Consumers are more and more concerned about the impact of air fresheners on their health. How to choose the safest products?

• Almost all Europeans use air fresheners at least once a month, with 40% using them every week. In the United States, this figure reaches 73% ! Sprays, diffusers, scented candles, incense, essential oils... some scented products could have harmful effects on your health. The French are particularly aware of this. Indeed, 88% of them consider that air fresheners can impact their health. Today, on World Perfume Day, we help you identify the risks and use indoor air fresheners safely.

• Potential toxic emissions from fragranced products

  According to a study, some of the substances emitted by common air fresheners could be toxic and  have serious impacts on our health when they exceed the toxicity values : eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, fatigue, sleep and concentration problems, damage to the nervous and reproductive systems, ...

  Over 20% of the general US population report adverse health effects from air fresheners. In Europe, half of the French population identifies air fresheners as the main source of indoor air pollution, which, for 71 % of the British, is a health threat. In fact, indoor air pollution causes the premature death of close to 4 million people worldwide, each year. 

  Children particularly affected

  Children breathe twice as fast as adults and therefore inhale higher concentrations of particulate matter. Due to their size, activity level and still developing metabolic system, they are more exposed to indoor air pollution. 

  Beware of labels

  All this information made you wonder whether the products you use regularly at home can release these dangerous gaseous substances, or VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Unfortunately, if you want to check, looking at the label is unlikely to help you.

  Regardless of whether the ingredients are completely disclosed or not, what you need to know is that there is a huge difference between the composition and emissions: the components of an air freshener can react or degrade into other substances, depending on how and where it is used. So, a product with only a few ingredients on the label can emit over a hundred!

  This is why it is not possible to know the emissions of a product without having all the emerging VOCs analysed in a laboratory.

  So... What can I do?

  Does all this mean I have to give up soothingly fragrant home? No! But you must be aware of the danger of buying a product without paying attention to its guarantees.

  Here are two tips on how to breathe healthily at home:

  1. Use products that respect your indoor air

  The simplest and most effective method: always look for the "Indoor Air Controlled" label in your fragranced products. This seal guarantees that the product's toxicity risk by inhalation has been tested by accredited and independent laboratories, that it meets all international standards and protects your health. Find here safe products to enjoy a breath of spring all year round.

  2. Ventilate

  Ventilating several times a day is essential, not only to remove bad odours, but to maintain good air quality inside your home. Other mechanical solutions, such as installing a ventilation system, help to renew the air.

• Sources: Report Composés volatils et particulaires émis par les désodorisants non combustibles - ADEME (2021), Report Ten questions concerning air fresheners and indoor built environments - Anne Steinemann (2017), Report Les français et l’environnement - ADEME (2018), WHO (2021), ANSES (2016), Interview Kent Pinkerton (2019), LSA Conso (2019), Clean Air Day Report (2019)