Air fresheners or linen sprays are one of the most toxic household products you can buy due to their chemical compositions. The negative effects differ depending on the formulation used, but they usually contain ‘fragrances’ which in actuality are chemical compounds that have pleasant odors. Same thing goes for any skincare or make-up products, fragrances added are never a good addition unless they are naturally derived.

 

In studies, fewer than ten percent of all volatile ingredients are typically disclosed on air freshener labels or material safety data sheets. One big part of this is to protect their own formulations. Not knowing every ingredient in a product you’re inhaling is just plain fishy, so I’d rather use natural solutions thanks!

 

• Liquid air fresheners (reed or plug in) typically contain fragrances and essential oils dissolved in a solvent like isopropyl alcohol (think rubbing alcohol)

 

• Gel products such as evaporating beads, allow slow evaporation to prolong the fragrance

 

• Oil burners (tea light warming a fragrance oil), allows the scent to spread easily, however you’re also burning off that fragrance (which again, is a chemical)

 

• Aerosol sprays use compressed gas propellants like butane or propane. Many of these sprays have additional purposes as advertised, to remove odors by using disinfectants which are still chemicals to kill bacteria or mold. An example of a disinfectant used is ethanol.

 

The composition of the fragrance mixture is likely more influential on emissions than the type of delivery mechanism. Of all VOCs (Volatile Organic Compound) emitted from any method of freshening as above, approximately one-fourth are classified as potentially toxic or hazardous under one or more federal laws in the US, and all air fresheners tested emitted one or more of these compounds.

 

 

That’s some scary shit.

 

 

The general public lacks awareness and assurance on the meaning of green. A survey of the North American population found that 72.6% were not aware that fragranced products, even ones called green and organic, can emit hazardous air pollutants.

 

Immediate reactions when using these products can be redness and irritation to the skin and eyes, and even coughing, choking and difficulty catching your breath, but those symptoms can lessen when inhaling fresh air. Swallowing these products can cause different toxicity levels ranging from mouth irritation, to life-threatening. Liquid and bead air fresheners are the most toxic to children, as they are capable of swallowing a large amount compared to a wax burner. There had even been a case where a woman suffered burns because of lighting her cigarette which ignited the flammable chemicals of an automatic spraying freshener.

 

Long-term exposure can significantly impact air quality in general. Migraines, headaches, asthma attacks, mucosal symptoms and overall breathing difficulties are just some long-term examples that you could suffer from when using these products.

 

If you feel like you need to add something to your environment to spruce up the smell, I’d highly recommend using safer alternatives like essential oils in a diffuser (cap it at 6 drops and add more when the scent fades), or even adding a few drops to a glass spray bottle for your home, linen, or car. The bonus of using essential oils is that you’re receiving the therapeutic effect of that particular oil, but make sure you use a pure essential oil! Synthetic essential oils are just as bad as the above air fresheners, so don’t buy cheap oils from HomeSense or Amazon!

 

 

Or you can just open a few windows.

 

 

 

 

 

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The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or substituted for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. The information we provide is for general use. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional before making any medical decisions. 

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by The Honesty Policy, you do so solely at your own risk.