Furniture & Fragrances - Toxic Home Items + What To Look For
We came to the creation of House of Thayer with many defining principles. Chief among them, was our commitment to sustainability. And while we both feel that we are stewards of the earth first, we also care deeply about the toxic products within your home and that affect the health of us as humans as well. These are not mutually exclusive.
We’re very excited to educate you with the knowledge that we both possess. As insiders of this industry we know a lot of secrets and aspects to home toxicity that simply are addressed through marketing and advertising but never fully explained, "greenwashing” is an excellent example of this. And as the saying goes, '“you only know what you know”. We’re seeing a MAJOR shift toward nontoxic living and it’s becoming an important cultural trend, with #nontoxicliving having more than 200 million views on TikTok. While we both (Kat & Jerri) prescribe to living a non-toxic life in our personal and business life, neither of us feel equipped to be the authority on the BROAD range of topics within home toxicity. For that reason, we’ll focus this blog on our knowledge of home fragrances and home furniture.
While toxins in furniture aren't a reason to re-decorate immediately, knowledge of the potential dangers of toxins in furniture is definitely something to consider when purchasing new items for the home. Becoming aware of potentially harmful substances and clearing them out from your home, can help keep you and your family healthy. Common toxic items in homes include cleaning products, pesticides, certain cosmetics, air fresheners, furniture, and old lead-based paint, which can cause various health problems if inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the skin. Not all chemicals are harmful. In fact, most substances in our environment are likely safe. Chemicals are everywhere, and most are harmless. Limiting the potentially toxic ones in your day-to-day life can help you create a safer and healthier home. Which is exactly what we have set out to do at House of Thayer.
This is just a blog post and we certainly don’t have all the answers: so, we’ll go over AIR FRESHENERS (aka home fragrance) and FURNITURE.
Chemicals that are used in the creation of home products can come out of our products and end up in the air and dust in the home, where they then enter your body. A George Washington University study, just identified 45 different chemicals that are commonly found in indoor dust. Many of the identified chemicals belong to a group called endocrine disruptors.
When endocrine disruptors get into your body, they can mimic or block the natural hormones your body makes. Evidence suggests that endocrine disrupters might reduce fertility, raise the risk for some cancers, or cause other harms.*
Substances thought to cause endocrine disruption often include certain fragrances and stain-resistant coatings. NIH-funded researchers study the health effects of several types of chemical classes tied to hormone disruption, including phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) and flame retardants.
Phthalates are a family of man-made chemicals used to make fragrances often found in your home, like candles, air fresheners and rooms prays. The human health effects of phthalates are not yet fully known but are being studied by several government agencies, including NIH. To reduce your exposure, read product labels and avoid using products that contain phthalates. Some—but not all—phthalate-containing products might be clearly labeled: “contains phthalates.” But sometimes phthalates might be listed as a 3- or 4-letter abbreviation, such as BBP, DBP, or DEP. These phthalates must be listed among the ingredients on product labels, unless they are added as a part of the “fragrance.” EXCEPT for candles…which are not regulated by the FDA. So by law, there is no requirement for candles to list the ingredients that are used in the creation of their product. Many companies simply omit information about their ingredients or “greenwash” their terminology by referring to products as “plant based” (which they can claim even if the majority of the product isn’t plant based).
Something to remember about fragrance: it’s an additive. Always and forever. A scent doesn’t clean anything. The idea of something smelling “clean” is simply made up and has become common over time. Just because something smells like lemons or Febreeze, doesn’t mean it’s clean. It just means that you’ve added scent. Scent is lovely but scent doesn’t equal clean. When you use a cleaner with a scent, it probably has some phthalates in it—even though the label doesn’t specifically say phthalates. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides the “Safer Choice” label, which is used on products made with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment, but again, not every product uses that label (for instance, we don’t).
Fragrances:
Many fragrances, including those in air fresheners, candles, and room sprays, contain chemicals that can cause respiratory problems and other health issues. A study by the University of California at Berkeley found that home fragrances, when used excessively or in unventilated area, release toxic levels of pollutants. So, it’s very important to look at the ingredients that make up fragrances within your home and to understand how using them can affect you.
