Is your scented candle slowly poisoning you?

Does your wind-down ritual include a hot bath, soothing music and a scented candle? Are you perfuming the air ahead of viewings with a luxury number from Jo Malone or Diptyque? If you are, you may be releasing harmful particles every time you light the wick.

Candles have joined a growing list of home items that are behind a worrying rise in indoor air pollution. The team at Safer Chemical Analytics say that along with harmless water, carbon dioxide and tiny black particles of carbon soot are released into the air when you light a candle, and it’s the latter that’s a big worry.

Soot isn’t safe

Soot comprises carbon, aerosolized chemicals and tar-like substances, and output is highest when a flame flickers and when it’s snuffed out. The size of the candle jar also matters – the higher the side and the lower the wick, the more likely soot will be produced.

Add in scent and you will pollute the air even further, with volatile organic compounds (shortened to VOCs) released into the air. These can include nasties such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and benzene – all known to irritate eyes, noses and throats, cause headaches, dizziness and nausea, and aggravate pre-existing conditions like asthma or chemical sensitivities.

The safest candles are those made from beeswax, soy or coconut, and opt for colour- and fragrance-free for the cleanest burn. Burning one candle at a time, keeping wicks trimmed and extinguishing using a snuffer can help. You could opt for an electric burner with wax melts as this does not produce soot.

Switch off and simmer instead

If you rely on plug-in air fresheners, the side effects are similar – even though there’s no naked flame. The pollutants come in the form of VOCs, with Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards finding plug-in air fresheners produce ‘considerable’ levels of formaldehyde, petroleum products, naphthalene and p-dichlorobenzene.

Simmer pots are an increasingly popular alternative. You simply add natural ingredients to water and simmer on low. Popular choices include cloves, cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, orange and lemon slices, bay leaves, coffee beans and star anise. Use a slow cooker with the lid left off or a saucepan on an electric hob (not a gas guzzling stove), ensuring the water doesn’t totally evaporate.

A simpler way of scenting the home is to add a couple of drops of 100% pure essential oil to a cotton wool pad and place on radiators, or fill a jar with the doused pads and leave in different rooms with the lid off.

Hot topic

While candles are almost always decorative and easily eliminated from the home, there are other sources of air pollution that are harder to eradicate. How we heat our homes is one of them.

So called ‘cosy killers’ – open fires and wood-burning stoves – may look attractive but they are the worst indoor air pollutants. The Institute for Fiscal Studies found three-quarters of UK domestic combustion emissions (which also include gas boilers and cookers) in 2022 came from wood-burning. When wood is burnt, harmful particles and toxins are released into the environment.

Proven health risks

As well as carbon monoxide, organic gaseous compounds and nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (PM2.5) infuses the air when you light a fire. When these particles enter the bloodstream, they can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, with long-term PM2.5 exposure significantly increasing the asthma risk in both children and adults. Those breathing in the toxic concoction can also have higher incidence of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, depression and dementia.

Even the newest wood burning stoves that are subject to the Ecodesign regulations introduced from 1st January 2022 pollute indoor air, especially when the door is opened to add more logs.

Some homeowners may be considering switching to bioethanol fires. Although they don’t give off as much heat as wood-fuelled models, they do produce that cosy, flickering flame - perhaps at a cost. Studies have confirmed the presence of nitrous oxides and VOCs when bioethanol fuel is burnt but more research into their polluting effects is required.

The silent killer

Of course, we can’t broach the subject of heating our homes without mentioning carbon monoxide. Gas and oil-fired boilers, as well as open fires and wood-burning stoves, can produce carbon monoxide – a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas. It is highly poisonous and likely to be released in the home when appliances are faulty or fireplaces/flues are not swept.

Installing a carbon monoxide alarm in any room that contains a method of heating is essential, as is keeping rooms sensibly ventilated, although keep candles away from draughts.

Senses certainly play a role when decision making, so it’s natural for vendors to want their homes to feel warm, look inviting and smell good when hosting potential buyers. It should also be a case of ‘safety first’, ensuring all appliances are serviced, fireplaces maintained and the natural scent route followed where possible.

If you would like any further advice on indoor air quality or property matters, please get in touch.