When Good Smells Are Bad Signs: How to Keep VOCs Out of Our Air

Our noses can lead us astray. Perhaps your mind jumps to consuming entire batches of fresh-baked, still-warm chocolate chip cookies, but here I’m talking about household products and cosmetics. One of the first ways we often judge whether we like a cosmetic or house product, is how it smells. And one of the first ways we judge whether something in our house is clean is not how it looks, but how it smells.  

Part of true cleanliness is the absence of all smell, indicating the lack of any residues or contaminants. But often, when we are judging “clean,” we are looking for the nose-scouring scent of chlorine bleach or the scent of “spring rain” or “morning dew” or even, dare I say, “pumpkin spice.” Our neurological scent receptors lie adjacent to our stored memories, which is why scents can evoke very powerful and pleasant memory associations of childhood home or outdoor adventure or visions of beauty. 

Unfortunately, these very smells—the ones that make us think “happy” or “clean”—are the very source of the most problematic compounds. They threaten our health and the health of everyone in our spaces.

Why scent has become a top concern for me

I’ve changed my opinion about what I consider the greatest household hazard. (It’s a question I get asked with some frequency.)  

My answer used to be drain cleaner and oven cleaner. After all, both of these products can eat through solid matter. But as dangerous as they are—causing irreversible eye damage and potentially fatal if swallowed, not to mention the harm to downstream aquatic life—most people know to exercise caution with them. We know to wear gloves and keep them out of reach of children and pets, and not think about the aquatic life. (Still don’t use them. Clear drain blockages mechanically, not chemically, and try these GIY* ways to clean your oven. *Green-It-Yourself) 

But my answer has changed. What I’ve pinpointed as a far greater hazard to everyone concerned is something that seems innocuous. It’s everywhere in our houses and it is invisible: the air we breathe and the stuff we put into it. 

I changed my mind because of the level of exposure. While the level of exposure to drain cleaner and oven cleaner is infrequent and confined to the person handling the product (and aquatic life), our level of exposure to our air is constant and impacts everyone in the space for an extended period of time. Every breathing being who enters a space, whether adult, child, furry, feathered, or scaled, is exposed to the air. Contaminants in the air linger for hours or days or until they are flushed out. These contaminants are easily absorbed by our lungs and deposited into our bloodstream. And yet, we mindlessly propel contaminants into the air because they smell good or don’t seem to matter.

We must pay attention to what is in our air. It is imperative that we do our utmost to keep it clean and to avoid adding problematic material to it. 

A few years back, I wrote an article about how to clean our indoor air. The article I’m writing here is about how to prevent bad stuff from getting into our air in the first place. I highly recommend seeing these two articles as a pair, so I encourage you to read both. While there are many things that end up in our air over which we have little control and which we still need to clear out, my focus here are substances we put in our air on purpose.

What are VOCs and where do they come from?

There are many different types of pollutants that dirty our indoor air: bacteria, viruses, mold, pet dander, dirt, grit, fibers, pollens. Most of these are inevitable and we still need to take steps to get rid of them, best done through ventilation and filtration.  

But there is one category of air contaminant that we can reduce in the first place: volatile organic compounds, or VOCs for short.  

The word “volatile” is key here. I used to think the word “volatile” meant “explosive,” referring to tempers as well as chemicals. I was wrong. More precisely, it means “easily evaporates.”  

VOCs are carbon-based substances that evaporate easily, becoming airborne as vapors or gases at room temperature. There are thousands of different VOCs, many of which are hazardous air pollutants. Topping the list of problematic VOCs are benzene, a known carcinogen, and formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen and the most common VOC measured. Hazardous VOCs cause headaches, breathing problems, dizziness, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and skin and eye irritation. They may also trigger allergic reactions and asthma. Some VOCs are smellable, and others aren’t, which is why frequent ventilation is important even if you can’t smell anything.

How VOCs impact us

We spend, on average, over 90% of our days indoors, a number that’s likely higher amongst the most sensitive populations such as the very young, the elderly, and the infirmed. This gives us lots of time breathing and being impacted by whatever is in our indoor air. Because of the improvements around vehicle emissions, the EPA has found that indoor air pollution now exceeds outdoor air pollution by 2 to 5 times in both rural and urban settings. VOC levels specifically are up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors, and half of all VOCs come from the consumer products that we use. When it comes to regulation, the EPA points out there are no VOC standards outside of industrial settings. 

Perhaps you’re familiar with the phrase “low VOC” or “no VOC” on paint cans or other building materials. While this is important, few of us are painting our houses on a daily basis. Again, we take greater care to protect ourselves against products we see as hazardous.  

What’s more probelmatic is that our daily-use products—such as cosmetics, perfumes, household cleaners, and air fresheners—are packed with VOCs. VOCs are the basis of fragrances, and many conventional cleaning ingredients, such as chlorine bleach and ammonia, emit potent hazardous VOCs.  

This is where you can make a choice.

9 ways to keep harmful VOCs out of your air

1. Choose your cleaners carefully

GIY your own cleaners so you know what’s in them and can choose simple, low VOC ingredients like soap and water, avoiding chlorine bleach and unspecified fragrances. Never mix store-bought cleaners unless directed by the manufacturer, as doing so may cause even greater airborne problems. Sprays produce more airborne particles than wipes, so if you want to go the extra step, use your cleaner in a bucket with a cloth.

