Scented products like candles often carry sweet, natural-sounding names like “sugar and spice,” “pistachio latte,” and “citrus breeze.” But often, those seemingly pleasant fragrances are covering up something that could be toxic to your health.

Products with synthetic scents or masking agents may contain toxic phthalates, including those with 100 percent essential oils. Research suggests that even very low levels of exposure to phthalates can be harmful. Phthalates are associated with allergies, dermatitis like eczema, respiratory distress, and potential effects on the reproductive system, according to EWG. They are also linked to cancer, asthma, lower testosterone and sperm quality and count, cardiovascular disease, and impaired neurodevelopment. Phthalates aren’t listed as ingredients in fragrance. A new report from Mamavation found up to 13,029 parts per billion (ppb) of phthalates in 100 percent of essential oils tested. They speculated that phthalates found their way into essential oils during manufacturing, storage, or transportation.

Synthetic fragrances can be listed as “fragrance, fragrance oil, [name of scent] oil, perfume, scented oil, styrene, benzyl alcohol, musk ketone, or xylene (also called galaxolide, tonalide, or HHCB),” and more. Synthetic fragrances are associated with allergies, dermatitis like eczema, respiratory distress, and potential effects on the reproductive system, according to EWG. 

Any fragrance (even essential oils) can trigger itchy eczema, headaches, asthma, hay fever, rashes, congestion, nausea, seizures, and more. About one in three people report having health problems when exposed to scented products. 

What about so-called natural fragrance? My two “scents” about that: Companies keep inventing new ways to market scented products as safe without disclosing their ingredients. Common labels like "phthalate-free fragrance oil," “nontoxic,” “100 percent plant-based,” “biodegradable,” “natural extracts,” or “water-soluble” may not tell you the whole story of what’s in that actual product. For example, I couldn’t find anyone who could tell me exactly what they are made of.

The easiest way to find safer fragrances is to get 100 percent essential oil. Fragrance-free products might also be safer, but it’s complicated. “Fragrance-free” is different from “unscented.” And not all companies use “fragrance-free” the same way. In theory, fragrance-free should mean zero added fragrance or masking scents. At least that’s the criteria for EPA’s Safer Choice certified “fragrance-free” products.

Sign up to receive Sierra News & Views

Get articles like this one sent directly to your inbox weekly.

With this action you affirm you want to receive Sierra Club communications and may vote on policy designated by the Sierra Club Board.

Sign up is Processing

Whoops! Something went wrong. Please email website.help@sierraclub.org

Thanks for joining the millions of Sierra Club supporters who are fighting to protect our world, and our future!

If scented products are your heart’s desire, here are 100 percent organic, vegan options that are mostly fossil-free, plastic-free, or refillable and have no palm oil.

The greenest of them all

My favorite way to scent a room is to put ripe fruit in a bowl. You have no idea how well you can drift to sleep with a guava next to your head!

Shampoo, face, and body soap bars

Flor Amor makes soap from their certified organic farm, some of which even include food waste like beets. Also, Casa Hechizos makes body soap bars, most of which are vegan. Both are Latina-owned small businesses.

All-in-one lotion, candle, bug repellent

Chagrin Valley Soap and Salve sells candles in tin containers. They use Fair Trade- and Leaping Bunny- certified animal-cruelty-free ingredients whenever possible. They ship in gently used padding and reuse, reduce, and recycle in many ways. You won’t create wax waste because after you’re done with their candle, you can use the wax as a luxurious melt-on-your-skin lotion bar and bug repellent. That’s important, because a container with wax residue can’t be recycled.

Potentially “fragrance-free” candle in an easily refillable candle jar

Typical jars with spent candles are difficult to clean and reuse. Arbor Made’s ceramic jar has a silicone base so you can pop out leftover wax. Their refill candles are made with 100 percent natural soy wax from Iowa and an organic cotton wick from North Carolina. It doesn’t have paraffin wax, which creates more air pollution when burned compared to soy. Also, paraffin is made from fossil fuels. But when I got their unscented candle, it had a strong scent that lasted for weeks. Also, all their scented candles have “fragrance oils.” To avoid all that, you can just buy their jar and put in your own candle.

Moisturizers

You can put organic oils (such as coconut oil) in your container at bulk food stores. Or if you can splurge, Tap Tap Organics includes a free return label for containers that they will sanitize and refill.

Hand sanitizer

FillGood sells Taylor’s Naturals Elevate organic hand sanitizer. FillGood is the only company I could find that refills those containers. They even sanitize and reuse pump sprays, which can’t be recycled because they’re made of different parts.

Essential oils

If you want to add scent to your products, Plant Therapy Organic Lavender Essential Oil has the lowest level of phthalates per Mamavation and is Leaping Bunny-certified.

Sprays

Save money and make a room spray in a few minutes with things like leftover roses. If you want to buy a spray, Root and Splendor Room and Body Sprays take back and refill containers. Just return empty containers to their partner refill stores. 

Incense

I couldn’t find incense with 100 percent organic ingredients. And sawdust, dyes, and charcoal can be hazardous to you and incense workers. The only incense I found without those ingredients is from the Sword and Rose. “Our incense powder is made only with 100 percent essential oils, resins, and plants, some are certified organic,” Krystl Chamber, team member at the Sword and Rose, told me. They can fill your containers with their powder.

Reed diffusers

I couldn’t find any without synthetic fragrance. But you can easily make your own.

Policies to get snake oil out of our lives

Ask your state elected officials to regulate toxic chemicals in consumer products. Check the bill tracker published by Safer States for information on bills that have been introduced in your area (and if they don’t appear in your state on the map, ask your official to endorse one!).