| In full confession, and to the disappointment of a great many readers, we've never found a truly natural alternative to the common room sprays like Febreze, whose ingredient disclosure shows dozens of fragrance chemicals that warn against respiratory irritation, endocrine disruption, and indoor air pollution.
Even Mrs. Meyerâs Clean Day. Youâd think with a name like âClean Dayâ youâd be safe, but this is a perfect example of greenwashing â using wholesome-sounding language to mask the fact that these sprays are still filled with toxic chemicals.
Airwicks, Febreze, the plugins from Bath & Body, and all other synthetic fragrance containers are doing untold damage not just to us and our bodies, but to the entire planet â rivers, ecosystems, everything. đ
They produce excess chemical waste, and the chemical companies are getting rich, hand over fist, telling you that you need these things. Why theyâre permitted to manufacture these things, even in a free market, is disturbing when there are so many safer, healthier ways to bring aromatherapy into peopleâs homes.
Aerosol sprays are also toxic, so you can make your own room spray / freshener, but I recommend making them using only clear essential oils.
The old âtestâ for a real essential oil was whether it dried without leaving a color stain. That doesnât always hold true, though â oils like mandarin and tangerine are bright orange and can stain fabric.
The carrier is water, so something is going to get wet. That can be fine in small amounts, but you donât want pets walking through the residue, getting it on their paws, or having to clean it off the floor. That's not good.
If you still want to experiment, put filtered water in a spray bottle with a super fine mist and use it sparingly on surfaces that wonât need extra cleaning or risk pet exposure. A little here and there is fine, just avoid food areas and donât overdo it.
Warning. Like chemical fragrances, essential oils can be harmful if too much is sprayed in a small room, so be mindful. I have made this mistake many times.
So what can you do if you want good, safe scents in your holistic home? Â
Unless itâs medical, like myrrh and frankincense, I much prefer single EO applications.
You can get essential oil diffuser anywhere like Whole Foods, Target, or TJ Maxx. You can get an essential oil or a blend there, too. I will say that Iâm not a huge fan of essential oil blends. Iâve been experimenting with them since I was 11 years old, and many of them smell generic and outdated.
My fave are just pure đ mandarin, bergamot, or neroli (on special occasions, because itâs quite expensive), pettigrain is also nice, bitter orange, lemon, or lime (though lime is a bit pricier). đ¤
Tangerine is lovely for children's rooms, and lavender, of course, is used traditionally at night time for relaxation or sleep. đ¤ I've never diffused rose, as it's quite expensive and strong.
Another fave is pure eucalyptus globulus (not eucalyptus citriodora), which smells like a cousin to lemongrass. And while I love lemongrass in my Thai soup, I donât want it on my skin or personal effects, or throughout the house, not even as bug spray. đŞ°
For bug spray, I stick to the same eucalyptus in any carrier oil (avocado oil is lighter in scent than olive oil). Apricot, almond, or algae oil will also do. Works like a charm. If you want to embolden your recipe, use some peppermint to make it a bit sharper.Â
Experiment. Find what you like.
I get my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs and Starwest Botanicals (with their wholesale account options). They also have different varieties of frankincense if youâre obsessed like me. You donât have to buy in bulk, you just get way better pricing, so look into it. Note: I have tried all of their perfumes and blends and prefer my singles!Â
Once you pick your oils, you can choose any number of tools to help disperse your essential oils, natureâs gift to us! đ¸Â |
