(Web Desk) - Lighting scented candles is a way to make your home smell good, add mood lighting and relax.
But burning them could increase your risk of nasty health issues, an expert has warned.
Using the fragrances has been linked to migraines, irritation of the eyes and throat, and a greater risk of respiratory diseases, according to Dr Tamás Pándics, a public health specialist at Semmelweis University in Hungary.
They can also worsen pre-existing conditions, like asthma.
This is because candles give off tiny particles of other pollutants when they burn.
Besides frequently airing out our homes, the best way to improve indoor air quality is to cut back on chemicals we use, the expert explained.
He said: "When it comes to the reaction of the human body, the source of the substance makes little difference."
Some candle makers use essential oils to avoid the downsides of artificial fragrances. But these come with health risks, too.
For example, Thujone, found in essential oils, has been linked to nervous system damage.
While cinnamaldehyde, used in some cinnamon scented candles, can cause irritation of the skin and an allergic reaction.
Most candles are made from paraffin wax – and previous studies have suggested this could be cancer-causing, but this is still up for debate.
Some candle brands also use a wick where the cotton is wrapped around another material, such as metal, producing toxic soot, which may also lead to lung problems.
The expert explained: "Regardless of whether they are artificially produced or naturally occurring, every substance foreign to the body poses a chemical risk.
"They may not be carcinogenic, (but) these substances place an additional burden on the liver, and our metabolic processes are not prepared to process them either."
It's not just candles that produce indoor pollution, other products, like cleaning sprays, vapes and even furniture, do too.
"We expose ourselves to the effect of hundreds of substances which, with the additional unnecessary burden of substances such as scented candles, home fragrances and wall-plug ins, can lead to serious problems,' Dr Tamás warned
Even though scented candles and home fragrances produce only a small amount of particles and vapours at a time, these add up the longer we use them.
The expert said: "This cumulative impact, and the constant exposure to these chemicals, is what leads to the potential health risks of these products.
"Unlike living next to a busy road where we can only alter air quality by moving, this is an impact we create. We can decide not to."