Clearing the Air: The Harms of Synthetic Scenting in the Home

Currently I am at home with my family in West Palm Beach enjoying the balmy, fresh air of Florida’s subtropical climate. I have been spending most of my time outdoors these last couple of weeks, not because of my inherent love of nature, but also because I’ve grown more cognizant of indoor pollutants that exist within our homes.

During my first few days back, I experienced headaches that would take place roughly around the same time every day. At first, I believed that it may have been hormonal symptoms stemming from my period that commenced a day or two before boarding the flight to Palm Beach International only days prior. However, the symptoms persisted days after my period ended (and headaches are not a common symptom I ever deal with during previous cycles).

Things became even more suspicious when I experienced two days of allergies filled with sneezing, a runny nose, red / watery eyes, and head congestion. However, I have never experienced seasonal allergies before in my life (thanks, DNA). When I checked the pollen count in the area online, I could not find anything out of the ordinary with the numbers, even at the height of spring.

After downing several cups of nettle, the allergy-like symptoms subsided until it was time for dinner one evening. As soon as I sat down at the kitchen counter, my nose immediately began to burn with irritation and my eyes watered from the strong scent emitting from a reed diffuser sitting right in front of me. This unlikely item was the culprit.

Home fragrances are emissions. They emit incredibly toxic chemicals into the air that we breathe similar to what is found in highly polluted environments all over the world — except this time, it is in our homes. According to a white paper titled, “Ten questions concerning air fresheners and indoor built environments,” by Anne Steinemann and published by Elsevier in 2016, less than 10% of volatile ingredients used in air fresheners are actually disclosed to the public:

“An analysis of VOCs from common air fresheners, including ones called green and organic, found fewer than 10% of volatile ingredients disclosed on the product label, material safety data sheet, or elsewhere to the public. Ingredients listed were typically general or neutral sounding ones, such as “fragrance,” “essential oils,” “water,” “organic perfume,” or “quality control ingredients.” All air fresheners tested (e.g., sprays, gels, solids, disks, oils) emitted chemicals classified as toxic or hazardous under US federal laws.¹”

What’s worse are the side-effects and damaging results of exposure to such harmful emissions on a daily-basis. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), increased concentration of fragrances inhaled in home environments can cause unfavorable skin, respiratory, and overall health outcomes, including headaches, asthma exacerbations, respiratory challenges, cardiovascular and neurological issues, mucosal irritation, and contact dermatitis, alongside other additional discomforts. Sounds familiar.

I’ve since removed all reed diffusers from my bedroom and bathroom and my nasal passages and lungs are so much better for it.

While I work with my loved ones transition away from Glade plug-ins, reed diffusers, and Bath & Body Works candles, here I will share my favorite (healthier) natural air cleaning options:

1. Sage
   Sage is almost always a go-to in our home. Not only does it clean the air with its wonderful scent, but it also cleans the energy in a space when vibes are less than ideal. While I absolutely love sage, the plant is endangered from climate change, wildfires, and over-harvesting as I limit my acquisition of the plant to once a year.

2. Resin-based incenses
   The scents that waft from burning frankincense and myrrh resins (yes, the same frankincense and myrrh gifted to baby Jesus) are so warming in the home and create a tranquil calm as it influences hormone levels and regulates the nervous system. I source my batch from my good friend in Ethiopia (thanks, Meaza!). The antioxidant properties of these resins also purify the air.

3. Incenses and cones
   I find classic incenses and cones to be sophisticated additions to any mantle and an absolute joy to watch burn (sometimes I think I have fire-starter sensibilities). Be mindful of the ingredients used in the production of your incenses to avoid causing more harm than good in the air-cleaning process of your home. Check out my previous post from an incense workshop I attended.

4. Essential oils
   Essential oils are a well-known answer for not only spreading rich smells to recharge stale spaces, but they also act as a wonderful form of aromatherapy for the mind and body for full-body calm and relaxation. For the purpose of air cleaning, all you need is a diffuser. This is my fancy ceramic one.

5. Baking soda
   Simply placing small bowls of baking soda in odorous areas of the house will entrap bad odors in a cinch.

6. Mugwort
   Similar to sage, mugwort is another beautiful plant that does wonders for any smelly space while also lifting lowly, negative energy out of your home. It also induces sleep and encourages vivid dreams. Full disclaimer: I would describe the smell of burning mugwort as a trip to a marijuana dispensary. ;)

7. Simmer pots
   This is a lovely option for a quick fix in a smelly kitchen and surrounding rooms adjacent to the dining area. Simply add smell-good items such as orange rind, lemon peels, thyme, and / or cinnamon sticks to a pot of boiling water and your home will smell all kinds of magical.

8. Plants!
   Indoor plants are godsends in filtering and purifying the air in any home removing common air toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene. Some top plants to add to your arsenal include the rubber tree, aloe vera, and for those with a black thumb, sansevieria — a low-light and low-maintenance plant buddy.