Scented candles

MaraWentz

Banned
Banned
Mar 27, 2012
1,023
Media
8
2
St.Leonard, MD
Parrots
Red Front Macaw, Elvis, 10,male RIP

Red Front Macaw, Erin, 1.5,female

Goffin Cockatoo, Blossom 2,female Rehomed

Blue & Gold Macaw, Oscar, Male, 21 years old, Rehomed

American Bulldog Mix,
Unless it's scented with herbs and flowers I'd stay away. The chemicals and smut in candles make it dangerous, so many opt for soy candles with a cotton wick, or candle warmers. The ingredient 'fragrance' can be anything, and probably toxic.
 

DebsFlock

Banned
Banned
Jul 19, 2012
633
2
Los Angeles County, near Palmdale
Parrots
Scooter -- male Green Cheek Conure "Normal" but that's a matter of opinion! Hatched in March 2010

Scotty -- Male Cape Parrot hatched somewhere between 2007-2009 we think

Caballo Blanco -- male C
Anything that could irritate your lungs if you breathed a lot of it could be a lot more harmful to birds. They are just that more sensitive.

I do not believe (at least I haven't seen) that there are any studies that really pinpoint what in a scented candle might be more harmful than other things. I think it is a mistake to assume that "natural" means "ok" -- pine-based cleaning solutions and amonia are both pretty harsh and they are naturally derived. I use scented candles in parts of the house where the birds aren't present and where the scent is not likely to travel to where they are. I tend to use relatively mild scents. To some extent, I suppose we are taking a risk with any scented product, but I think the risk can be pretty minimal depending on what, where and how it is used. Ventilation is pretty important. If you live in a ten acre mansion that's going to be a very different scenario than a studio apartment... where the dividing line is, is hard to say with certainty.

I use the rule of avoiding directly exposing my birds to any strongly scented product, but I will use them in parts of the house remote from the birds with good ventilation (use of vent fans) and semi-isolation (closing the door to their room and openin a window if the weather permits).
 

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