Do you really know? Are scented candles and air freshener bad for your health?
Dec 10, 2025
Explore the hidden dangers of scented candles and air fresheners that may harm your health. Learn how indoor air pollution can be three times worse than outdoors, primarily due to common household products. Discover what volatile organic compounds (VCOs) are and their implications for our well-being. Find out how fragrances can produce toxic reactions and the prevalence of fragrance sensitivity among people. Get practical tips on improving indoor air quality, including ventilation and choosing non-toxic candles.
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Indoor Air Can Be Far More Polluted
- Indoor air often contains higher pollutant levels than outdoors, sometimes over three times higher.
- Everyday sources like cooking, heating, and scented products all add to indoor pollution.
Fragrances Release Reactive Chemicals
- VCOs are volatile organic compounds released into the air by candles and fragranced products.
- These VCOs can react with indoor ozone to form toxic molecules like formaldehyde and free radicals.
Many People Are Fragrance Sensitive
- A sizable share of people are fragrance-sensitive, with symptoms from headaches to asthma.
- A multinational study found about 32.2% of people report sensitivity to fragrance.