2. Go easy on the essential oils

It is difficult to make general statements about essential oils because they are a vast and varied group containing many different compounds. But as you can guess, essential oils emit compounds into the air. This is how we smell them. The VOCs that essential oils emit are not the most hazardous ones, but they do emit terpenes, which are ubiquitous scent compounds and are what you smell if you sniff a rose or some mint leaves. People with sensitivities and pets may be bothered by any level of terpenes and should avoid essential oils. At intense concentration, terpenes can be overwhelming for all of us. Further, if terpenes linger at concentration in the air, they can react with ozone and form formaldehyde. While a low percentage of essential oils in your body care or cleaning solutions is not going to have this impact, this is a reason not to diffuse concentrated amounts of essential oils directly into the air.

3. Break up with your fabric softener

I know this is a toughie for many people because we are really attached to the way we think clean laundry should smell. Fabric softeners contain the strongest and most durable scents of any house cleaning product. Laundry detergents themselves are a close second. The other day I opened my front door and could smell fabric softener in the air despite the fact that my neighboring houses are at least 2 acres away. The scents in fabric softeners are designed to adhere to fabrics for weeks. They’re advertised on this very point. The problem is they can’t differentiate between fabrics and your lungs. These are super powerful VOCs that will cling to anything. They are also a sign of residues on your fabrics, which means your fabrics are not actually clean. Instead, accustom yourself to clean laundry smelling like nothing at all.

4. Ditch the air-fresheners

Whether they’re sprays, plug-ins, wax melts, candles, diffusers, potpourris, drawer liners, or sachets, anything that emits a fragrance into the air is emitting VOCs. The sole purpose of air-freshener is to emit fragrance. Clean air smells like nothing at all since there is nothing in it to make a scent. If going totally scent-free is too big a stretch, opt for lower level, naturally sourced scents such as through spiced simmer pots or better yet, bake something yummy like bread. Or Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments (#14 in my Consumable Gift list) are a fun craft that smell great and are a great decoration to tie on a gift or hang in a sunny window.

5. Scrutinize your cosmetics

Pause for a moment and think about how much more exposure we experience from harmful VOC sources that are on our bodies as opposed to those merely in our homes. It doesn’t matter what space we’re in or how recently it was cleaned. Wherever we go, the products we apply to our bodies go with us. The greatest source of problematic VOCs in personal care products is in–you guessed it–fragrances. A study by the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners identified that three out of four ingredients in body care products linked to adverse health effects were fragrance compounds. I’m not just talking perfume and cologne here, though definitely those are a concentrated source. Over 90% of cosmetic products contain fragrance.

The word “fragrance” by itself in an ingredient list has long been a loophole in disclosure requirements, wherein the actual ingredients are protected as trade secrets. Among the 3,600+ possible ingredients listed by the International Fragrance Association as potential components of fragrance formulations, you’ll find various forms of benzene, formaldehyde, and phthalates (endocrine disruptors).

Look for full disclosure of ingredients or certifications that cover fragrance compounds, such as the EWG Verified. Also, when you’re deciding where to start your cosmetics scrutiny, prioritize “leave-on” products over “wash-off” products, as those give us greater exposure.

6. Air out new textiles and furnishings

Chemicals involved in manufacturing emit significant VOCs, so if you can, give new furnishings and textiles some time outside in the fresh air to get rid of some of that outgassing. When you bring them inside, consistently air out the space with open windows or other ventilation.

7. Dry-Clean mindfully

Perchloroethylene, or Perc for short, the most common dry-cleaning fluid, emits very hazardous VOCs. When possible, avoid purchasing dry-clean-only items, but when it is a must, air the items outside for several hours before storing them.

8. Be wary of “green” label claims

Because many terms that indicate safety or environmental friendliness are not regulated, look beyond the label claims before you determine a product is best for you. A study sponsored by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that even products marketed as “green” emitted VOCs. Read the ingredients or run the product through the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaners or Skin Deep Database. Look for independent third-party certifications such as Green Seal, which evaluates paints and other building materials, or EWG Verified, which evaluates personal and house care products.

9. Don’t store chemicals

Buy what you’ll use for the task at hand. Bottles and cans are not as airtight as you might think and what’s inside will seep into your air. If you need to dispose of hazardous household chemicals such as paint, solvents, oil, caulks, liquid adhesives, and yes, even cleaners with hazardous ingredients, don’t throw them in the trash or pour them into the storm drain or down the drain (I just heard my septic system gasp), which is illegal in many areas. Instead look for a designated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility in your area.

Note the difference between “Fragrance-free” and “Unscented”

This is one of those things that can make your brain ache. Since we’re talking so much about scent here and perhaps you’re wanting to avoid fragrance compounds altogether, I need to make this clarification. When you see a product labeled “unscented” it may not mean that it is fragrance free. “Unscented” products may still contain fragrance ingredients that mask the scent of other ingredients. “Fragrance free” products should not contain any fragrance ingredients. This is yet another reason why it is important to read the ingredient list of a product you are thinking of buying.

Change the smell of clean

Without the concentration of VOCs, your world will smell different. While there may be a learning curve, you will eventually get used to a new smell of clean and healthy. This will be the smell of nothing at all. Without the inundation of synthetic scent, you will cultivate a new appreciation for the scent of a freshly peeled orange or some crushed mint leaves. Hopefully, you’ll catch a whiff of a real ocean or mountain breeze. And when you need a seriously happy scent association, there’s always that batch of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies to be made.

Further reading:

• How To Clean Your Indoor Air
• Use This, Not That – Housecleaning with Dr. Bronner’s
• How to Clean an Oven and Stovetop