Common Scents: Artificial Seasonal Aromas May Worsen Indoor Air Quality

Nothing says holiday like the scents of the season, don’t you think? But too often, today’s seasonal aromas are not those found in nature. Instead, they’re made up of chemically derived ingredients that can be harmful to indoor air quality and our health. 

We all love the comforting, warming aromas of pumpkin spice, apple pie. We enjoy fresh evergreen fir, spruce, cedar, and pine. No wonder the holiday season rings in a time when many people are tempted to add seasonal scents in their homes.

So, let’s talk about what those sprays, candles, powders, potpourri packets, pine cones, essential oils, foggers, and plug ins may be costing us in the long run: our health.

Here’s a recent case in point. One of our clients was upset by her experience at a pricey vacation rental. At check in, she found that her host relied on an excessive use of plug in fragrances to cover an underlying musty odor.

She couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

A medical professional, she believes that air fresheners are carcinogenic, or cancer-causing. Most likely, she’s aware of the presence of toxic, Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, in the list of ingredients.

What Are Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, VOCS are gasses that emit from particular solids or liquids. These include a range of chemicals which may be harmful to humans. These include phthalate, napthalene, and formaldehyde. These VOCs trigger asthma attacks, migraines, or worsen other respiratory conditions. And yes, some VOCs have been shown to be carcinogenic.

In other words, both the short- and long-term adverse health effects from VOCs prove well-documented. At minimum, air fresheners are indoor air pollutants with VOCs. Artificial scents, then, may negatively affect human respiration. These pollutants potentially pose serious health effects.

How Does Ventilation Work In WNC’s Winter Weather?

Let’s take a breath. Literally.

When we breathe, we inhale fresh air and exhale stale air. Our houses work the same way. We want our ventilation systems to move carbon dioxide and pollutants outside and healthy oxygen inside. The quality of the indoor air that we breathe is determined by the way our house breathes.

 Your home’s ventilation system should keep you healthy all winter

In western North Carolina, we are blessed with drier, fresher outdoor air from mid-September through mid-November. Locals will throw open some windows to allow a breath of fresh air into their homes.

But just prior to Thanksgiving, the weather shifts. The windows close and remain shut against the cold. Inside our houses, it can get “stuffy.” There’s less oxygen and more everyday pollutants like carbon dioxide, wood smoke, stovetop fumes, moisture, pet odor, and… air freshener.

Instead, refresh your living space with 7 Secrets for Indoor Air Quality In Winter.

Thankfully, an air freshener can be removed. Everything else needs to be properly ventilated.

At A Healthier Home, we see excessive use of air fresheners as an early warning sign that something adverse needs to be found and corrected. Masking odors doesn’t work.

What Should You Do When You Smell a Foul Odor In Your Home?

When it comes to foul odors, homeowners need to find the what, where and why of the problem.

Here’s how to search for the cause of any foul odor. 

Environmental scientists understand that a foul odor is a “by-product”  of a hurtful condition that is playing out within the house. Before plugging in an air freshener, It’s important to correct the situation.

Please, take action before indoor conditions become unhealthy. Neglected issues are increasingly expensive to address.

At A Healthier Home, we are uniquely qualified to reveal unhealthy conditions in the home or workspace. Often, these issues can be addressed early and with ease. If you smell a foul odor and can’t find the source, have indoor air quality concerns, or experience symptoms, we can help.