Natural Air Fresheners for Your Home and Health

• Real Estate Tips
• January 17, 2019

Everyone wants their home to smell nice. Choosing a scent for your home is simply another way of personalizing your space.  Scents are powerful mood changers, scents can energize or produce calming effects.

But when deodorizing the home, a lot of people use canned air fresheners—which are hazardous! Air fresheners such as aerosol sprays, diffusers, and even candles can be detrimental to a person’s health.

According to the Ackerman Cancer Center, air fresheners contain “hazardous chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, propellants, solvents, benzenes, and synthetic musk’s…”

Long term exposure to these chemicals could cause damage to a person’s organs and central nervous system—which could increase the risk of certain cancers and reproductive problems.

So rather than risk your health, consider using one of these natural air fresheners:

• Eucalyptus: Laurels of eucalyptus are great for hanging around the house or in the shower, as the steam will release the invigorating scent from the leaves. Use wire to secure a branch of eucalyptus into a laurel. Feel free to add a sprig of rosemary or bay laurel as well.
• Rose Water: The smell of roses is loved by many. The scent is sweet and yet not overpowering. Add a few drops of rose oil into a small bowl of water. Then add a few drops of solubilizer to combine the oil and water.
• Lemon: The scent of lemon is known to be energizing by promoting concentration and calming effects. Simmer lemon slices and some cloves in water to tackle lingering kitchen scents.
• Bamboo Charcoal: A bag containing bamboo charcoal can be a natural deodorizer. And the best part? The charcoal comes in a bag that you could place anywhere—your car, closet, by the cat litter box. One bag covers 90 square feet, and they help prevent mildew by absorbing excess moisture.
• Pomander: Pomander is a sweet-smelling ball of perfume. Make your own by studding oranges with whole cloves (feel free to make your own designs). Set the oranges close together, but evenly spaced. Display the gorgeous pomander as a centerpiece.
• Lavender: If you like the effect of calming scents, lavender is perfect for relieving tension and easing nerves. Make an easy air freshener by filling a spray bottle with a ¾ cup of water, 2 tablespoons of real vanilla extract, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of chamomile essential oil.
• Jasmine: This flower scent is calming like lavender, but also uplifting and energetic. Make an air freshener by filling a small spray bottle with ½ cup and 5 drops of jasmine essential oil (use more or less based on your preference).