Why air freshener is dangerous and harmful: from fire hazard to allergies

Everyone wants pleasant aromas to reign in their home. This can be easily achieved by using an air freshener, which can be purchased very inexpensively at any hardware store. It’s a pity that few people know how dangerous this artificial odor generator is. Industrial air fresheners contain dangerous volatile substances that can undermine human health.

What does an air freshener consist of?

Today, manufacturers of household chemicals produce many different fresheners and fragrances, the purpose of which is to mask bad odors and create a pleasant atmosphere in the room. These products are made in the form of aerosols, gels, liquids or sticks. Some formulations emit a pleasant odor when heated, others simply smell until the supply of aromatic substances is depleted.

However, all chemical air fresheners, without exception, are capable of harming human health to one degree or another, since they contain hazardous substances.

Here are the main ingredients present in air purifiers:

Ethanol is a highly flammable alcohol used as a solvent.
Formaldehyde is a toxic, colorless gas with a pungent odor that acts as a powerful deodorant.
Sodium nitrite is a reducing agent, a fire-hazardous toxic substance, added as a reducing agent and preservative.
Benzene is a carcinogenic liquid with a specific odor, included in the composition as a solvent.
Phthalates - fix odors. They are deposited in the kidneys and have a negative effect on the endocrine system.
Pinene, limonene - chemical fragrances.

The biggest evil comes from aerosol drugs. When sprayed, tiny particles of chemicals are released into the atmosphere, penetrating the body through the respiratory system and through the pores of the skin. One must have truly great health to withstand such an onslaught of carcinogenic substances.

Options for creating natural air fresheners for your home

Let's look at different options for homemade air fresheners for the living room, bedroom, hallway, kitchen, bathroom and toilet, and also learn how to make “scents” for car interiors. And most importantly - everything is done with your own hands and only from environmentally friendly and healthy ingredients.

Flavors for apartments

To make your own air freshener, you will need your favorite essential oils, dried flowers with a strong scent, dried citrus peels, fragrant plant twigs and even some spices. Since even such a natural ingredient as essential oil can cause allergies, we strongly advise you to first make sure that the aroma of a particular plant is tolerable.

DIY gel air freshener made from gelatin and essential oils

The most “long-lasting” air freshener. For decoration and to enhance the aroma, you can safely use dried flowers, such as violet, rose or peony, dried citrus peels, as well as various beads, pebbles, shells and ribbons for decoration. Also take care of a beautiful vase or jar in which the flavor will be located.

Tip: choose a container made of transparent glass or plastic - this way all the “beauty” will be visible if you decorate the flavor with decorative elements.

So, you will need:

boiling water - 1 glass;
gelatin - 2 tbsp. spoons;
glycerin - 1–1.5 tbsp. spoons;
food coloring - 1/3 teaspoon;
essential oil.

Gelatin will be needed to create a gel-like consistency, and glycerin will prevent the flavor from drying out quickly. Food coloring will add a beautiful color to the resulting gel. You can also add a stick of cinnamon or 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon if you like the smell. You will need a little oil, only 5-10 drops for a moderate aroma and 15-20 for a stronger and more saturated one.

Once you have prepared a suitable container and all the ingredients, proceed to action.

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and remove from heat.
Dissolve gelatin in boiling water and cool slightly.
Add dye.
Add cinnamon (optional).
Pour in glycerin.
Add essential oil.
Pour the resulting liquid into a container.
Place decorative elements, flowers, peels, aromatic herbs.
Leave to cool for 2–2.5 hours.

After the freshener hardens, it will turn into a thick jelly. Of course, you can leave everything as is, but we recommend using your imagination and decorating the jar. This will create a fragrant home decor that will not only give a unique aroma to the room, but also decorate it.

By the way, using the same principle, you can make a “New Year’s” freshener using oils from coniferous trees, twigs and cones for decoration.

You can extend the “life” of the freshener if you notice that the gel begins to dry out. Lubricate the surface of the gel with a few drops of essential oil and glycerin, and it will delight you with a fresh aroma for a long time.

Also, in order to preserve its freshness for a long time, it is recommended to sprinkle sugar on top, which will “preserve” the contents, but at the same time will allow the aroma to pass through.

Soda freshener

A very simple air freshener. You will need:

a small glass or plastic jar with a lid (250 ml);
soda - 1 tbsp. spoon;
essential oil - 30–40 drops;
foil;
stationery eraser.

Unlike the gel flavor, preparing this flavor will take just a few minutes . Do the following:

Flavoring with salt and petals

For this option, we will “preserve” beautifully smelling flowers, petals and aromatic herbs.

In addition to flowers and herbs, you will need:

glass jar with screw cap;
ordinary kitchen salt - approximately 500 g, but you will need less;
alcohol or vodka - 50 ml;
a few drops of essential oil - optional.

When you have prepared all the components, you can start working.

