Tips on Using Essential Oils
- Remember that each essential oil is different and some 100% EOs may result in respiratory symptoms, especially in patients with asthma and allergies.
- Take measures to clean and maintain your diffuser, especially since water can harbor microbes.
- Don’t diffuse essential oils hours on end. Many experts say you need to take regular breaks in between use, with each diffusion only lasting for a maximum of 30 minutes.
- Only diffuse oils in a well-ventilated area.

Scented Candles
And, of course, we have the use of scented candles, which is a simple and inexpensive way to relax or set the mood. But how does it affect indoor air quality?
In Denmark, where lighting a candle is a common household activity, researchers wanted to know if candle smoke could negatively impact a person’s health.
Their study led them to discover that 60% of ultra-fine particles in Danish homes come from burning candles for just 2 hours a day.
Ultra-final particles (UFPs) are nanoparticles that are so extremely tiny they can penetrate our lungs. And while we still need more studies to confirm exactly how these nanoparticles are affecting our health, some research already suggests that it’s “effective in irritating our body’s defenses”.
So it’s best to cut back on lighting scented candles, until we know more about how it could affect our long-term health.
Tips on Lighting Scented Candles
- Use scented candles in moderation.
- Always light candles in a well-ventilated area.
- Choose candles made from soy or beeswax. These are found to produce less indoor pollutants than paraffin wax candles.
Once again, remember that scented air doesn’t necessarily mean clean air. The best tips to improve indoor air quality at home are to keep our homes clean, invest in some plants, and to let the fresh air in.
Learn more about Respiratory Health here.
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