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We've all seen the television commercials. A welcoming, inviting home isn't just clean, it smells nice too. Fragrance brings us pleasure, and this is why home fragrance sales exceed two billion dollars per year.

According to studies by the Environmental Protection Agency, chemicals found in synthetic products can cause indoor air pollution. Many consumers have turned to natural home fragrances as an alternative. But are natural products safer? According to federal law, not all ingredients must be listed on the label of home fragrance products. It's up to the consumer to make wise choices.

Even natural chemicals can be harmful when they come in contact with skin or eyes, or when inhaled. Citrus oil, found in natural air freshener sprays, is an eye irritant that can harm surfaces. Camphor causes headache and breathing problems. Bergamot and galbanum are both skin and eye irritants which should not be inhaled. Oil diffusers and scented candles release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which can cause indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, and exposure to them should be minimized. When distributed into the air, essential oils such as citrus, tea tree, and lavender release terpenes. Terpenes are a type of VOC. While terpenes are generally considered benign at low levels, clean air is healthier to breathe than organic chemicals. Questions have been raised as to whether the release of VOCs into the air can contribute to secondary air pollutants such as formaldehyde.

Candles and incense cause black soot deposit, which contains toxins. The particulates harm lungs when inhaled and settle on furniture and carpets where children can come into contact with them. Scented candles, even those with natural fragrance, produce the most soot. To reduce black soot, ensure that the candles are made with 100% cotton wicks and trim the wicks down to 1/4". Even with these precautions, the best organic beeswax candles can cause black soot deposit.

Until the introduction of synthetic chemicals, fragrance was a luxury only available to the very wealthy. Home fragrances were not popularized until the late 1940s. The fragrance-free movement is a new trend. People who are sensitive to fragrance can develop allergy symptoms or asthma, potentially leading to long term health problems such as multiple chemical sensitivity. Some churches and workplaces now have "fragrance-free zones," where no fragrance of any kind is allowed.

If going fragrance-free isn't for you, try a homemade simmering potpourri. Place citrus peel, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and clove in a saucepan with some water and simmer on low. If you use dry potpourri, make your own, so that you can be sure that the ingredients are safe. Use oranges and cloves to make homemade pomanders. Soak cotton balls in vanilla extract, and leave them in inconspicuous locations.

While natural home fragrances are probably safe for your family when used with caution and in moderation, the best natural fragrances are the ones that occur naturally as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Nothing smells better than a home cleaned with natural products, and a delicious meal cooking on the stove.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/l argebldgs/index.html

http://www .sciencedirect.com/science?_ob =ArticleURL&_udi=B6VH3-4MBT4NJ -1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_ori g=search&_sort=d&view=c&_versi on=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10& md5=704db0121b987a68694514e079 67366d

http://www.epa.gov/EPA-I MPACT/2003/April/Day-18/i9255. htm

http://www.epa.gov/appcdwww /iemb/sources.htm

http://health ychild.org/resources/article/f ragrances_in_candles_incense_a nd_potpourri/

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