Air fresheners are marketed as an easy way to bring fresh, natural smells into our homes, with names such as “clean breeze” and “simply spring.” But the main ingredients in commercial air fresheners are not actually close to nature; instead they tend to be industrial chemicals, some of which are listed as chemical hazards by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
5 Natural Air Fresheners
Don’t want these nasty chemicals all over your house (and your family’s respiratory tract)? We don’t blame you! If you have the time, try this recipe for a nontoxic, homemade natural air freshener from Itty Bitty Impact. Otherwise, try one of our five favorite truly natural air fresheners below.
Aura Cacia Pocket Diffuser, $22
This portable, folding diffuser is perfect for travel or even atop your desk at work. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the diffuser and the battery-powered fan will disperse the therapeutic aroma.
Mia Rose Air Therapy Mists, $22
Spritz the fragrant aroma of Mia Rose’s essential oil mists around areas of your home that need a little freshening up. Scents range from key lime and orange to vanilla and winter spice.
Plantlife Lavender Essential Oil, $16
Reach for a bottle of this lavender essential oil for its relaxing benefits. A little goes a long way! Add a few drops to a tissue and breathe in its calming properties, or use the oil in a homemade reed diffuser.
PurePalette Home Diffuser Oil Gift Set, $16
Complete with natural reeds and a recycled glass vase, this home diffuser oil gift set takes the work out of homemade air fresheners in one simple gift set—plus, it’s beautiful to look at! Look for it in Lemongrass Lavender, Green Tea and Cucumber, or even French Lavender.
Zum Lavender-Mint Room & Body Mist, $11
A combination of purified water and pure essential oils, this mist works great on everything from your face to your laundry. Try the best-selling Zum Mist scent Lavender-Mint for a truly luxurious experience.
Ingredient to Watch for: Formaldehyde
If you ever buy conventional air fresheners—the plug-in or spray kind, or the ones that look like a little dome—you might want to reconsider. Most air fresheners contain formaldehyde, petroleum distillates and aerosol propellants. Formaldehyde is an ingredient of particular concern. A suspected human carcinogen linked with lung and nasal cancer, formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, and difficulty breathing for some. In high concentrations, it may trigger asthma attacks.
