Is Scented candles and air fresheners safe during pregnancy?
These add to indoor air pollution. Use them sparingly, ventilate, and skip them when air is already smoky.
What the sources say
CDC's pregnancy heat guidance lists candles and air fresheners as indoor sources of air pollution and notes indoor air can be as polluted as outdoor air. EPA lists air fresheners among VOC sources and advises increasing ventilation. Cleveland Clinic advises limiting air fresheners, incense and scented candles, which can trigger asthma symptoms. CDC also advises avoiding burning candles or incense indoors during wildfire smoke. No pregnancy-specific harm thresholds are established.
Also listed as
air freshener, air fresheners, candles, febreze, glade plugins, incense, plug-in air freshener, reed diffuser, room spray, scented candles, wax melts
Sources
- CDC: Clinical Overview of Heat and Pregnancy
- EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality
- Cleveland Clinic: Indoor Air Quality: Why It Matters and How To Improve It
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.