The Environmental Protection Agency found that potentially hazardous chemicals can commonly be found in fragrances. Causing some major side affects. Look for natural alternatives. And most candles are made of paraffin wax, which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned. In fact, the toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes. Which is why many candle companies, specifically smaller US based companies, are using alternative and organic wax forms such as waxes made from beeswax, soy, coconut and apricots.
When you burn a scented candle, a chemical reaction occurs that emits gases that may have adverse health effects. If your candle is made with toxic ingredients, those gases within candles can emit VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. In the short term, VOCs from candles—including benzene (a known carcinogen) and toluene (which is registered as a toxin with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)—may lead to throat irritation, dizziness, or headaches. But there are also long-term concerns associated with VOCs. There’s emerging research that shows those volatile organic compounds can potentially cause reproductive health issues like infertility.*
This information is all based on known science. But not all aspects of this have been studied. A 2022 study found “no statistically significant associations” between burning candles in the home and increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory issues. On the other hand, different research paints a different picture in a 2015 study, where it was discovered that a strawberry-scented candle emitted formaldehyde (also a known carcinogen) at 2,098 parts per billion, which is well beyond the range that is considered generally safe. Our thoughts here are, why chance it? As candlemakers, if there are alternative ingredients available that makes NON-TOXIC products, why not avoid the risk and make something that doesn’t contain VOCs and other known carcinogens so our customers can rest easy knowing that what we’ve created is clean and safe.
When it comes to candles, each and every ingredient can be made from toxic products:
wicks can be toxic
wax can be toxic
fragrance oils can be toxic
additives like glitter can be toxic
What to look for:
wicks should be made from cotton or wood. If the manufacturer doesn’t share, its best to walk away. As we mentioned before, by law it’s not required that candle manufacturers need to list ingredients used. Candle makers that use non-toxic products will be prideful of the product they create and happy to share the use of cotton wicks in their candles. Wood wicks are also often simply made from raw cedar and so are very organic and non-toxic.
If your wick is NOT made from cotton or wood, it’ll be made from a form of plastic (which is carcinogenic while burning). And in order to keep that plastic wick burning properly, it will have been dipped into an accelerant such as anti-freeze, arsenic or lead to keep burning at a hot temperature. If your candle burns hotter, it’ll burn faster, making you purchase more candles more frequently.
wax, if made from paraffin, is a known carcinogen (or cancer causing agent). Paraffin is derived from petroleum and so you’d be burning scented oil in your home. In actuality, many candle companies will use blended wax. Paraffin is a candlemaker’s dream wax because it works so well at everything you’d want it to do. Except that it’s toxic. It’s cheap, holds dyes well, holds lots of fragrance so it smells strongly, AND is strong enough to be used to create pillars and molded or shaped candles. Because of it’s versatility, probably 80% of the world’s candle market is made using paraffin wax. Again, read the labels if you’re unsure. A company will be excited to share that the benefit of their candle is that it’s non-toxic. If it doesn’t say, it’s best to walk away.
fragrance oils can be toxic (as previously expanded on above) carrying harmful gases like VOCs & phthalates. You’ll want your scents to be CLEAN and free of any harmful ingredients. Fragrance is released into the air while the candle is burning and becomes part of your home atmosphere: it gets on your textiles, your skin and is breathed in through your nose.
candles that have things put inside of them (to us) are almost ALWAYS a red flag. Dried botanicals are a fire hazard, jewelry and rocks….. (just why?!), and glitter is a major scurge to any environment. Regular glitter is made of plastic, mainly PLA or PET. Therefore, burning plastic releases toxic fumes that can harm you and the environment. Burning plastic will smell awful and release toxic smoke laden with dangerous chemicals. Mica powder is probably the only additive I would consider to be used in a candle as it is non-toxic and non-flammable.
Don’t beat yourself up about what you didn’t know. Now you know. And if you have candles in your home that fit the description of the toxic candles listed above, simply remove them from your home. The next time you’re out shopping for candles and home fragrance, you’ll know exactly what to look for. Support small and local businesses (there are MANY!) that make clean and non-toxic candles that smell beautiful, look beautiful and are safe to burn in your home.
Now, it’s easy to just cut and run and walk away from fragrance all together. But there are honestly, a number of misnomers where some alternatives are not as hopeful as they seem. Case in point; essential oils. Essential oils are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means many companies will take the cheap way out and water down their product with added ingredients that are ultimately just as toxic as anything else. Like candles and other home fragrance, keep your eye on the labels and ensure that there no serious additives added to your essential oils.
