One of the more frequent online subjects is VOCs. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. Relative to this acronym, the word volatile means the tendency of a substance to evaporate.  Organic in this situation means that the substance being described is made out of carbon molecules, which may include naturally occurring compounds and man-made substances based on carbon, such as fragrance oils. Most people use the term VOC to mean a harmful air pollutant, not just carbon-based molecules that can evaporate. But the truth is you breathe VOCs when you smell a bouquet of flowers or the aroma of garlic when you cook. Without VOCs, we would live in a fragrance-free world and never use our sense of smell.

Read more: Fragrance Safety: Clearing up the Confusion