Aromatherapy Candles, Sprays and Room Products: What Is and Is Not Aromatherapy
Candles, room sprays, rollers and reed diffusers sold as aromatherapy: what the label does and does not mean, who regulates them, and what studies found about emissions and contamination.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety first. Misused essential oils can cause serious poisoning, and reed-diffuser liquid must be kept out of children's reach. If anyone swallows one, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. [1]
The word "aromatherapy" on a candle, spray or roll-on is a marketing label, not a guarantee of what is inside. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) defines aromatherapy as the use of essential oils from plants as a complementary health approach, most often by inhaling them or applying a diluted form to the skin. [2] A product is only aromatherapy in that sense if it is made with essential oils and used that way. The FDA says there is no regulatory definition for "essential oils", and that fragrance ingredients can be listed on a label simply as "Fragrance". [3] A label alone often cannot tell you which one you have.
For these product types, Proper evidence not found that they bring health benefits. We searched PubMed and Europe PMC titles for "aromatherapy candle", "scented candle" and "essential oil spray" and found studies of emissions and indoor air, not trials of benefit. The trials of inhaled oils are described on Inhalation aromatherapy and tested particular oils, not these products.
Product by product
| Product | What the sources say | Who regulates it, per the FDA |
|---|---|---|
| Scented candles | Burning scented candles in test chambers released combustion gases, organic compounds, fine particles and evaporated fragrance compounds; in most cases the calculated indoor levels were well below guidance values, with exceptions for nitrogen dioxide, acrolein and benzo[a]pyrene. [4] Studies are on fragrance mixtures, so they do not say whether essential-oil candles behave differently. | Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). [5] |
| Room sprays and fresheners | Four US cases of melioidosis, an uncommon bacterial infection, were caused by the same strain that was linked to one aromatherapy spray imported from an area where the disease is endemic. [6] The outbreak was in 2021. [7] A later laboratory paper says the four cases resulted in two deaths. [7] | Room fresheners are among products the FDA lists under the CPSC. [3] |
| Rollers and body products | The FDA says a product intended only to cleanse or make a person smell good is a cosmetic, but claims such as easing pain, relaxing muscles or helping you sleep make it a drug. [5] A poison center says pure oils are potent, that products often contain other oils or alcohol, and that oils should not go on damaged skin. [1] | FDA, as a cosmetic or a drug depending on the claims. [5] |
| Reed diffusers | A poison center describes the liquid as an essential oil dissolved in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which must be kept out of children's reach. [1] | Not stated for reed diffusers in the sources we read; the FDA lists room fresheners under the CPSC. [3] |
| Vaporizer products | The same poison center says products with oils, usually camphor, are made for vaporizers, and that when used as directed they are usually safe. [1] See Camphor oil: why it can be dangerous. | Not stated in the sources we read. |
What studies found about candles
- Chamber study (2021, Germany). Researchers ran 24 experiments with four waxes and five fragrances, plus unscented controls. Two authors are affiliated with a fragrance company and the European Candle Association, and the study was designed with candle manufacturers and fragrance houses. Burning candles gave off typical combustion products as well as evaporated fragrance compounds. [4]
- Apartment study of incense and candles (2024, Korea). After burning incense, benzene averaged 100 micrograms per cubic meter, up from 1.4. Electrical warming of scented candles raised monoterpenes (a family of scent compounds) by 16 to 30 times. The authors suggested cautious use could reduce exposure. [8]
- Home study (2025, Korea). Airborne particles (PM10) peaked at 1.52 times baseline after five minutes of burning, and the authors stressed better ventilation. [9]
These are measurements of air, not health outcomes. A small number of studies cannot say that any one candle will cause a problem for any one person.
Reading the label
The FDA notes that "natural" or "organic" does not make an oil safe, because many plants contain materials that are toxic, irritating or likely to cause allergy. [5] A listing of "Fragrance" can hide a complex mixture of natural and synthetic ingredients, because fragrance formulas are treated as trade secrets. [3] A botanical name, plant part and country on a label are more informative; see Reading an essential oil label and Essential oils vs fragrance oils.
What to do with this
- Check what is in it. Look for botanical names, an ingredient list and directions, and be aware that none of these prove the product is safe or beneficial.
- Keep it away from children and pets. See Essential oils around babies and children and Essential oils and pets.
- Ask about your own situation. A pharmacist or clinician can say whether a scent product is a poor fit with asthma, allergy, pregnancy or medicines. See Diffusers, indoor air quality and exposure.
- Stop if there is a rash. The poison center advises stopping immediately and gently washing a product off if a skin reaction occurs. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Is a scented candle aromatherapy?
Not necessarily. NCCIH defines aromatherapy as the use of essential oils, and the FDA says scented candles are regulated by the CPSC. [2] [5] A candle may use fragrance rather than essential oil, and the label does not always say. [3]
Do aromatherapy candles improve health?
Proper evidence not found. The studies we found measured emissions and indoor air, not benefits. [4] [8]
Are room sprays safe?
That depends on the product. A 2021 US outbreak of melioidosis was linked to one imported aromatherapy spray. [6]
Is an essential oil roller a drug or a cosmetic?
It depends on the claims. The FDA says easing pain, relaxing muscles or helping you sleep are drug claims. [5]
What should I do if a child swallows a diffuser liquid or oil?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. [1]
References
- Poison Control. Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Article date not shown on the page. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH. Aromatherapy. Last updated January 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Fragrances in Cosmetics. Read 2026-10-23.
- Salthammer T and colleagues. Measurement and evaluation of gaseous and particulate emissions from burning scented and unscented candles. Environment International. 2021 (abstract read via PubMed; some authors are linked to the candle and fragrance industries). Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Content current as of 09/08/2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Gee JE and colleagues. Multistate outbreak of melioidosis associated with imported aromatherapy spray. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Cote CK and colleagues. Virulence of Burkholderia pseudomallei ATS2021 unintentionally imported to United States in aromatherapy spray. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2024 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Kim PG and colleagues. Increase of the indoor concentration of volatile organic compounds after the use of incense and scented candle in studio apartments determined using passive sampling. Chemosphere. 2024 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Impact of scented candle use on indoor air quality and airborne microbiome. Scientific Reports, 2025 (full text read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.