Did you know commercial air fresheners and room deodorizers are not regulated by any governing body, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?
That means the companies that make these products are self-regulated and can put whatever they want into their scented concoctions.
The result?
Most commercial air fresheners are loaded with toxic chemicals that can do serious damage to your health. This even applies to those that are advertised as “all-natural” and “unscented.” And you will not see the toxic ingredients disclosed on the label.
For example:
- Phthalates. Most commercial air fresheners contain high levels of phthalates. These are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can be particularly dangerous for young children and unborn babies. Exposure to phthalates can affect testosterone levels and lead to reproductive abnormalities, birth defects and reduced sperm production in males.
- 1,4-Dichlorobenzene. This chemical commonly found in commercial air fresheners is a registered pesticide and a known carcinogen. Studies have shown it commonly leads to lung damage and increases rates of asthma. It works by attacking the receptors in your nose, thus eliminating your sense of smell.
The companies who use this ingredient in their air fresheners are literally using chemical warfare to destroy your sense of smell. That lack of smell is where the illusion of freshness comes from. You only smell the air freshener for about the first minute after it has been sprayed, and then your nose cannot smell much of anything after that.
- Terpene. This is another chemical that’s found in air freshener. When exposed to the air, terpene creates formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen.
To add insult to injury, many air fresheners come in spray bottles that use propellants to release the spray in a fine mist. These propellants cause a host of health issues like breathing problems and an increased risk of cancer. Plus, they damage the earth’s ozone layer.
ENTER THE NATURAL GIFT OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are one of nature’s most amazing gifts, and they work wonderfully well for scenting your home!
Not only do they smell amazing, they also come with a side of health benefits! For example:
- Peppermint essential oil can relieve headaches and sooth digestive issues.
- Lavender essential oil can reduce anxiety, improve your sleep quality and help heal wounds.
- Frankincense essential oil can help prevent infections and illnesses by killing bacteria and boosting your immune system.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Many essential oils like eucalyptus, ginger and lemon actually clean the air around you, instead of just masking odors or harming your sense of smell like toxic commercial air fresheners.
The brand of essential oils I use and highly recommend is Plant Therapy. Their quality is top-notch, their prices are fantastic, shipping is FREE on all orders and their packaging is exceptional (unlike most other brands, they put labels on top of the bottle caps and the labels around the bottles provide instructions for how to use that specific oil).
HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SCENTING YOUR HOME
They are 3 main ways to use essential oils for freshening the air in your home.
1. Diffuse Them
Diffusing essential oils is the simplest and most popular method for scenting your home. When diffusing essential oils, it’s important to use a diffuser like this that uses ultrasonic vibrations to break the oils up into a fine mist. This allows the oils to remain suspended in the air for hours to treat you to their scent for an extended period of time.
You can also diffuse essential oils in your vehicle – click here to check out a great portable diffuser for enjoying essential oils on the go!
The number of essential oil drops you should diffuse depends on the size of your diffuser:
- 100 ml capacity = 3-5 drops
- 200 ml capacity = 6-10 drops
- 300 ml capacity = 9-15 drops
- 400 ml capacity = 12-20 drops
- 500 ml capacity = 15-25 drops
- 600 ml capacity = 18-30 drops
2. Room Sprays
Simply fill a 2-oz. glass spray bottle like this with water, add 10 drops of essential oil, shake and spray. Be sure to shake the bottle well before each use. Each batch of spray should be used within 30 days, so bacteria doesn’t grow in the water. You can keep the spray in the fridge to help prevent any bacteria growth.
These sprays work great for throwing in your bag to take on the go! They also make awesome gifts. And the beauty of the glass spray bottle is you can use it over and over and over again!
You can customize the smell of the rooms sprays for specific health goals like killing germs, seasonal scents or to aid in relaxation. Or, you can buy pre-blended synergies for specific purposes. Plant Therapy has a great line of synergies like Energy, Germ Fighter, Relax and Sleep Aid to meet specific needs.
3. Room Deodorizers
These work great for small room like bathrooms, stinky kitchen spaces and stale basement areas. To make them, simply grab a glass jar or candleholder with a wide open top that will hold at least a 1/2 cup of baking soda. Pour in a 1/2 cup of baking soda and then top it with 25 drops of essential oil. The scent should last for at least a week. When it starts to fade, just add a few more drops of oil.
If you’re using the deodorizer in a space where kids and pets may knock it over, simply secure a coffee filter on top of the jar and poke several holes in it with a toothpick.
Cheers to improving the health of your home while making it smell fantastic with the natural gift of essential oils!
With love and gratitude,
Kandi
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