Are Air Fresheners and Scents healthy?

Question

With all the types of air fresheners and methods to provide a better scent in places like homes, offices, and vehicles, are these "air fresheners" healthy to breathe? Could those be harmful similiar to smoking?

This is open to anything that adds scents to the air.

If harmful to health or environment, why aren't they being regulated?

And my comment that started this question. Just because it smells or taste good does not mean that it is good.

Answer 1

Air fresheners in terms of commercial products are most certainly unhealthy, and then most household products are, such as cleaners for example. If you look on the packs they should have listed what they are made from, half of the things inside them are harmful to human health. There are all sorts of things being done behind the scenes to deal with the problem, changes in laws and so on to prevent such harmful chemicals being used in our everyday products for the sake of health and environment; however companies really do have more power than government, etc.

They are not more harmful than smoking in the immediate sense, however they do contain a lot more harmful chemicals than cigarettes, and they are certainly more harmful than passive smoking.

Here are some links that go into detail;

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/Products/Toxics/index.cfm
http://www.chemicalreaction.org
http://www.wen.org.uk
http://detox.panda.org

Answer 2

All I know is candles burn out the oxygen in the area that you have it lit(plus chemicals are used to scent candles). It may not bother you as much, but for some that are sensitive they may start to have dry nose etc. There are several air fresheners out there. The company I work for sell Home Fragrance, but we have diffuser lamps that actually purify the air at the same time it scents the room. There is a special wick that comes with the lamps, works like an air filter. I've included the web site if you wanted to look into this kind of product. It was invented by a French chemist to disinfect the hospitals. So instead of just perfuming and covering up the scents, it cleans out the air. This uses aromatherapy (natural oils).

As far as other air fresheners I do not know much, but that it uses chemicals.

Answer 3

They have these fairly new candle warmers at wal-mart. They're electric, and all you have to do is sit the candle's in glass on top. They merely melt and evaporate like water. They last a long time,course the chemicals obviously go somewhere. Nothing made by man is healthy. Heck we've even screwed up natural stuff by all the chemicals we make. They go into the ground and atmosphere, there for plants and animals absorbe them. It's to far gone to fix anything. It would take to long even if everyone began to live more properly to clean up this world. We've been poluting it since we've began inventions. Besides the world also polute's it self with minerals such as bauxite, mercury, and PCB's. But if your intent on being more healthy visit the Biotics web site(Biotics Reaserch Corp.)don't knnow exact web site.

Answer 4

I don't they're AS harmful as smoking, but they're not healthy either. When you smell any smell, tiny particles of it are entering your lungs through your nose and getting into your bloodstream and system. Look at the ingredients in the air freshener. Do you want those things in your body? I bet not. They don't freshen the air, they just alter the receptors in your nose and make it think the air is clean. I think candles and fabric softeners do the same thing.

Answer 5

I don't absolutely know that they are bad for you, but I am allergic to all air fresheners, perfumes, etc. I am not buying into the theory that has been bandied about that it is an emotion based allergy. I get symptoms; headache, nausea before I'm even aware of the scent. So it is my opinion that they probably are bad for you, certainly for me.

Answer 6

the air fresheners that come in an aerosol can are unhealthy. but Glade Plug-In devices are healthier.

Answer 7

yes, dangerous. Discovery chanel had a special on this. Just use bakeing soda, the kind you buy for your refigerator. Bakeing soda is non toxic and absorb ordors.
regulated.......what is regulated. just about everyting we eat and use is not safe for the environment. money...money... that is all companies worry about.

Answer 8

YOU KNOW THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. I SPRAY THEM EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT, I MAKE SURE THERE IS NO KIDS OR PETS AROUND WHEN I SPRAY THEM. I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GOOD FOR GLOBAL WARMING.

Answer 9

chemicals are bad for you even ones that smell good

Answer 10

not unless properly ventilated