Is It Safe to Burn Soy Candles at Home with Kids and Pets?

Soy wax candles with a cotton wick and no paraffin are generally considered a safer choice for homes with kids and pets, mainly because they burn cleaner and cooler than paraffin candles. That said, “safer materials” and “safe habits” are two different things — a well-made candle still needs to be burned sensibly to actually be safe.

What actually makes a candle safer

Two things matter here: what the candle is made of, and how it’s burned.

On materials, soy wax burns cooler and produces less soot than paraffin wax, and a cotton wick avoids the lead or metal-core wicks that used to be common in cheaper candles. That’s the material side of “safer.”

On habits, even the safest candle can be a fire risk if it’s burned carelessly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that a large share of candle-related fires could be avoided simply by following a handful of basic safety habits — not by switching wax types.

What our candles are made of

Every candle from The Sweet & Cosy is hand-poured in small batches using 100% natural soy wax with a cotton wick, and is free from paraffin. That covers the “materials” half of candle safety. The “habits” half is up to how any candle, from any brand, is burned in your home — which is what the rest of this guide covers.

General safety habits for burning any candle at home

These apply to any candle, not just ours, and they’re based on guidance from the National Candle Association:

• Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before every burn. A long or crooked wick causes a higher flame, more soot, and uneven burning.
• Keep at least 12 inches of clearance between a burning candle and anything flammable — curtains, bedding, paper, decorations.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended, even for a few minutes.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets, both while lit and while cooling — the wax and container can stay hot after the flame is out.
• Avoid drafts from open windows, fans, or air vents, which cause uneven burning and flare-ups.
• Use a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from the edge of a table or shelf where it could be knocked over.
• Never use water to put out a candle — use a snuffer, or blow it out carefully, since water can cause hot wax to splatter.
• Burn in a well-ventilated room, and avoid burning multiple candles for long periods in a small, closed space.
• Let it burn in reasonable sessions. Many candle makers recommend burning for roughly four hours at a time, then letting the wax cool before relighting, rather than leaving one candle burning all day.

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