Air fresheners are the number one home cleaning product purchased in the vast majority of homes across the globe! From sprays, plug ins, melts, and more we love things that smell good. We are constantly trying to find a good smell for our space that make it pleasant to walk into and can trust is ridding a room of less pleasant scents.
The popularity of scent is one of the highest factors that drive us in our purchasing decisions when select a specific cleaning product per the 2016 Nielsen Home Care report.
While we love our smells of apple pie, fresh linen, clean cotton, lavender fields and mountain streams many of these fragrances we use in air fresheners are far from the actual scent. Instead they are manufactured simulated aromas made to remind us of these serene settings. Those chemical aromas though do more than just trigger memories or desired feelings they are actually hurting our air quality, triggering allergies and doing little to actually freshen our room’s air.
The UnFresh Air Freshener
The majority of air fresheners including the sprays and plug ins contain Diethlene Glycol and Fragrance. Neither of these ingredients can be ingested without harm. The Diethlene Glycol gives the air freshener the “sweet” undertone aroma we experience that makes the fragrances used more appealing. Consider it like a preservative that keeps a food fresher longer. Some of these air fresheners, like Lysol spray, also include an ingredient known as Ethanolamine. This ingredient breaks down into nitrogen and forms nitrosamines that are toxic to our respiratory system.
The dangers of these ingredients include potential skin irritation, eye irritation, allergies, neurological impacts and are a hazard for pregnant women, infants and pets. So I’m going to go out on a limb and just say that if it’s dangerous for these populations then it’s dangerous for everyone – but that’s just my two cents.
Kicking the Can
We can safely replace these name brand air fresheners with natural versions. The difference is quite noticeable immediately and there are benefits to your health and pets.
As a side note I’m always tickled when I hear someone say you can’t use essential oils around pets but when I go to their house they have these plug ins and Febreze smell everywhere with their dog or cat right there. Given the choice between the two I would not expose my pets to the chemicals in those plug ins, candles and sprays!
First, when we replace air fresheners with those made with essential oils we are using oils that have healing and health supportive properties that are good for us. The oils can enhance our mood, improve immunity and support our respiratory system. We will not have allergic reactions to essential oils either.
So let’s say you do have pets and you are constantly spraying rooms to eliminate that pet odor or control a liter box smell. Using Melaleuca essential oil on your air filters naturally controls these allergens, dander and the scent. It literally purifies the air. Using Lavender the same way dispels soothing scents that can be helpful for anxiety and nervousness as well as mood support.
Making your own air freshener is really easy and much less costly than store air fresheners. Here are some of my favorite room sprays:
Spring Is In the Air Spray
8 ounce spray bottle
20 drops doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil
20 drops doTERRA Grapefruit Essential Oil
20 drops doTERRA Lime Essential Oil
Fill rest of bottle with distilled water
Great Outdoors Spray
8 ounce spray bottle
20 drops doTERRA Cedarwood Essential Oil
20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Fill rest of bottle with distilled water
Pet Odor Eliminator
8 ounce spray bottle
20 drops doTERRA Purify
20 drops doTERRA Melaleuca
Fill rest of bottle with distilled water
Fresh and Clean
8 ounce spray bottle
20 drops doTERRA Wild Orange
20 drops doTERRA Lavender
10 drops doTERRA Siberian Fir
Fill rest with distilled water
doTERRA has these wonderful DIY spray bottles that have the continuous sprayer that works very well for these room sprays. They are a sleek design that fits well in your hand and is easy to grab for quick freshening around the house.
Interested in more?
This year making one small change like replacing your air fresheners can make a big difference in the air quality, health and mood of your household. It will also save you a bunch in your family budget.
If you have questions about the oils or products I described in this post, please reach out. I’m happy to help you find the scents perfect for your needs.
amyk@dragonspitapothecary.com
With a doTERRA account you can purchase these oils and the continuous mist sprayers with savings of at least 25% off retail. Learn more by visiting our website today!
