Natural air fresheners and candles: reading ingredients and fire safety

Candle fire safety

• Never leave a burning candle unattended, and put it out before you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Keep candles away from anything that can burn, such as curtains, paper and decorations.
• Place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface, out of the reach of children and pets.
• Trim the wick as the label directs, and follow its burn time advice.
• Keep a candle in a draft-free place, and do not move it while it burns.
• Flameless LED candles are an alternative, especially around children, pets and decorations. They cost more at first and use batteries or a charger.

Reading a candle label

• Wax: paraffin, soy, beeswax, coconut and blends are common. The label names the wax. Natural has no single definition, so read what the maker lists.
• Wick: cotton, paper-core or wood wicks are common. Check the label.
• Fragrance: may be listed as fragrance, which can cover many ingredients, or as essential oils. Essential oils are fragrance ingredients too, and some are not suited to pets, so ask your vet.
• Burn time: many labels state the hours the candle is meant to burn. It is a maker's estimate.
• Container: glass or metal. Check what the maker says about reuse and recycling.

Reading an air freshener label

• Ingredient lists: in the United States, the word fragrance on a label can stand for a mixture that the maker does not have to itemize, though some states and companies require or offer more detail. If you want to know what is in a product, look for a list of ingredients, and ask the maker.
• Sprays, diffusers, plug-ins and reed diffusers: they release scent in different ways, and the label gives directions. Follow them.
• Unscented: some products are sold to reduce odors without adding scent. Check the ingredient list.
• Sensitivity: if scents bother you, a family member or a pet, consider fragrance-free approaches, such as ventilation and cleaning the source of odors.
• Eco claims: the FTC's Green Guides ask for specific, supported claims. We do not say that any product is natural or safe.

Our angle: cost per burn hour

A candle's price tells you little, because a large candle with a slow-burning wax can last much longer than a small one. If the label gives a burn time in hours, divide the price by it to get the price per hour. Compare candles on that number. Remember that the burn time is the maker's estimate, and your results depend on the wick length and the drafts in your home. For flameless candles, divide the price by the number of hours the battery lasts, and add the cost of batteries or charging.

1. Find the burn time in hours on the label.
2. Divide the price by the hours.
3. For flameless candles, add the battery cost and compare.