Place 1–1.5 cm of flowers on the bottom of the jar.
Cover the flowers with salt in one layer.
Alternate flowers and salt until there is about 1 inch left at the top.
Add alcohol and close the jar tightly with a lid.
Shake well so that the entire contents are saturated with alcohol.
Place in a dark place and do not open for 2 weeks.
Shake the jar every few days.
After 2 weeks, open the jar and pour the aromatic mixture into any container.

Don't worry about smelling like alcohol. The characteristic smell will quickly disappear, and the magical aroma of flowers will fill the room. You can use vases, bowls, and glasses as containers for flavoring.

The only downside to this scent option is that you have to wait a whole two weeks, but then your home will be filled with the scents of the garden for a long time.

Freshener in a spray bottle with essential oils

The simplest air freshener option that will help refresh and fill the air with aromas in a matter of seconds at the right time. You will need:

essential oils;
pure water (preferably distilled);
regular spray bottle.

You can use a spray bottle from an old cosmetic product (for example, hair spray) or from an expired “store-bought” air freshener. If you are using an old sprayer, be sure to wash it thoroughly. You will choose the amount of essential oil yourself, based on your own sense of smell and the size of the container. We suggest taking 10 drops of oil for half a liter of water, and then proceed at your own discretion. You will need just enough water to be able to shake the bottle before use.

This air freshener is suitable for any room in the house: living room, bedroom, kitchen and even bathroom. You can buy several diffusers and make a fragrance for each room by adding different aromatic oils. For the hallway you can take rosemary or cedarwood essential oil, for the living room - orange, grapefruit, ylang-ylang; for the bedroom - lavender or patchouli. Feel free to use spruce, cedar or lemon oil in the bathroom and toilet, and orange, geranium, and mint oils in the kitchen.

Fragrance with baby oil for body

You will need the following ingredients:

baby body oil - 150–200 ml;
vodka - 2 tbsp. spoons;
essential oil 5–10 drops;
wooden skewers;
glass vase;
decor as desired.

Oil, unlike water, practically does not evaporate. This fact is of great importance, since this flavor option will be “open”. As for wooden skewers, wood is known to absorb liquids and aromas.

Regarding the container, you will need a transparent vase with a wide neck, and since it will also act as decoration, take care of decorative stones, balls, ribbons and other decorations.

So let's get down to business:

pour baby oil into a vase;
add vodka and essential oil;
mix everything well;
place skewers in the vase - the more, the better;
turn the sticks over after 3 hours and your freshener is ready.

While the sticks absorb the “smells,” you can start decorating the vase. After 2-3 hours, the skewers will be completely saturated and will then emit a magical aroma for a long time.

This homemade room scent will last at least 3 weeks. All you need to do is turn the skewers periodically.

Flavor with the smell of your favorite perfume

Everyone has a perfume that runs out, or an empty bottle that still exudes a subtle scent and is therefore a pity to throw away. We offer to give new life to your favorite scent. You will need:

perfume bottle;
small scissors;
distilled or boiled water;
wooden culinary skewers;
syringe.

We only need the bottle, so the sprayer will have to be removed using old scissors. It is advisable to sterilize skewers in boiling water. Using a syringe, fill the bottle one quarter full with water and insert wooden sticks into the neck. The intensity and duration of the smell will depend on the quality of the perfume or eau de parfum itself. Since the neck of perfume bottles is narrow, the liquid will evaporate very slowly and this flavor will last for a long time.

Video: how to make a freshener from your favorite perfume

Citrus flavor for the kitchen

Unfortunately, there are also unpleasant odors in the kitchen. A citrus freshener in a spray bottle will help eliminate the smell from runaway milk or burnt dinner. You will need:

spray;
vodka - 200 ml;
orange, lemon - 1 pc.;
water - boiled or distilled;
orange oil - 3-4 drops.

You only need the peels of the fruit, so you can eat the pulp for your health.

Tip: cut the fruit peels into thin strips - they will not only be a source of smell, but also have a decorative appearance in the bottle.

After you have separated the pulp from the skin and cut the latter into strips, you can begin preparing the freshener.

Place half of the peels in a spray bottle.
Hide the remaining peels in the refrigerator.
Fill the contents with vodka.
Place the spray bottle in a dark place and let the contents brew for 2 days.
Open the bottle.
Add essential oil.
Throw the remaining peels into the bottle and add water.
Shake the bottle well.

When you see that the air freshener is running out, feel free to start preparing a new one. By the way, any clean container or bottle will be useful for this.

Tip: if you need to quickly eliminate an unpleasant odor, but don’t have a freshener at hand, then take a few coffee beans, a cinnamon stick or dried citrus peels and place them on a hot burner of the gas stove. In just a minute, your kitchen will be filled with the aroma of coffee, cinnamon or orange.

Toilet fragrance

To maintain a constant pleasant and fresh smell in the toilet and bathroom, you can use any of the above options. We advise you to choose not only those essential oils that you simply like, but also those that can kill bacteria and fungi. These include tea tree, fir, grapefruit, lavender, ylang-ylang, and clove oils.

