Is Your Air Freshener Polluting Your Home?

Home fragrance products like scented candles, electric sprays, and aroma diffusers have become a staple in many households. But is the cozy ambiance they create worth the potential health risks? Recent studies raise alarming questions about the impact of these products on indoor air quality and our well-being.
Despite their popularity, research has found that rather than purifying the air, these products release dangerous pollutants. Among the released substances are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, along with tiny particles that can increase indoor air pollution up to 15 times above levels recommended by the World Health Organization.

The effects of using these products may include short-term issues like eye, throat, and respiratory irritation, sneezing, and coughing. Long-term exposure could increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, chronic respiratory infections, and even impair memory and cognitive function.

Research indicates that incense can produce up to four times more pollutants compared to cigarettes of similar weight, and scented candles are a major source of indoor air pollution in non-smoking homes. Moreover, only 10% of the ingredients in these products are disclosed to the public, meaning even "natural" products may contain harmful chemicals.

So how can you minimize the damage? If you can't give up on the fragrant atmosphere, here are some tips to lessen the impact: use fragrance products in large, well-ventilated spaces; open windows during use; avoid burning candles or diffusers in small, enclosed rooms; extinguish candles outside to reduce indoor smoke emissions.

Conclusion: Using home fragrance products may be pleasant, but it carries risks. Natural ventilation remains the healthiest solution for refreshing your air. Meanwhile, greater public awareness and further research are needed to deeply understand the long-term effects of these products.

Next time you're thinking of lighting a scented candle or activating a spray, perhaps ask yourself: is it really worth risking your health?