The familiar aroma of scented cleaning products, The cozy feeling of a candle or air freshener filling your living room. We often associate these familiar scents with cleanliness or comfort, but what you’re actually smelling are volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These invisible gases are released into the air from common household products and building materials. While they’re easy to overlook, VOCs can have a serious impact on your indoor air quality and your health.
What Are VOCs?
VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. Some are naturally occurring like those released by plants, but most of the VOCs in your home come from man-made sources. Because modern homes are designed to be energy-efficient and tightly sealed, there’s less outdoor air circulation to dilute indoor pollutants. That means VOCs can build up over time, leading to stale or polluted air that you breathe day in and day out.
Where Do VOCs Come From?
You might be surprised to learn how many items in your home release VOCs. Paints, varnishes, and wood finishes are among the most common sources, that paint smell isn’t just “strong” it’s a mix of gases escaping into the air as the product dries. Household cleaning products and disinfectants can also release VOCs, especially those with strong scents or chemical solvents. Air fresheners and scented candles, though they may smell pleasant, often contain synthetic fragrances that off-gas as they’re used.
Even your furniture and flooring can contribute to VOC levels. New couches, carpets, and laminate or vinyl floors often contain adhesives or finishes that slowly emit gases such as formaldehyde. The same goes for cabinets and other pressed-wood furniture. Personal care products are another source: perfumes, nail polish, hair sprays, and lotions all contain VOCs that evaporate easily into the air. And don’t forget your home office: printers, copiers, and inks can emit VOCs, particularly in small, poorly ventilated spaces.
Individually, these items may not seem harmful, but together they create a mix of chemicals that can linger in your indoor air for weeks or months.
Common Types of VOCs and Why They Matter
Not all VOCs are equally harmful, but some are known irritants or even carcinogens. A few of the most common include:
Formaldehyde – Found in pressed wood furniture, cabinets, and textiles, it can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and is classified as a potential carcinogen.
Benzene – Often present in tobacco smoke and stored fuels, benzene exposure can cause dizziness, headaches, and fatigue, and long-term exposure may affect the immune system.
Toluene and Xylene – Found in paints, adhesives, and nail polish, these VOCs can cause headaches, nausea, and irritation of the eyes and throat.
Acetone – Common in nail polish remover and some cleaners, acetone is less toxic than some VOCs but can still irritate sensitive airways and cause headaches in poorly ventilated areas.
The challenge is that many VOCs are odorless, meaning you might not even know you’re exposed until you start feeling symptoms.
How VOCs Affect Your Health
In the short term, VOC exposure can cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, eye or throat irritation, and fatigue. People with asthma or allergies may find their symptoms worsening in spaces with higher concentrations.
Long-term exposure to elevated VOC levels can have more serious effects, including liver or kidney damage and, in some cases, increased cancer risk. Because these symptoms mimic common conditions like allergies or colds, VOC exposure often goes unnoticed until air testing reveals the problem.
Why VOCs Linger in Indoor Air
One of the trickiest things about VOCs is that they don’t just appear and disappear, many materials release gases slowly through a process known as off-gassing. That “new furniture” smell that fades after a few weeks doesn’t mean the VOCs are gone, only that they’ve dropped to levels you can’t smell.
In fact, VOCs can continue to off-gas for months, especially in tightly sealed homes with little ventilation. Even when a space smells “normal” again, invisible chemical emissions can still be present at lower levels.
How to Reduce VOCs in Your Home
Reducing VOCs doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite products. Small changes can make a big difference in improving your home’s air quality. Start by increasing ventilation whenever possible. Open windows, use exhaust fans, or run your HVAC system’s fresh-air setting when painting, cleaning, or bringing new items indoors.
When shopping, look for paints, finishes, and cleaning supplies labeled “low-VOC” or “VOC-free.” Choose unscented or naturally scented personal care and cleaning products when you can. If you buy new furniture or rugs, let them air out in a garage or covered outdoor space for a few days before bringing them inside.
Most importantly, test your indoor air quality. A comprehensive indoor air test can identify the types and levels of VOCs in your home, giving you the insight you need to reduce exposure and breathe cleaner air.
Why Understanding VOCs Matters
VOCs are part of everyday life, but that doesn’t mean they should go unchecked. Being aware of what’s in your air and where it comes from empowers you to make small, healthy changes that protect your family and your home.
As IAQ Awareness Month continues, we’ll turn our focus next week to the “Dirty Air Culprits”- the common household factors that quietly affect your indoor air and what you can do to stop them. Because when it comes to your health and home comfort, every breath truly matters.