Having a house that smells inviting is a weakness of mine. While some people get headaches from the mixture of aromas wafting through many popular candle stores, I feel like a kid in a candy store who can barely contain her excitement. Even when I pass by the air freshener aisle at the grocery store, I always need to check out the selection of new scents.

You know the ones — clean linen, Hawaiian breeze, or fresh lemon.

What I didn’t know, however, was just how many horrible toxins I was putting into my body and diffusing into the air — or more importantly, the chemicals I was introducing to my children. Hopefully you did you research before buying into the lies that are air fresheners. However, if you’re like me and got a late education, now is the time to learn.

Why Should You Use Non Toxic Air Fresheners?

There are some people who may never notice the effects of these toxins. However, there are many people who are frequently fatigued or constantly have a weakened immune system. The culprit may actually lie in your air fresheners.

Don’t just take it from me. According to a study done by the NRDC where they tested 14 common air fresheners, “many of these products contain phthalates—hazardous chemicals known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems.” They also noted that even the products which were advertised as “all natural” or “unscented” still contained phthalates.

Scientific American also noted that, “Some of the most offensive ingredients—volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene and formaldehyde—can cause headaches and nausea and aggravate asthma, and have been linked to neurological damage and cancer.”

[bctt tweet=”I didn’t know about all the horrible toxins I was putting in my body by using air fresheners” username=”ecocentricmom”]

Where Can I Find Non Toxic Air Fresheners

Does that mean you can’t have a house that smells amazing?

Absolutely not.

My house still smells great, but I’m more aware of safe alternatives Here is a great guide to a selection of non-toxic air fresheners.

Mini Deodorizer and Dehumidifier

This mini deodorizer and dehumidifier by Ever Bamboo is a great non-toxic air freshener. They are great to put in your gym bag, locker, or really any small space. They completely eliminate odors and can last for up to a year. They’re also unscented!

Here is how it works: “Bamboo charcoal is produced from the rapidly growing moso bamboo. Its porous structure gives the charcoal its revolutionary abilities as both a deodorizer and dehumidifier.”

Natural Air and Fabric Freshener

This natural air and fabric freshener by Simply Earth is another non toxic air freshener that makes you forget all about that Hawaiian Breeze air freshener you used to love. This air freshener has a subtle scent of lavender and vanilla.

“Natural air freshener uses a premium quality essential oils and natural odor eliminators that keep your home smelling fresh.” There are no artificial perfumes or chemicals to worry about, either.

Diffuse Essential Oils

This is the main way that my house keeps from smelling like I have two toddlers and a 90 lb golden retriever. I absolutely love diffusing oils. If you don’t know much about essential oils, here is a great essential oil guide for beginners. Oils are definitely an amazing, non-toxic air freshener. If you don’t have an essential oil diffuser or need to get a new one, this essential oil diffuser by Simply Earth is amazing.

Make Your Own Non Toxic Air Freshener

If your house smells like a combination of old diapers and smelly toddlers, you can easily make your own non-toxic air freshener. Mix essential oils and baking powder for a quick and easy non toxic air freshener. I also love making my own cleaner using essential oils. When I clean, my house automatically smells amazing!

Don’t be afraid to try a couple of these ideas to see what works best for you. These are all non-toxic air fresheners, which makes them a great alternative to what most people are currently using.