Are synthetic air fresheners safe to use around babies?
Avoid. Synthetic air fresheners release phthalates, VOCs, and formaldehyde into indoor air. Babies breathe proportionally more air than adults and are more vulnerable.
What's actually in it
Synthetic air fresheners, including plug-in diffusers, sprays, and car fresheners, contain a mix of synthetic fragrance chemicals, phthalates (used as fragrance carriers), VOCs, and sometimes formaldehyde. These chemicals become airborne when the product is used and are inhaled by everyone in the room, including infants who can't move away from the source.
Phthalates in synthetic fragrances are endocrine disruptors. Infants whose developing reproductive systems are exposed to phthalates through indoor air face a higher relative risk than adults because smaller amounts matter more per pound of body weight.
What the research says
A 2026 study on household VOC sources found that synthetic air fresheners and fragrance products were among the highest-contributing indoor sources of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in household air. Researchers found phthalate concentrations in rooms with active plug-in air fresheners that exceeded levels associated with health effects in laboratory studies.
For fresh air, open windows when weather permits. Use unscented baking soda for odor absorption. Clean the source of odors rather than masking them. Never use synthetic air fresheners, fabric sprays, or scented plug-ins in rooms where infants sleep.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| VOCs from household fragrance products | Environ Sci Technol | 2026 |
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