Scented Candles Can Mutate Into Formaldehyde When Burned

Every now and then, something comes along that is deemed to be an essential household item. For many people, scented candles are a necessity. They can help people achieve a relaxed state or simply just be used to make a space smell better. Whatever the case, many people use scented candles and think nothing of it. Recently, however, research has been showing that they could be potentially harmful. Professor Alastair Lewis from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of York has shown that a common ingredient used to give candles their pleasant scent can actually mutate into formaldehyde (a poisonous gas) when burned.

What exactly is the chemical responsible for this? It’s called limonene, and it’s used to provide a citrus-like scent. When in an unaltered state, limonene is completely safe and it’s actually used to flavor food or give cleaning supplies a nice lemony aroma. The issue is that when it’s burned, limonene has a 50% chance of mutating into formaldehyde, the toxic gas. According to the Health Protection Agency, formaldehyde is listed as a possible carcinogen/cancer-causing substance. Since we make sure homes are well-insulated, the formaldehyde actually lingers for prolonged periods of time, which can eventually begin damaging people within the household. Dr. Lewis recommends that you open windows and doors in order to air your home out after lighting these candles, as it allows the formaldehyde to escape. Watch the video below for more information on the potential dangers of burning scented candles.