There's nothing quite like the comforting aroma of a clean home or the warm fragrance of a scented candle. But did you know that many fragranced household products are secretly polluting your indoor air?
Research shows that scented cleaners, candles, wax melts, and air fresheners can release tiny airborne pollutants that are harmful to your respiratory health.
Even products marketed as flame-free or “natural” can contribute to indoor air pollution. And with Australians spending about 90% of their time indoors, it’s crucial to understand how these everyday products impact your home’s air quality.
Groundbreaking research into indoor air pollution
Dr. Nusrat Jung and Dr. Brandon Boor from Purdue University have been studying how fragranced products impact indoor air quality. Their work was conducted in Purdue’s tiny house lab, a space designed to mimic a real-life home to track real-life indoor air pollutants using advanced air quality instruments.
Their research focused on airborne pollutants so small they can enter the lungs and spread to other organs. By using cutting-edge technology, they’ve discovered that fragranced household products aren’t just harmless scents—they’re active contributors to indoor pollution.
What did the research find?
1. Fragranced products release harmful nanoparticles
Many household products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals responsible for their pleasant scents. When these VOCs mix with ozone from outdoor air, they trigger chemical reactions that produce nanoparticles—tiny pollutants that can penetrate deep into your respiratory system.
2. Candles vs. wax melts: which is worse?
Wax melts are often promoted as a safer alternative to candles because they don’t involve combustion. However, the research found that wax melts release just as many pollutants as candles—if not more—because they contain a higher concentration of fragrance oils.
3. The shocking comparison to car exhaust
Gas stoves and fragranced products generate ultra-fine particles smaller than 3 nanometers—comparable to internal combustion engine emissions.
In fact, Purdue’s study found that exposure to scented household products for just 20 minutes can lead to the inhalation of 100 billion to 10 trillion nanoparticles—levels that match or exceed breathing in car exhaust on a busy street.
4. Cooking also contributes to indoor air pollution
While fragranced products are a major contributor, cooking on gas stoves also emits nanoparticles in large quantities. Just 1 kilogram of cooking fuel can produce 10 quadrillion airborne particles, further increasing indoor air pollution levels.
How to improve your indoor air quality
The good news? You don’t have to give up a fresh-smelling home to protect your air quality. Here are practical ways to reduce indoor air pollution:
1. Choose safer, fragrance-free alternatives
- Opt for fragrance-free or naturally derived cleaning products.
- Use baking soda, vinegar, or essential oils instead of synthetic air fresheners.
- If you love scented candles, choose beeswax or soy-based options with natural essential oils.
2. Ventilate your space
- Open windows while cleaning or burning candles to dilute indoor pollutants.
- Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to remove VOCs.
- Avoid trapping pollutants indoors by ensuring proper airflow and ventilation.
3. Invest in an air purifier
- Ionmax air purifiers are equipped with HEPA and activated carbon filters that can capture VOCs and remove 99.97% or airborne particles.
- Ionmax air purifiers are designed to help remove airborne pollutants, creating a cleaner and healthier indoor environment.
4. Check product labels
- Avoid products with vague terms like "fragrance" or "parfum"—they often contain a mix of unknown chemicals.
- Look for low-VOC or non-toxic certifications when buying cleaning or scented products.
Small changes, big benefits
Air pollution isn’t just an outdoor problem—it’s happening inside our homes every day. But with simple changes, like choosing cleaner products, improving ventilation, and using an air purifier, you can significantly reduce indoor air pollution and protect your family’s health.
Follow the tips above and invest in an Ionmax air purifier today for a cleaner and healthier indoor environment.
