Scented candles are bad for your health? Study reveals if they are safe and how they affect brain

Candles may be aesthetic for your home but not for your health. They pose multiple health risks. Here's what you need to know before you buy yourself a new one.

Candles are among the most treasured decor items in a home, transforming a space into a warm, cosy haven. Scented candles, in particular, are bottled-up moods that once lit can transport you – like how a caramel-scented candle channels a cafe vibe, while floral lavender notes bring a touch of cottagecore charm. Scented candles, owing to their wide variety, have also become a popular gift choice.

But did you become blind to their calming aesthetic, unaware of their potential health risks? A study published in Nature Communications revealed the underlying health dangers innocuous scented candles pose.

Influence on brain

Scented candles are used to create the mood for mundane activities like doing skincare.

The researchers explained that scented candles cause indoor pollution which in turn affects cognitive function. The pollution creates inflammation in the brain which is responsible for weak brain function.

Selective attention is key to decision-making and focusing on tasks and ignoring distractions. Socio-emotional cognition is a social behaviour that helps people recognise emotions in themselves and others.

The researchers explain that indoor pollution creates these cognitive problems. Regularly lighting candles can add up to significant health issues over time. This is why the researchers stressed lighting them in a well-ventilated area as it may minimise the risks.

Other health dangers

The health dangers of candles are not limited to cognitive functions, they delve into much more serious issues.

Christian Pfrang, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Birmingham, said, "Scented candles release aldehydes, such as formaldehyde in particular, and these are quite bad for health,”

Aldehydes can irritate the skin, throat, lungs, and eyes, potentially leading to headaches, allergies, and dizziness. They are also classified as carcinogens, meaning they have the potential to cause cancer.

Furthermore, when fragrance materials in candles burn, they can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), both of which have been associated with cancer.

According to Christian Pfrang, burning a candle releases particulates like PM2.5, which can enter the lungs, along with carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

This further aggravates the potential risks of heart disease and asthma.

You may regard scented candles as aesthetics bottled up in wax, but you don't know that in reality, they are hiding adverse health risks.