2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 14
More than 2,500 fragrance ingredients are used in home scents, and experts say candles, diffusers and room sprays can release VOCs and ultrafine particles into indoor air.
VOCs such as benzene, formaldehyde and terpenes can irritate airways and, with long-term exposure, are linked to asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis and some cancers; people with existing respiratory disease face higher risk.
Ultrafine particles can also form when fragrance vapors react with indoor ozone, and experts said essential oil diffusers may generate secondary pollutants including formaldehyde and particles that reach deep into the lungs.
To cut exposure, experts recommend removing odors at the source, improving ventilation, limiting candle burn time and choosing products labeled phthalate-free and free of terpenes, benzene, formaldehyde and synthetic musk.
Natural options such as simmer pots, herbs, potpourri, baking soda and coffee grounds can reduce reliance on heavily fragranced products, though experts noted almost all scents still involve some VOC emissions.
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