Paraffin wax deposit build-up in crude oil pipelines in oil wells. Evidence of paraffin as part of the fractional distillation of crude oil.
Furniture and Building Materials:
Much like a “new car smell,” it turns out that new furniture scent isn’t just an unpleasant odor—it means volatile organic compounds (voc) are being released or off-gassed into the air. Furniture and building materials can also harbor toxic substances. Navigating a non-toxic lifestyle in these categories can feel a bit overwhelming, but looking at six main chemical groups of concern can be a great way to clearly and incrementally improve upon your clean lifestyle goals.
What to avoid:
Toxic Metals
Old Lead-Based Paint: Found in older homes, lead-based paint can be a source of lead poisoning.
Formeldahyde
Formaldehyde is a common chemical used in the production of some furniture, particularly in pressed wood products like particleboard and MDF. It's a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can be released into the air, potentially causing health problems.
Formaldehyde levels are higher in new manufactured wood products such as flooring and furniture. Formaldehyde can also be found in some fabrics.
The CDC recommends choosing home products with low or no formaldehyde for future purchases. Look for
Furniture, wood cabinetry, or flooring made without urea-formaldehyde (UF) glues
Pressed-wood products that meet ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) or no added formaldehyde (NAF) requirements
Products labeled “No VOC/Low VOC” (volatile organic compound)
Insulation that does not have UF foam
Solvents
VOCs are typically five to ten more concentrated in indoor air than outdoor air. You are most likely to encounter them in your home from paints, cleaning products, glues, craft supplies, printers, and furniture—especially furniture that contains polyurethane foam
Phthalate & Bisphenols (BPA)
Phthalates can be present in plastic furniture and vinyl textiles used in cushions and other upholstery.
Phthalates are commonly added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, which are used in vinyl flooring, vinyl blinds, shower curtains, and upholstery to make them more flexible.
product tags on furniture and required to disclose the use of flame retardants
Flame Retardants
Used in furniture and textiles to make them fire-resistant, but all flame retardants contain toxic chemicals. Flame retardants are added or applied to materials to slow or prevent a fire. But a growing body of evidence links many of these chemicals to negative health effects in animals and humans. Flame retardants can be found in foam, upholstery, mattresses, carpets, curtains, and fabric blinds. Flame retardant use has been declining in recent years. But these chemicals are still found in some products. When buying new items, especially for children, try to purchase furnishings filled with cotton, polyester, or wool, instead of polyurethane foam.
Check under your seat cushions or on the bottom of your sofa, chair or upholstered bed for a “law label”. A California law called SB 1019 requires upholstered furniture to have a label stating whether or not the item contains flame retardants.
PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” Exposure to PFOA, PFOS, and related PFAS is associated with health harm, including immune suppression, high cholesterol, and certain cancers. These chemicals can be found in:
Stain guard sprays and coatings
Antimicrobial coatings and finishes
Some interior paints
Look for certifications:
Third party assessors (and associated methodologies) can help with inventories, chemical hazard assessments, safer alternatives and certifications. Examples include GreenScreen, ChemForward, Tox Services, Scivera, ToxStrategies, Cradle to Cradle, and Safer Choice.
Choose natural materials:
Opt for furniture made from solid wood, natural fibers, and other sustainable materials
wood frame furniture is often treated with highly toxic chemicals that can and will leach out into your home as toxic gases
To reduce toxin exposure from standard furniture, new pieces should be left outside to off-gas. If that’s not possible, allowing pieces off-gas in a room with open windows and an high purifier running can lower toxin exposure. Of course, we’ll always recommend acquiring vintage pieces as toxic gases will have likely begun to fade away AND purchasing an item that was already made and used is better for the environment as opposed to purchasing new furniture. Opting for a nontoxic sofa is more important than a side table in a home office. Safer furniture for children and babies or the spaces they frequent should always be a priority.
Having a home that’s entirely non-toxic definitely isn’t a realistic or practical goal even with a very large budget. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort once you possess the knowledge. And of course, everything in moderation! Trying to pursue perfection in the realm of non-toxic living could lead to stress, anxiety, and even obsessive tendencies. None of that is healthy. Make small choices that begin with detoxifying the fragrances within your home and begin to make necessary changes to your furniture where your lifestyle (and budget) see fit!