scented candles

Do you use air fresheners or scented candles ?

By Janet Anderson

@Auntylou (4264)

Oxford, England

February 23, 2016 7:15pm CST

Several studies recently show that many household products contain limonene ( a lemon scent) which turns into formaldehyde , a poisonous and cancer causing chemical, when exposed to air. It seems that we should use such scented products sparingly and only in well ventilated spaces,to avoid breathing in toxins. It is possible, however to clean the air with houseplants, which take chemicals from the air and turn them into food for the plant . Suggested plants to use for this purpose are as follows: 1. Chlorophyytum (Spider plant) 2. Hedera helix (English ivy) 3. Dracaena (Dragon tree) 4. Scindapsus (Golden pothos) 5. Pelargonium (Geranium) 6. Lavendula (Lavender) So if you don't want to ditch the artificial scents, stock up on the houseplants while you are at it!

18 people like this

18 responses

@Daljinder (23236)

• Bangalore, India

24 Feb 16

We use air fresheners... since our house is open and well-lit... Scented candles don't work for us... Thanks for the info. Didn't know about that...

2 people like this

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

Glad to be of use

1 person likes this

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

1 Mar 16

@Dajinder There is a man in Delhi who was suffering from the high pollution levels there, who investigated plants as air cleaners and has turned his office into a haven of fresh air. There have to be lots and lots though!

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@Daljinder (23236)

• Bangalore, India

1 Mar 16

@Auntylou Oh Delhi is my neighbor city. We live only an hour and half drive from there. Oh yeah! Lots and lots of plants to clean the air.

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@SIMPLYD (90722)

• Philippines

24 Feb 16

Yes, i use air freshener for our bedroom . I like our bedroom to be always fresh smelling that's why . I use Ambipur or Glade . I hope they don't have that cancer causing ingredient .

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@SIMPLYD (90722)

• Philippines

26 Feb 16

@Auntylou Oh thank you for offering that . I suppose you have now all the time in the world to go malling because you are not working anymore .

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

1 Mar 16

@SIMPLYD No my dear, I am still working, even though I could be getting my old age pension! We took out a second mortgage to fix up our house and it will not be paid up for another couple of years

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I went onto the Proctor & Gamble website to see if i could find out, but got lost in a maze. Will try to check in the supermarket for you

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@dodo19 (47317)

• Beaconsfield, Quebec

24 Feb 16

That's good information to know. I don't use a lot of air freshener or scented candles, or anything like that, thankfully.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

There was a time when it was supposed to be ultra glamorous and relaxing to fill a bathroom with scented candles, now it seems like folly!

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I used to spray air freshener in our Gents toilet, but have stopped as I don't want to poison our customers!

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

@dodo19 I think occasional use in ventilated rooms is OK. Seems odd though that since they know that limonene is dangerous that it's use is still allowed

@allknowing (136581)

• India

24 Feb 16

I have always believed in cleanliness without deodarants. The only thing I use is a disinfectant for the floor which has a nice smell.

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@allknowing (136581)

• India

25 Feb 16

@Auntylou Yes. All details are mentioned.

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

Do you get the ingredients of the disinfectant listed on the bottle?

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@slund2041 (3314)

• United States

4 Mar 16

I mainly use candles, and not everyday. I will light it about once a week, unless I know someone is coming to visit. Sometimes, when I have guest I will get the freshener that goes in the air vent, so that the heat pump can send the smell to all the rooms evenly.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

6 Mar 16

Sounds very efficient as long as your freshener is not full of nasties!

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24 Feb 16

I have just read a few of these articles, I love my Yankee candles, but just don't feel as happy burning them lately! I think I might invest in a spider plant to clean the air a bit! Thanks for the suggestion!

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

28 Feb 16

Are Yankee candles a specific brand? not sure we have them in the UK!

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

1 Mar 16

@RaineyR They almost certainly will, so do get some spider plants!

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28 Feb 16

@Auntylou yeah I'm from Northern Ireland and we have them, but I think they're originally from the US, they have some amazing scents but I'm not sure if they produce chemicals!

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@irishidid (8687)

• United States

24 Feb 16

You have to be careful of what plants you bring in the house if you have pets, especially cats as some are poisonous.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

Yes I am sure you are right, though it is easy enough to check these days

@Shavkat (139948)

• Philippines

24 Feb 16

I prefer to use scented candles over air fresheners. I think it is safer than having artificial chemicals. It is far better if we have plants inside the residents.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I find some plug in air fresheners absolutely dreadful. My brother in law has cats and has these plug ins everywhere in case the animals smell (they don't) I have to switch them off when I am there!

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)

• United States

24 Feb 16

They also have health benefits. Lavendar, for instance, is a calming scent. I try to use the artificial sprays as sparingly as possible. I will turn on the loud fan in the bathrooms, for instance. My uncle actually sprays febreeze on his body. We've told him NOT to do it but he does. It's worse when he walks right by you as you are assaulted with the TASTE of chemicals.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I cannot bear being near people with too much aftershave or perfume. I have had to tell new members of staff who come in with a fog of chemicals around them, to tone it right down if they want to work with me!

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

24 Feb 16

I only use air freshener sparingly (like when I have a disaster in the kitchen) so I don't think I'm in any danger

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

Good!

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

24 Feb 16

I used to have all those plants, and many more. My house looked like a jungle. I do use candles, wax melts, and aerosols that are lovely, but only when I have guests. They're killing them. Lol!

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I can't believe you are killing your guests! All those plants will have protected them!

@JudyEv (340230)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Feb 16

I've never been very keen on scented candles. Lots of house-fires seem to start from candles too.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

The only candles I really like are beeswax or other expensive sorts not made from regular wax and since I can't afford them I don't burn many except at Xmas

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@AnneEJ (4917)

• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec

24 Feb 16

I don't burn candles, unless we have a power outage. I have heard of so many fires caused by candles, that I am a bit afraid of them. I am allergic to a lot of scents, so don't use a lot of air fresher products either.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I hate strong smells. Cosmetic and perfume counters make me feel slightly sick!

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@teamfreak16 (43418)

• Denver, Colorado

24 Feb 16

I'll have to show this to my girlfriend.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

Nice one @teamfreak16

@Hatley (163776)

• Garden Grove, California

24 Feb 16

hi@Auntylou I had read that too but also i grew Ivy as a houseplant and spider plant when we had our own apt so theyh kept the air pretty clean.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

I have lots of plants too, but must get some ivy and look out for some of these other ones on the list

@suziecat7 (3350)

• Asheville, North Carolina

24 Feb 16

I'm not fond of chemicals and use them sparingly. I have houseplants everywhere but only the English ivy from your list. Thanks for the info.

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@DWDavis (25805)

• United States

24 Feb 16

We've had a conflict between houseplants and house cats as the cats seem to think the dirt in the plant pot is there for purposes other than holding the plant roots. Perhaps now that we are down to one cat since the loss of my Joe Cat, we might try again.

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@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

24 Feb 16

Well you have to admire your cats for their defecating practices, since they usually try to bury what they leave in my experience. Do try again

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@Jeanniemaries (8237)

• United States

24 Feb 16

I only occasionally burn a candle but I was just given a beautiful spider plant. It never occurred to me that having plants indoors is helpful for the air quality. I'm happy!

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

1 Mar 16

I love having plants in my home and the fact that they help air quality is just another benefit!