Scented candles certainly make scents, but do you know what they’re also making? Not only scented candles provide fragrance, but fragrant candles also emit particles and gases. With fragrant candles, bi-products such as soot and lead are released into the air.
The scented candle industry has grown tremendously in recent years with scents ranging from green tea to sweet vanilla cupcakes. All of these scents and more can be yours for even less than a dollar per candle! Unfortunately that ‘less than $1’ price tag comes with environmental consequences.
Even though fragrant candles can certainly provide aromas they release harmful chemicals into the air which can trigger respiratory issues such as asthma attacks amongst other health effects.
Scented candles can be a great addition to your home or office space, however, fragrant candles should not be the only source of fragrance in your home. Make sure to combine scented candles with scented air fresheners and scented sprays if you want a scent throughout your house.
Scented Candles and Air Quality
In case you’re still unsure of how scented candles affect air quality, think about fragrant candles like an air freshener. Even scented candles labeled as 100% soy or all-natural are fragrant candles that emit particles into the air.
Just because fragrant candles come in scents of “fresh linen” and “crisp cotton”, they still emit particles just the same as any other scented candle. Scents can be appealing, but scents don’t have to mean harmful chemicals being released into your home.
Environmental Effects of Scented Candles
Even though scented candles have been around for centuries scented candle production has increased exponentially in recent years. It all started with fragrant candles being sold at local craft fairs and flea markets but has since gone global with major retailers including Walmart carrying fragrant candles.
Candle sales make up a multi-billion dollar industry each year surpassing the scents celebrating holidays. They also provide an endless amount of aromas for people worldwide.
Unfortunately, these scents come with consequences not many are aware of. Scents don’t just smell pleasant, they also emit toxins into your air releasing soot and carbon dioxide into your home or office space. Scented candles aren’t just bad for air quality in your home, but fragrant candles can cause lung damage if burned frequently over a long period of time.
How scents affect air quality
Air pollution from scented candle soot accounts for more than 7 percent of particulate matter found in urban atmospheres, according to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published in Atmospheric Environment “Scented Candles Emit Gaseous Pollutants.”
-emitted particles and gases
-harmful chemicals into the air which can trigger respiratory issues such as asthma attacks
-more than 7 percent of particulate matter found in urban atmospheres fragrant candles can certainly provide aromas they release harmful chemicals
Scented candles are prevalent in most people’s homes, but they come at a high price. By damaging your lungs fragrant candles cost you big time.
Moreover, fragrant candles pollute the air that we breathe with pollutants and toxins which lead to issues like asthma and other respiratory diseases due to sustained exposure over an extended period of time. It is important to be conscious about the scents that you choose for your home so you aren’t adding any extra stress on your body or mind!
Scented Candles Alternative
So if fragrant candles are bad for our health, what should we use as scent?
Incense
Instead of scented candles, switch to scented sprays or scented incense. Scented sprays offer a simple way to add scent directly into the air without carrying the risk that comes with heating scented waxes in scented candle jars.
The best alternative is to switch to scents that can be used without burning anything at all. Plug-in air fresheners last longer than fragrant candles and they emit vapors that carry fragrance so they don’t release particles into the air!
Sprays and air fresheners
Switch from fragrant candles to plug-in air fresheners for cleaner, healthier, more cost-effective scented scents.
Scented candles pollute the air that we breathe with pollutants and toxins which lead to issues like asthma and other respiratory diseases due to sustained exposure over an extended period of time.
Moreover, sprays offer a simple way to add scent directly into the air without carrying the risk scents make particles which you can inhale as well as carry toxins such as lead
Scented candles emit many harmful chemicals including benzene, formaldehyde, and lead! These scents aren’t great for our health or our home.
Health Effects of Scented Candles
Here is a list scented candles scents and their health effects.
-benzene fragrant candles scents and their health effects
-formaldehyde scented candles scents and their health effects
-lead fragrant candles scents and their health effects
-damage your lungs scented candles scents and their health effects
Are scented candles recommendable?
The scented scents included in scented candles have been shown to have negative effects on health, so it is best not to use fragrant candles as your only source of fragrance. If you do use fragrant candles as a supplemental source of fragrance, make sure to burn them infrequently and for short periods of time. In doing so, scented candle use can be safe and enjoyable!
Conclusion
To sum it up, scented candles are not the best scents, so try to stick with scented sprays or scented incense. Scented sprays offer a simple way to add scents directly into the air without carrying the risk that comes with lighting scented waxes in scented candle jars.
The best alternative is to switch to scents that can be used without burning anything at all. Plug-in scents last longer than fragrant candles and they emit vapors that carry fragrance so they don’t release particles into the air!
Make sure you read labels of any products you buy for use in your home. Your family’s health is more important than these aromas! Switching your scents around will make everything much healthier. Thanks for reading our article!