As a hedgie parent, have you ever wondered, “Are scented candles and air fresheners harmful to hedgehogs?” After all, we all like our homes to smell fresh. During the fall, candle and air freshener sales go up. People use scents as one way to get into a festive frame of mind. There are many scents that people associate with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas / Hanukah / Kwanzaa. Naturally you want your hedgehog to be safe. Let's see what Quilly says about this topic.
Here is the transcript for “Are Scented Candles and Air Fresheners Harmful to Hedgehogs?”:
Hey hedgie fans!
Recently in one of the hedgehog groups, a hedgie owner asked, “Are scented candles and air fresheners harmful to hedgehogs?”
That’s a very good question!
It’s that time of year when humans like burning candles that smell like pumpkin pie, apple cider, bayberry, and other yummy holiday smells.
I know when there are strong smells in the house where I live, I don’t feel very well. I sleep more and run less. But does that mean that fragrances are actually harmful to us hedgies?
Let’s look at what most candles are made of
Most candles you find are made from paraffin wax. But what’s paraffin?
Paraffin is a man-made product that comes from the waste left after petroleum refinement. Manufacturers take the waste and refine it further with more chemicals. Then they bleach it and remove the odors so it can be used as candles.
There’s always soot when something burns…even if you can’t see it! The soot that comes from paraffin candles contains toluene, benzene and, acetone. These chemicals are known to be carcinogenic.
Carcinogenic means that it has the potential to cause cancer!
What about air fresheners?
Many air fresheners are made from synthetic fragrances that contain the same cancer-linked chemicals as paraffin wax PLUS aldehydes. Mostly formaldehyde – another carcinogenic chemical.
Also, some of these chemicals disrupt normal hormone functions in humans – who are more resilient mammals than us hedgehogs! And they can cause birth defects!
Are there any safe candles and air fresheners?
There are some safe candles that are made from beeswax and natural essential oils for fragrance. BUT – when it comes to hedgehogs, we have very sensitive noses. I don’t recommend that you use even safe candles or air fresheners in the same room we are in.
If you do use them in other parts of your house, please don’t forget that the air returns suck existing air from your house. It takes that air and warms or cools it. Then the warmed or cooled air is redistributed along with whatever fragrances or smells are in the house.
There are some essential oils that are considered toxic to hedgehogs so you’ll want to avoid diffusing them anywhere in your house. They include: Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Eucalyptus, Hyssop, Lemongrass, Ocotea, Oregano, Peppermint, Tea tree, Thieves, and Thyme
I hope that helps you safely enjoy your holiday scents, candles, and air fresheners.
If you have any questions about things concerning hedgehogs, let me know below or on my website!
If you’d like to learn more about us hedgies, please comment, like, and subscribe to my channel so you’ll know when there’s another Ask Quilly video!
Until next time, Bye for now!
If you think that your hedgehog may be suffering from poisoning, please call the ASPCA poison control hotline at (888) 426-4435. You can read more about poisonous substances on the ASPCA website.
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Hi I would like to know if burning citronella oil is harmful to my hedgehog?
Thanks for writing. Yes, in general, citronella is bad for all pets and you should avoid having your hedgehog near it.