals in the wax that are released when they are burned. Thats why I go beeswax or flameless.