Deco says that the conclusions of its analysis of incense "are still scary" and that nothing has changed in seven years, when the first tests on incense and aromatic candles were carried out.

"We have concluded that they should be taken off the market - we have already submitted this request to ASAE. We have also informed the Directorate General for Health”.

"They are a mixture of eye, nose and respiratory tract irritants; some are known to be carcinogenic and others at least suspect".

"Acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, benzene, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, naphthalene and other volatile organic compounds" are some of the chemicals that Deco has detected in the burning of the six incenses analysed, substances it considers "highly dangerous".

All the incenses tested "are proven to be dangerous to the health of consumers in the short term (irritation) and in the medium and long term (varying with exposure periods, chronic respiratory pathologies, cancer)".

"It is common to find the words 'natural', 'purifying', 'safe', 'positive energy' - which from a consumer safety point of view and the obligation to provide true and verifiable information, are absolutely unacceptable", says Deco.

"There is also insufficient labelling, with false claims, printed in an illegible way, which really only contributes to the serious picture we have found".

In these cases, consumers are "faced with products that have been proven to be dangerous, that are polluting for indoor air and whose use should be strongly discouraged, to say the least".

The association also says that after the test it carried out seven years ago, it alerted parliamentary groups to this issue and that the International Commission for Standardisation has produced standards that take into account the parameters addressed and established methods of analysis and maximum exposure ceilings, "but which still lack the necessary regulation so that they have the force of law".

Among the products analyzed were Zara Home Encens, Green Tree 7 Chakras, Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa Cônes d'Encens and Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa Agarbatti Incense Sticks, Eurescents Sensations, Green Tree 7 Chakras and Casa Escape Black Oudh.

Deco also analyzed the Yankee Candle, Airwick Anti-Tobacco, Red Kasa, The Black Cat Shop Green Candle, Art Regal Anti-Candle (Ref. 28395), Glade Relaxing Zen and Casa Wood Rustic.