How To Avoid Dirty Ingredients In Toxic Home Fragrances

Learn about the potential harm that toxic home fragrances can cause, including headaches, respiratory issues, and even hormone disruption.

The use of home fragrances has become increasingly popular in recent years, with a wide range of scented candles, air fresheners, and other products available on the market. However, many of these products contain toxic chemicals that can have negative effects on our health. In this blog, we will explore the hidden health hazards of toxic home fragrances and provide 3 natural alternatives for scenting your home. 

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Why Are Most Commercial Home Fragrance Products Toxic?

Artificially scented aerosol room sprays, scented plugins, upholstery deodorizers, and even artificially scented trash bags are some of the worst offenders when introducing toxic chemicals into your home and the air you breathe daily.

Due to consistent long-term exposure and easy entry into the bloodstream via the lungs, chemicals found in most commercially produced home fragrance products can:

• Damage to your central nervous system (CNS)
• Suppress the function of your immune system
• Result in long-term damage to your kidneys, liver, and reproductive organs
• Are linked to excessive weight gain and obesity

Also, be wary of candles and diffusers that are often green-washed as “all-natural” but still contain “parfum” or “fragrance” or “natural fragrances” in their ingredients list. The term “fragrance” is a blanket industry loophole that allows companies to put whatever toxic ingredient they want into a product without having to disclose the toxic ingredients to the customer, claiming that their scent blends are trade secrets.

The chemicals used to produce these manufactured home fragrance products quickly enter your bloodstream through the lungs, affecting the function of white blood cells, and suppressing your immune system. Beyond that, these artificial fragrances also carry EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals) which are toxic compounds that affect the natural balance of hormones in your body which can result in weight gain, infertility, and long-term damage to reproductive organs. The negative effects of these toxic chemicals are compounded the longer and more consistently you are exposed to these chemicals.

What Toxic Ingredients Should I Look For In Home Fragrance Products?

When looking to avoid toxic home fragrances you should avoid these ingredients, phthalates, parabens, BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), acid aldehyde, and benzyl aldehyde are some of the worst offenders and are known neurotoxins that can cause long-term damage to the central nervous system and reproductive system and, on a lesser scale, can cause skin, eye, and lung irritation.

What Are Some Safe, Non-Toxic Ways To Naturally Scent My Home?

1) Simmer Pots

A simmer pot full of delicious fruits and spices is a cost-effective way to make your home smell like you’ve been baking all day. As an added bonus, it’s a great way to add some moisture when the winter air starts getting dry. Save and strain the simmering liquid when you’re done. It makes an awesome countertop cleaner that smells delicious. 

2) Naturally Scented Candles

While many candles out there are some of the worst offenders when it comes to exposing your home to toxic chemicals, candles made from high-quality natural waxes and scented with essential oils are a good alternative. Three things to consider when searching for an all-natural, non-toxic candle:

1. Wax type- look for beeswax, soy wax, or coconut wax

2. Wick type- cotton, wood, or paper are best

3. Fragrance source- look for candles scented with essential oils only

• P.F. Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco– Delicious if you love a luxurious, woodsy scent.
• NEOM- Happiness Scented Candle– A subtle scent uniquely blended to uplift your mood with notes of neroli, mimosa, and lemon.
• Brooklyn Candle Studio Santorini Cande– Earthy, fruity aroma with notes of figs and currants. Woodsy notes of sandalwood and amber form a rich, warm base that will make you dream of Santorini.

3) Essential Oil Diffusers

Finding it hard to part with your scented plugins? Diffusers are a great alternative. AromaTech’s Santal scent will make your house smell like a high-end hotel. Their products are created from all-natural essential oil blends and are vegan, pet friendly, and don’t contain harmful additives such as parabens, sulfates, or synthetic colors.

 

 

• AromaTech Santal Oil For Diffusers– A blend of sandalwood and papyrus creates a sense of warmth and understated sophistication.
• Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser– The sleek design elevates any space. Handcrafted from porcelain, this diffuser uses ultrasonic technology to help maintain the integrity of essential oils as they are diffused into the air.

Suggested Reading: The Toxic Chemicals Hiding Under Your Kitchen Sink & How to Ditch Them

Bonus!

It’s easy to create your own natural room spray at home. Add the following ingredients to a spray bottle, shake, and spray!

Supplies:

1. Glass Spray Bottle
2. Distilled Water
3. Essential Oils
4. Vanilla Extract or Almond Extract

Directions:

1. Pour distilled water into the glass spray bottle until it is 2/3 full
2. Add in your favorite essential oils (lavender with vanilla or lemon with almond are really nice combinations)
3. Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla or almond extract (optional)
4. Add more water if needed to fill the bottle

Remember to shake the bottle before each use!

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