Are Preserved Flowers Toxic? The Long Lasting Roses Heath Effects

These days consumers are much more mindful of the possibility that they’re bringing harmful and toxic substances into their homes. Food, makeup, cleaning supplies, and even flowers can be risky to your health. But many flowers are just as safe as they are beautiful, so you’ll always be safe if you do your homework and keep these tips in mind.

The Preservation Process

The reason that preserved roses are harmless is because of the chemicals used in the preservation process. They are non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic, non-explosive and non-chemical reactive. In other words they don’t contain anything that can cause cancer, will explode if it comes into contact with other chemicals, and is safe to the touch. The chemicals used for the preservation process are glycerine, water, stabilisers, and dyes. Glycerine is what allows the rose to stay sturdy and help look as soft as a freshly cut rose. Though glycerine is used in many foods as an artificial sweetener, our everlasting roses are meant to be enjoyed through sense of sight, not sense of taste!

These same chemicals are also used in many everyday products so chances are you’ve probably already been exposed to them without issue. The only chemical that some may not like is the scent that is added to the roses, as the preservation process strips their natural aroma away. However these scents are just like that of an actual rose, not a harsh and fake-smelling perfume. 

Our roses are raised in a special climate that helps them grow big and sturdy in a natural way. No pesticides or hormones are used on our roses, so they are never exposed to chemicals before the preservation process either. They are also held to much stricter quality control standards than regular roses. 

Now you’re probably wondering ‘Are preserved flowers toxic for pets?’. The answer is yes or no, depending on the type of flower. We recommend that they be kept away from animals and children. Some floral arrangements such as the medium Jewelry Box Square have pointy corners. If that’s a concern for you we recommend something in a rounder container like the Jewelry Box Heart. The Beauty and the Beast Rose is kept safe in a glass case, and must be stored carefully.

Others, like the Romantic Love Box, have a ribbon as part of the packaging which can become a choking hazard.  All of our preserved roses are best displayed high up where the eye can see but little hands, little mouths, and paws can’t reach. Of course, we also know it’s best to avoid touching any of our everlasting roses to help them stay strong and intact for as long as possible.

Dried vs. Preserved

Dried roses, on the other hand, can be harmful, especially to animals. You don’t always know where a dried rose has been raised and if it was exposed to any chemicals while it was growing. Often a preservative is applied to dried roses and other flowers to help them maintain their form. After they have gone through the drying process their petals become very brittle and fragile. Even the slightest touch is enough to ruin a dried bouquet. Though we recommend that you avoid touching roses in your small Round Hat Box, it will not fall apart at the slightest touch the way dried flowers will . Always keep dried flowers away from children and animals, especially cats and dogs.

Bad for Pets, Period

If you have animals in your home there are some preserved flowers you should be sure to avoid. Cats and dogs in particular are known to get very sick from chewing on just the petals. This chewing is a compulsive behavior in cats and not something that you can train them not to do.

• Peace Lily
• Daffodils
• Lily of the Valley
• Amaryllis
• Iris
• Eucalyptus
• Hyacinth
• Bird of Paradise
• Azalea

While these are popular and lovely flowers and plants to keep, they are not recommended for pet owners. 

The Best Choice

Rather than worry about whether or not something can hurt your furry friends or ask yourself ‘Are preserved flowers toxic?’, stick to the flowers that you know are not only safe but incredibly beautiful too- roses. Better yet, stick to the biggest, brightest, longest lasting preserved roses here with us at The Only Roses. Our products have a much longer shelf life than both fresh and dried roses, for well over a year. And because they require no additional care you can display them as high as you need -away from kids and animals- and never have to worry about reaching to water them. All you need to do is cherish them.