Who doesn’t love to light up candles now and then? It’s a great way to create a different atmosphere to relax and make memories. However, burning too many candles will fill the air with smoke and soot. And that can be harmful to your health.
So, how do you deal with it? And do air purifiers remove candle scent?
Yes, air purifiers can remove candle scent, given that the air purifier is using the right technology. For example, air purifiers with a carbon filter have the technology to catch odor and gas molecules.
If you want to know whether or not your air purifier will be effective against candle soot, give this article a read. We’ll be discussing all the pros and cons of air purifiers against the scent of candles.
How Do Candles Pollute the Air?
The problem with candles is that even a small amount is bad for the lungs. But the effect can be ignored as long as you don’t keep the candle lit up all night as you sleep.
To understand how burnt candles damage the air quality, you need to understand how candles burn and what happens afterward.
- What Happens When You Burn Candles?
Candles could be made from natural bee wax or chemically made wax-like components. When you burn a candle, the flame heats it and melts the wax as the wick keeps burning.
As the candle burns, liquid wax comes up the wick with the capillary action. The liquid wax is then turned into hot gas as it melts and vaporizes.
In the end, the hydrocarbons start to break down into separate molecules.
- Where Does the Released Carbon Go?
This is an important question as this carbon is responsible for the smoke and, eventually, the black soot left on your walls.
The residual carbon released from candles is considered a pollutant by the scientific community, as mentioned in this research.
Some of the released carbon reacts with the oxygen present in the air and forms carbon dioxide. This adds to the already existing problem of smoke and makes breathing hard.
Do Air Purifiers Remove Candle Smells?
Yes, air purifiers are the best way to tackle the smell of burnt candles. Modern air purifiers are designed to both clean the pollutants from the air and get rid of the smell.
Most of the new air purifiers have a multi-layer filtration system that incorporates HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, and TiO2 filters.
All of them have different purposes. Our focus will be on the carbon filter since it deals with the odor particles and gas molecules responsible for producing chemical scents.
When scented candles burn, the smell particles are released. Both odor particles and gas molecules are light. As the air passes through the carbon filter, they get easily absorbed in the carbon filter.
But will these carbon filters work against carbon dioxide? No, the average carbon filters we are talking about can’t catch CO2 gas.
Note: For the carbon filter to work, you need to make sure there is a good amount of airflow. The air needs to properly pass through the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I burn candles in the same room where I have the air purifier running?
Hypothetically, you can burn your candles in the same room as the air purifier. However, the air purifier fan will detect the smoke coming out and start its operation to clean out the air. But you’d be wasting your money on candles and energy running the air purifier.
2. What else can I do to remove the candle scent?
Getting rid of the smell of burnt candles is hard as it doesn’t go away easily. Even if you don’t have an air purifier, you could use the following techniques.
- Vinegar-water solution spray
- Sprinkling baking soda
And, of course, maintain good airflow to allow the smell to go out on its own.
3. Are air purifiers a good alternative to scented candles?
If you’re looking to freshen up the air inside your home, an air purifier would be better than scented candles.
While the candles can immediately liven up the air with their fragrance, at the end of the day, it’s harmful to your health. But air purifiers can slowly cleanse the air, giving you lasting and healthy air to breathe.
4. How do I make my room smell nice without burning scented candles?
If I were to choose something for fragrance, I’d go for diffuser sticks. They are mild and don’t create annoying smoke.
Final Words
So, do air purifiers remove candle scent? Yes, even if the process is slow, they can remove the scent. My suggestion would be to avoid scented candles altogether. But if you don’t want to let go of the candles, but you also want clean air, use an air purifier. However, don’t use them simultaneously, as it defeats the purpose.
Last Updated on October 30, 2022
