Indoor Air Quality: Breathe Easier at Home: Rethink Air Fresheners and Candles

Scented products can pollute your indoor air. Here are some safer alternatives.

šŸŒæ Breathe Easier at Home: Rethink Air Fresheners & Candles

Many of us enjoy filling our homes with pleasant scents, but products like air fresheners, plug-ins, and candles can quietly impact indoor air quality. These items often release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ā€” chemicals that evaporate into the air and can contribute to headaches, irritation, or respiratory issues.

Even products marketed as natural, non-toxic, or green can emit VOCs, including compounds derived from essential oils. Because manufacturers arenā€™t required to disclose all fragrance ingredients, itā€™s often difficult to know exactly whatā€™s in these products or how they affect indoor air quality.

šŸ§“ Air Fresheners: A Hidden Source of Pollution

šŸ§  Did You Know? Many plug-in air fresheners emit dozens of different VOCs ā€” even those labeled ā€œunscentedā€ or ā€œnatural.ā€ These VOCs can include substances linked to poor respiratory health and indoor ozone formation.

Air fresheners, sprays, and scented plug-ins work by masking odors, not eliminating them. These products can release VOCs and other chemicals that build up indoors over time.

Tips for fresher indoor air:

  • Open windows when weather allows to improve ventilation.
  • Use baking soda or activated charcoal to absorb odors naturally.
  • Avoid ā€œair sanitizersā€ or ā€œodor neutralizersā€ with added fragrance claims.
  • Clean regularly to remove the actual sources of odor instead of covering them up.

Learn more: Air Fresheners: Environmental Health and Safety (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

šŸ•Æļø Candles: Burn with Care

Candles can make a room feel warm and inviting but burning them releases soot and fine particles ā€” even from soy or beeswax types. Added dyes and fragrances also contribute to indoor pollution.

Tips for safer use:

  • Burn candles occasionally and with good ventilation.
  • Trim wicks to Ā¼ inch before lighting to reduce smoke.
  • Choose unscented candles when possible.
  • Avoid using candles as everyday air fresheners.

Learn more: Worried if Candles Are Toxic? (Cleveland Clinic)

šŸŒ¬ļø Fresh Air Alternatives

You donā€™t need chemicals to keep your home smelling clean. Try these simple swaps:

  • Simmer natural scents: Boil citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, or cloves in water for a mild, temporary aroma.
  • Houseplants: Some indoor plants can help freshen spaces naturally (though they donā€™t significantly clean air).
  • Natural ventilation: Letting in outdoor air ā€” when air quality is good ā€” can reduce pollutant buildup indoors.
  • Frequent cleaning: Dust, vacuum, and wash fabrics regularly to reduce odors from buildup.

Learn more: Houseplants for Healthier Indoor Air (University of Connecticut)

šŸ” Bonus Tip: Go Low-VOC Everywhere

Paints, cleaning products, and home fragrances can all contain VOCs. When shopping, look for low-VOC or VOC-free labels to reduce overall indoor air pollution.

āž”ļø Your Guide to VOCs in Paint and Cleaning Products (Green Seal)

āž”ļø The Best Non-Toxic Paints For Your Home (The Good Trade)

āž”ļø These Scented Products Pollute Indoor Air Even More Than Candles, Study Shows (Health.com)

šŸŒ Additional Resource: Fragrance Guide (InteriorMedicine.com)

ā“ Questions About Improving Your Indoor Air?

If you have questions about using your air purifier or improving your indoor air, donā€™t hesitate to reach out. šŸ“¬ Contact us at cleanairslc@slc.gov.

Missed the previous Indoor Air Quality newsletters? Read them on our blog here!

-The Clean Air SLC Team