Air fresheners come in every scent and style. There are aisles full of them. Some have fancy labels while others cost less than a dollar. There are air fresheners that can be sprayed, plugged in, and burned. Scented candles, carpet fresheners, furniture fresheners, and oil-style wall plug-ins all contain toxic ingredients that can cause serious issues with your pets (and with family). Even products labeled “Natural” may be harming your furbaby.

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker from Mercola’s Healthy Pet explains, “A 2001 EPA study concluded that candles containing fragrance produce more soot. It's possible organic compounds in poor-quality candle wax may increase cancer risk. A 2009 study warns that the chemicals emitted into the air by burning candles can have a harmful effect on human health. Paraffin candles produce potentially toxic chemicals, including alkanes, alkenes and toluene.”

With at least 75% of households and businesses purchasing and using air fresheners, it seems to be a health hazard worth talking about. 

The Dangers of Air Fresheners to Pets

Common air fresheners contain one or more of the following ingredients, which don’t have to be listed on labels. Dr. Becker shares that: 

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, such as acetone, ethanol, pinene and acetate, some of which are inherently toxic. When these substances react with the ozone in the air, they generate a range of secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde and ultra fine particles. Ultra fine particles have been linked to heart and lung disease and respiratory problems.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that has been definitively linked to cancers of the nose and throat. It is also known to cause ongoing irritation of the throat and airways, potentially leading to secondary infection, nosebleeds, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Naphthalene has been shown to cause inflammation, but as well as tissue damage and cancer in the lungs of rodents.

Phthalates are linked to a disruption in hormone levels, poor semen quality, birth defects and reproductive harm.

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) has been linked to compromised lung function and liver cancer in mice.

These ingredients create air pollution, and for pets, who spend the majority of their lives indoors, it can be extremely dangerous. 

Do your furbaby -and your family- a favor and ditch the toxic air fresheners. Your nose is conditioned to believe that they smell good, but you can retrain yourself to the smell of fresh air. You can add safe essential oils to a diffuser and give your house a new smell, too. However, if you are trying to cover smells up, layering new scents does nothing but make it all worse. Instead, find the root of the problem and get it cleaned up. Follow it all up with open windows, fresh air, and a fan!