A Kinder Kind of Candle: Our Pet-Friendlier Collection

A heartbreaking wake up call changed something in my business.

When I started Mumenti, I wanted to create something calming. Something that could bring a moment of peace. But I also knew peace looks different for everyone — especially those of us with sensory sensitivities or neurodivergence.

And recently, I’ve taken a deeper look at what that peace means for our furry, feathered, and finned family members too.

 

Why “Pet-Friendly” Isn’t a Straightforward Label

There’s no regulated definition of “pet safe” when it comes to home fragrance. That makes it confusing, and in many cases, misleading. The truth is:

🐠 Most fragrance oils — even essential oils — are harmful to aquatic life.
🦜 Birds are extremely sensitive to airborne chemicals.
🐱 Cats lack an enzyme that helps them break down many common fragrance ingredients.
🐶 Dogs generally tolerate fragrance better than cats, but some can still experience irritation.

Unfortunately, you won’t hear this from big brands. In fact, many avoid saying anything at all. But I believe you deserve transparency, not false comfort ~ because calm shouldn’t come at an expense.

 

🌿 What We’re Doing Differently

At Mumenti, we now offer a Pet Friendlier Collection ~ a selection of scents that we’ve reviewed thoroughly and chosen because:

• Their Safety Data Sheets (SDS) show lower overall risk to pets when used at safe levels (we use a maximum 8% with our stronger option in wax, and will use maximum 1% in room sprays)
• They are free from ingredients flagged as carcinogenic or reproductively harmful
• We still remind customers to use products in well-ventilated spaces, away from pets, children, and those who need extra support

We’ve also created this special group of options so they appear together ~ no matter what other collection they belong to. Look for the “Pet-Friendlier” section under our “Collections” menu for your added peace of mind.

 

🐾 But Are They Safe?

This is where I’ll be brutally honest:
As an autistic person, I cannot - and will not - claim anything is 100% safe.

What I can say is this: these options are gentler, used in responsible amounts, and carry far fewer concerns than many common household products (including cleaning sprays, plug-ins, aerosol air fresheners, and even some essential oils ~ yes some synthetic oils are actually better!).

Because the truth is I refuse to make money off something I cannot stand behind. And that includes putting your pets and family at risk for the sake of a calmly scented home. If something doesn’t align with the safety and care I want in my own home, I won’t sell it.

❌ Scents We’ve Chosen to Leave Out

Some fragrances may smell incredible but come with warnings I just couldn’t ignore — things like suspected potential for reproductive toxicity, or a high risk of reactions in cats and birds.
Which is why I’ve removed Everfrost from our Winter collection, as it contained ingredients I wasn’t thrilled about, and won’t list other scents with animal concerning ingredients as part of our *pet-friendlier* alternatives.

In some cases, it’s specific ingredients that cause concern.

For example:

• Citrus oils – extremely irritating for cats
• Peppermint and menthol – toxic to birds and cats; even small exposures can trigger respiratory distress or neurological symptoms
• Cinnamal – a common ingredient in “spiced” scents, linked to skin and respiratory irritation in pets

We’re not throwing everything out - we’re just choosing honesty and caution over perfection or trends.

Eventually we will enable a system across our website:
🟢 Pet Friendlier
🟡 Pet Okay… use with caution
🔴 Not to be used around pets (example coconut lime!)

✅ Our Pet-Friendlier Options (So Far)

These fragrances are currently tagged as Pet-Friendlier in our shop:

🌸 Japanese Garden
🧁 Vanilla Swirl
🧣 Sweater Weather (Winter 2025)

 

We’ll continue reviewing every fragrance, and we’ll always update you when something changes. Your trust means more than any label.

✨ A Final Word

I know how hard it can be to find products that feel good, smell beautiful, and do so without compromising your values.
I also know the anxiety that comes with not knowing what’s in the things we bring into our homes, especially that could very seriously medically harm someone we love. 

And like mentioned before ~ as an autistic woman I also cannot say anything is 100% safe, because when you break it down, there are harmful components in every single little thing in our life, in one way or another.
It’s dull, but also true; and Mumenti will always be transparent with you. 

So this post isn’t to scare you ~ it’s to invite you into the care that’s behind every melt, every candle, every scent. You’re not just buying a product. You’re sharing a moment, and I want that moment to be kind to every member of your home.

And if you ever have any further questions ~ please don’t hesitate to reach out. My inbox and email are always open.

 

With love, calm and care,
⩪ Sarah, founder of Mumenti
Autistic • Sensory-Aware • (sometimes too) Deeply Honest