It’s basically illegal to go to TK Maxx and not walk out with a candle – I don’t make the rules, but I certainly abide by them, and that’s because the retailer is home to one of my all-time favourite ranges of pet-friendly home fragrance.
Sand and Paws is a range of pet safe candles produced by Californian company Sand and Fog. The brand was created by three women who ‘love candles and their dogs’, and I’ve snapped up a number of their candles over the years.
I love to buy seasonal scents, from cosy Christmas fragrances, to Autumnal aromas, and with spring now in full swing, I’ve picked up a brand new odour-neutralising candle that gets so many compliments from visiting guests.
The fragrance that I picked up was Vanilla Tobacco, which is a really warm and inviting fragrance that reminds me a little of men’s aftershave. The blend of pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and clove creates a spicy yet comforting aroma, which mixes with the smokey tobacco scent, sweetened by the French vanilla, all culminating in a rich, expensive-smelling fragrance.
The 12oz soy wax candle is in a red glass jar with two 100% cotton wicks, free of lead and zinc. They’re also paraben, sulphate, and cruelty free, which gives me peace of mind that I’m not only creating a welcoming environment but also a safe one for my dog.
On the first burn, I lit the candle on a heat proof surface, lighting both wicks after trimming. We waited around an hour until the wax had melted all the way to the edges before tipping the wick into the wax to extinguish the flame. This helps the candle burn evenly all the way down due to candles’ wax memory.
Sand and Paws recommend burning anywhere up to four hours at a time. The candles usually retail at around $24 in the US, but I bagged mine for less than £8 in TK Maxx, which felt like a bargain.
While some of the scents have different coloured jars and patterned lids, this particular one is black with a plain lid, with the sleek design fitting seamlessly into any home decor scheme. But it’s not just about looking and smelling good, they also do a grand job of neutralising pet odour and other unwanted aromas. Designed for pet lovers, you can smell it the moment you walk in, and it absolutely helps banish the ‘doggy’ smell after the scamps have spent all day playing and snoozing in there.
If you’re a fellow dog lover looking to elevate your home while keeping it pet-friendly, Sand + Paws is an affordable, effective and stylish way to do just that. You can shop a selection of the candles here on TK Maxx.
