Evolving from noxious to natural air fresheners

It is rather perplexing how so many toilets and bathrooms all have, sitting on their shelves, at least one commercial synthetic air freshener and these are owned by quite intelligent people. If these people had any idea about how poisonous these canned substances of spurious chemical content can be to human biology, they would promptly rid themselves of the hazard. These artificial “fresheners” come in every conceivable scent flavour endeavouring to mimic a real botanical; none of these imitations actually derive from nature, being born in an industrial laboratory. Sadly, most supermarkets devote a lot of space to these noxious chemical cocktails. The hazards of toxic air fresheners are prolific and pervasive and contribute in their insidious way to myriad unpleasant health conditions; health issues that are generally not attributed to their ostensibly innocent cause. 

Fake fragrance freaks some of us out!

The good news is that the plant world offers some wonderfully safe and efficacious scented alternatives for those who wish to deodorise and upgrade the quality of the air in their home. Firstly, before we delve into how aromatherapy is indeed the natural solution to salubrious air freshening, it is necessary to unpack all the deleterious ways that artificial air fresheners are damaging to the brain and overall health. People deserve to understand how they are slowly but surely corroding the health and wellbeing of their family and environment every time they spray a masking fake fragrance into their space. The bogus fragrance is always left wanting, when we know and use the real thing - the pure plant essential oils directly distilled from the plants themselves. Frankly, most of the time the organic musty stale odours or poop smell that we wish to disperse is preferable to its smell-masking usurper that is cloyingly nauseating. It's like the Emperor’s New clothes, nobody wants to say that these omnipresent synthetic fragrances are an assault to their senses.

The toxic cocktail in common room-sprays

Many artificial air fresheners release VOCs, which are chemicals that easily become gases and here we do not mean plant volatile essential oils. Common VOCs in air fresheners include formaldehyde, benzene and toluene. Exposure to these chemicals can lead to headaches, dizziness and cognitive impairment over time. When certain VOCs from air fresheners react with ozone in the air, they can form secondary pollutants like formaldehyde and ultrafine particles. These secondary pollutants are far-reaching and can penetrate deep into the lungs and reach the bloodstream, wreaking havoc on the nervous, respiratory and immune systems. Is it any wonder that early onset dementia, ADHD and autoimmune disease are so ubiquitous in these modern times?

Phthalates are chemicals that are often used in air fresheners to prolong the scent. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means they can interfere with our sensitive hormonal systems. This disruption can have various adverse effects, including impacts that impair brain function and potentially lead to reproductive issues. Other nasty ingredients in artificial air fresheners are known neurotoxins. For example, certain solvents and synthetic fragrant compounds can affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms like memory loss, confusion and mood swings.

Many artificial fresheners contain synthetic fragrant compounds that can act as sensitisers or allergens. Chronic exposure to these can cause or exacerbate conditions like asthma and allergies like skin irritation, indirectly affecting brain health by reducing oxygen supply and increasing inflammation. Synthetic musk is another common ingredient used in air fresheners for its long-lasting scent; it can accumulate in the body and has been linked to neurotoxic effects. It should be noted how so many other home commodities, including scented candles, contain these repulsive chemical composites that are meant to seduce and delight when imbibed, but repel they do, so repugnant are they to the discerning nose.

Always align with Nature

Why on earth should we spend good money on artificial fresheners that are so hazardous to our health and the environment and fall severely short of their basic task to freshen, deodorise and please our noses? The plant world offers us such an easy, safe and pleasurable alternative for freshening our homes and quelling unpleasant odours naturally, without swamping everything in a persistent miasma of problematic, inorganic stench. When we use a pure plant room spray we can be reassured that our bodies, our children, our babies, pets and plants will not be exposed to life-corroding industrial particles.

Diffusing essential oils can fill a room with much more than just pleasant scent, it can create a tranquil and inviting atmosphere that transports us into Nature and can help neutralise unpleasant odours, making the air feel cleaner and fresher. We can use pure plant essential oils to enhance the ambiance and mood of our space with their calming properties that reduce stress and anxiety. Instead of impeding the breathing process, like so many products do, a good plant-based room spray can help open airways and alleviate symptoms of colds or allergies, encouraging easier breathing. Another excellent consequence of using a plant-based product is how the antimicrobial properties from the essential oils provide excellent protection that supports the immune system and helps fend off illnesses.

Disrupting the energy of our Space

The world would be a better place without artificial air fresheners. Opting for natural alternatives, such as essential plant oils will greatly reduce the risks of all the aforementioned health hazards. Artificial air fresheners absolutely contribute to indoor and outdoor air pollution, affecting overall air quality. Their volatile inescapable molecules can leach harmful chemicals into water sources, affecting what we drink and of course aquatic life. The chemicals in artificial sprays are disruptive to the energetic quality of a space and accordingly can have several psychological and emotional effects on individuals. Prolonged exposure to a disrupted electromagnetic space with high levels of harmful chemicals can lead to emotional disturbances, including irritability, depression and mood swings. A disrupted energetic space can be distracting and make it difficult to concentrate and be productive, causing mental fatigue and reducing overall efficiency.

It is so important to maintain a balanced and harmonious environment, paying attention to using pure plant scent fresheners that promote positive uplifting energy. People always feel more comfortable in naturally scented, pleasant environments that tend to promote positive emotions. Unnatural smells can lead to feelings of sadness, irritability or unease. Inhaling what is not from Nature, makes us feel unstable or unsafe triggering feelings of insecurity and discomfort. Beautiful plant scent aligned with nature and human ecology opens up our lungs, expands our hearts and uplifts our mind to life’s beautiful possibilities. The botanically enhanced energy of a space can positively influence social behaviour and interactions; beautifully perfumed environments are welcoming and encourage us to make authentic connections and cooperate with others.