You light a candle, plug in an air freshener, or spray your favorite cleaning mist—and just like that, your home smells fresh and clean. But here’s the truth most people don’t realize: many of these everyday products are releasing chemicals into the air that could be silently harming your lungs.
Yes, the very items designed to “freshen” your space may actually be polluting it—and your respiratory system may be paying the price.
What’s Lurking in Your Air Fresheners, Sprays, and Scented Products?
Many household products contain substances called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).3 These are chemicals that evaporate into the air at room temperature and react with other elements to form harmful pollutants like formaldehyde or ozone indoors.3
Common VOCs found in air fresheners, scented candles, fabric sprays, and cleaners include:
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Phthalates
- Acetaldehyde
- Limonene
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOC concentrations indoors can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors—and sometimes up to 10 times higher after using certain products.3
And here’s the kicker: manufacturers aren’t always required to list every chemical used in “fragrance” or “scent” ingredients, making it hard for consumers to know what they’re breathing in.3
How These Chemicals Affect Your Lungs
Breathing in VOCs can irritate your eyes, nose, throat—and especially your lungs. These compounds can trigger or worsen:2
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Allergic reactions
- Bronchitis and other airway inflammations
Studies have shown that regular exposure to VOCs from air fresheners and cleaning products is linked to increased risk of respiratory symptoms—even in otherwise healthy adults. One study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that frequent use of cleaning sprays was associated with new-onset asthma in adults.4
Who’s Most at Risk
Some people are more sensitive to chemical exposures, including:3
- Children (whose lungs are still developing)
- Older adults
- People with asthma, allergies, or COPD
- Those living in smaller spaces with poor ventilation
- Workers in cleaning, beauty, or caregiving industries
Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution
It’s worth noting that Black and Brown communities are disproportionately affected by poor indoor air quality—often due to smaller living spaces, proximity to environmental pollutants, or limited access to green cleaning products. This makes the impact of VOCs not just a health issue, but an environmental justice issue, too.1
Safer Swaps to Protect Your Lungs
You don’t have to give up having a clean-smelling home—but a few smart switches can protect your airways:3
- Open the windows for ventilation instead of masking smells.
- Use unscented or fragrance-free cleaning products certified by third parties (like the EPA’s Safer Choice label).
- Try natural odor absorbers like baking soda, vinegar, or activated charcoal.
- Make DIY room sprays with water and a few drops of essential oil—but note that even these can be irritating for people with asthma.
- Use HEPA-filter air purifiers to reduce airborne particles and allergens.
And when you do use cleaning products or air sprays, keep windows open and don’t stay in the room while it’s heavily scented.3
Conclusion: Even If It Smells “Clean,” It Might Not Be Healthy
We all want our homes to smell fresh and feel inviting. But the clean scent from that plug-in or spray bottle could be coming at a cost to your lungs.
The good news? Awareness is power. By checking labels, ventilating your space, and choosing low-emission or fragrance-free products, you can protect your lung health—without sacrificing cleanliness or comfort.
References:
- American Lung Association. (2023, November 2). Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution. Retrieved from American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/disparities
- American Lung Association. (2024, October 21). Volatile Organic Compounds. Retrieved from American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/volatile-organic-compounds#:~:text=Breathing%20VOCs%20can%20cause%20health,people%20with%20asthma%20and%20COPD.
- EPA. (2024, August 13). Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
- Zock, J.-P., Plana, E., Jarvis, D., Antó, J. M., Kromhout, H., Kennedy, S. M., Kogevinas, M. (2007). The Use of Household Cleaning Sprays and Adult Asthma. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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