How to Keep VOCs Out of Your Air This Christmas
Tis the season. A time for family, food, and festivity! But along with all the joy, we’re unknowingly inviting some pretty unwelcome guests into our homes—VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). These little troublemakers sneak into the air through our favorite holiday traditions, like lighting scented candles, spraying pine-scented air fresheners, and decorating with those overly fragrant pine cones. Sure, it smells like Christmas, but is it worth polluting the air we breathe?
Let’s dive into why we should rethink our holiday habits and focus on clean, healthy air instead
Why Fragrance Can Be Harmful
Whether it’s a greenwashed cleaning spray, a festive plug-in, or a candle that smells like “Christmas Morning,” these products release VOCs into your home. VOCs are chemical compounds that easily evaporate into the air, lingering for hours—or even days. As we breathe them in, they’re absorbed by our lungs and can end up in our bloodstream.
The irony? We’re chasing the idea of “clean” and “fresh,” but these products are contaminating the very air we need to survive. We’ve been conditioned to think that a good smell equals a clean space, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
VOCs: What, Where, and Why
What Are VOCs?
Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals that release gases into the air. They’re found in everything from cleaning products to candles, air sprays, and even some furniture and building materials.
Where Are VOCs Hiding?
Scented Products: Candles, air sprays, plug-ins, wax melts, potpourri, drawer liners, and sachets.
Cleaning Supplies: Even “natural” and greenwashed products can contain hidden VOCs.
Holiday Decor: Scented pine cones, artificial trees with chemical coatings, and even spray-on snow.
Laundry Room: Dryer sheets and heavily fragranced detergents.
Clothing Care: Dry-cleaned garments often off-gas harmful chemicals like perchloroethylene.
Why Are VOCs Bad?
VOCs have been linked to respiratory irritation, headaches, allergies, and even long-term health risks like organ damage or cancer with prolonged exposure. During the holiday season, when windows are closed and our homes are filled with cozy but confined air, these risks are amplified.
5 Ways to Keep VOCs Out of Your Air
1. Choose Truly Clean Cleaning Products: Forget the “green” label—read the ingredients! Look for products without synthetic fragrances or harmful chemicals. Or, better yet, whip up your own cleaners with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.
2. Pick Your Christmas Tree Wisely: A real Christmas tree is less likely to off-gas VOCs compared to artificial ones coated in flame retardants or chemical fragrances. Just be mindful of pesticides used on live trees and consider an organic option if possible.
3. Ditch the Air-Fresheners: This includes pinecones, sprays, plug-ins, wax melts, diffusers, candles, potpourri, drawer liners, and sachets. Instead, try a Christmas Simmering Pot (recipe below!) to fill your home with holiday cheer—naturally.
4. Ventilate Your Space: Open your windows regularly to keep air circulating and flush out any lingering contaminants. Also, consider getting an air purifier especially if you are using your fireplace to warm up your home.
5. Lander Mindfully: If you’re planning to rock a dry-clean-only outfit to that holiday party, air it out before bringing it indoors. Better yet, look for eco-friendly dry cleaners that don’t use harmful chemicals. .Another laundering alter is to toss your dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are loaded with synthetic fragrances. Opt for wool dryer balls with a drop of essential oil for a safer, eco-friendly alternative.
Christmas Simmering Pot
4 pinecones
3 cinnamon sticks
3 whole star anise
1 tbsp whole cloves
5–6 slices dried oranges
1–2 tbsp dried cranberries
2 sprigs fresh pine or rosemary
Add all ingredients to a pot with a few inches of water.
Bring to a gentle simmer on the stove.
Let the aroma fill your home, topping up with water as needed.
Pro Tip: The simmering pot ingredients are reusable for up to four days if stored properly. Once done, compost them for a zero-waste finish.
This holiday season, let’s gift ourselves—and our loved ones—the joy of breathing clean air. Keep the festive vibes high, the VOCs low, and for the Bounce? A healthier, happier home is the best present of all.
Happy Holidays!
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