Good VOCs vs Bad VOCs: The Truth About Air, Aromas, and What You’re Really Breathing
Say “VOC” in a wellness group and people instantly think “toxic fumes.” The word has become a scare label, slapped onto anything with a scent. But here’s the real story: not all VOCs are bad. Some are pollutants we want to avoid, yes. But many are the very molecules that make fresh oranges, lavender, or eucalyptus smell so good.
What’s a VOC, Really?
VOC means volatile organic compound, just a fancy way of saying a carbon-based molecule that easily evaporates into the air.
That definition covers a huge range of compounds, from the harmful to the harmless:
The “bad” ones like benzene and formaldehyde, linked to pollution and health risks.
The “good” ones like limonene (citrus), linalool (lavender), and pinene (pine). These are the natural plant aromatics we associate with freshness, calm, and vitality.
So VOC doesn’t automatically mean toxic, it simply means volatile.
How VOCs Got a Bad Name
Back in the 1980s and 90s, scientists started looking into “sick building syndrome.” They found that poorly ventilated buildings full of petrochemical products, paints, glues, synthetic fragrance, were pumping out harmful VOCs that caused headaches, fatigue, and irritation.
Regulators stepped in, “low-VOC” labels became the marketing standard, and somewhere along the way, all VOCs got lumped together as bad. The nuance disappeared.
The Bad VOCs
Here’s where the concern is valid:
Benzene — a carcinogen found in cigarette smoke, exhaust, and cheap paraffin candles.
Toluene — a solvent from paints and adhesives, linked to dizziness and headaches at high exposures.
Formaldehyde — released from building materials and smoke, irritating and carcinogenic in high amounts.
These are industrial pollutants. They’re not the same thing as the natural scents from plants.
The Good VOCs
Now for the ones that rarely get mentioned:
Limonene — that zesty citrus note when you peel an orange.
Linalool — the relaxing scent in lavender.
Pinene — the fresh bite in pine needles or rosemary.
Eucalyptol — the cool clearing aroma in eucalyptus.
These are the same molecules used in aromatherapy. They’ve been part of human life for centuries, not because they’re toxic, but because they bring comfort and connection to nature.
VOCs in Everyday Life
You’re already breathing VOCs every day.
Frying food releases them.
Cleaning sprays release them.
Wood fires release them.
A walk in the forest surrounds you with them.
It’s not about whether VOCs exist, it’s about which ones they are, and how much of them you’re exposed to.
Candles and VOCs
Candles are often dragged into the VOC debate, so let’s clear that up too.
All flames produce some VOCs, but the type matters:
Unfortunately Paraffin candles with synthetic fragrances can give off problematic compounds like benzene and toluene.
Natural wax candles made with essential oils mostly release plant-based aromatics like limonene and linalool, the same VOCs you’d smell from a lemon peel or a lavender plant.
When made properly, correct wick, safe ratios, and the right pour temperature, essential oils in candles volatilize gently instead of burning off into harmful smoke.