Are scented candles safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about scented candles during pregnancy?

1. Testing of scented consumer products, including candles, detected 133 different volatile organic compounds, and close to half the products generated at least one of two dozen VOCs classified as hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde. 1
2. Products labeled 'green,' 'natural,' or 'organic' emitted just as many hazardous compounds as standard scented products, so a label alone isn't a reliable guide to lower exposure. 1
3. In an animal study, chronic scented candle exposure in a poorly ventilated space caused measurable oxidative stress, lung inflammation, and airway tissue damage, with effects more pronounced than exposure to unscented candles. 2
4. Among regular scented candle users surveyed, the most common self-reported symptoms were headache (about 15 percent), shortness of breath (about 9 percent), and cough (about 8 percent), with symptoms more common the longer a session lasted. 3
5. Maternal phthalate exposure during pregnancy, the class of chemical often used to carry fragrance in scented products, has been linked to changes in placental development in some studies, adding to the general case for minimizing unnecessary fragrance exposure while pregnant. 4

Is scented candles safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Smell sensitivity often peaks now, so a strong candle scent may worsen nausea for some people even without any other risk. Skip the candle on days it bothers you rather than pushing through.
• Second trimester. Nausea usually eases, and occasional candle use in a ventilated room is a reasonable way to enjoy a scent you like. Save daily, all-evening burning for after pregnancy.
• Third trimester. Same guidance continues. As your home may feel more closed up in cooler months, remember to crack a window or run an exhaust fan whenever you're burning candles for an extended stretch.