Since the toilet is not the most sterile place, you will also need additional toilet fragrances. They should not only freshen the air, but also have disinfecting and cleansing properties.

Toilet bombs 3 in 1

For 30 bombs with a diameter of 2.5–3 cm you will need the following ingredients:

laundry soap shavings - 3 tbsp. heaped spoons;
baking soda - 1 cup;
citric acid - 3 tbsp. spoons;
hydrogen peroxide - 2 tbsp. spoons;
essential oils - 20 drops are enough.

Laundry soap will make the mass from which you will make bombs plastic. It also has antimicrobial properties. But, at your discretion, instead of laundry soap, you can use any other soap, for example, colored soap. As for citric acid and peroxide, they have a devastating effect on bacteria and fungi. To add additional disinfecting properties to this “explosive” mixture, as well as a magical aroma, we recommend taking four types of oils and measuring 5 drops from each. Let's get down to business.

Grate the soap to make about 3 tbsp. heaped spoons.
Melt the shavings in a water bath.
Pour baking soda and citric acid into a bowl with soap shavings.
Mix thoroughly.
Add essential oil.
Pour in hydrogen peroxide and stir again - you should get a thick, viscous mass.
Make round balls with a diameter of 2.5–3 cm.
Place the bombs on a flat surface, such as a baking sheet lined with newspaper.
Leave to dry at room temperature for 4-5 hours.

You can, of course, simply mix all the ingredients by grating the soap on a fine grater. But to obtain a homogeneous soft consistency, it is recommended to first melt the chips and then mix with the rest of the ingredients.

To make the bombs beautiful, add a little food coloring to the mixture. Fragrant multi-colored balls will delight the eye and decorate the toilet room. When the “bombs” are dry, you can safely use them. You can store the finished bombs in a box in the bathroom or put them in a bowl, from where they will emit an aroma, further refreshing the room.

In order to keep the toilet always clean and the air in the toilet fresh, you need to throw one such bomb into the toilet or flush tank every day. They threw it in, waited 5 minutes and washed it off - the smell was pleasant, the toilet was clean, the germs were destroyed.

Toilet tablets 3 in 1

Toilet tablets are made in a similar way. You can make them with your hands like bombs or use a silicone ice mold.

For 30 tablets we will need the following components:

soda - 2 cups or 15 tbsp. spoon;
citric acid - 5 tbsp. spoon;
hydrogen peroxide - 5 tbsp. spoon;
vinegar 9% - 2.5 tbsp. spoons;
essential oils - 20–25 drops;
water.

Add water “by eye”, a little at a time, so that the mass does not turn out to be too liquid.

In one bowl, mix baking soda and citric acid.
In another bowl, mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
Gradually pour the liquid into the mixture of soda and citric acid and stir immediately.
After combining the contents of the two bowls, add essential oils.
Add some water.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly until smooth.
Make 30 flattened balls or fill ice molds with the mixture.
Allow the tablets to dry for 4-5 hours.

Use ready-made tablets in the same way as bombs.

Tip: do not dry toilet tablets on the radiator - they may crack. It is best to dry at room temperature.

Making scented toilet tablets is not difficult at all.

Video: how to make toilet freshener tablets with your own hands

Block toilet freshener 3 in 1

For this type of air freshener you will need any old toilet hanging block and the following components:

any soap - 100 g (1 pack of regular soap or half a pack of laundry soap);
vinegar - 1 tbsp. spoon;
soda - 2 tbsp. spoons;
glycerin - 1 tbsp. spoon;
essential oil - 10-15 drops.

To enhance the aroma, you can buy a fragrance with the scent you like.

Instructions for preparing the filler:

Grate the soap on a fine grater.
In a deep bowl, thoroughly mix all ingredients.
Using your hands, form into blocks or balls depending on what you need for the block.
Wrap the remaining homemade air freshener in film and store it in a dark place, out of reach of children.

The big advantage of such a freshener is that the soap is washed off gradually, so it lasts for 3-4 weeks for one person living in an apartment. Of course, the duration of such a block will depend on the intensity of visiting the toilet.

Gel block toilet freshener

You can also make your own gel freshener for the hanging unit. Gelatin will help achieve the consistency of a thick gel.

Components for preparing the freshener:

gelatin - 20 g;
water - 1 glass;
salt - 2 tbsp. spoons;
soda - 2 tbsp. spoons;
vinegar - 3 tbsp. spoons;
essential oils - 30–40 drops;
food coloring - 1 pack.

Your actions:

Pour the gelatin into a deep bowl and fill it with hot water.
When the gelatin swells, stir it with water until completely dissolved.
Add dye, salt, soda, vinegar, oils and stir until all ingredients are dissolved.
Pour the mixture into a shallow container and refrigerate for several hours.
After the mixture has hardened, remove it from the refrigerator and cut into pieces of the desired size.

A shallow rectangular container is suitable as a form. The future jelly is poured 1.5–2 cm thick, depending on the thickness of the toilet hanging block. The jelly is cut out according to the shape of the block, and the rest is cut into the same pieces, after which it is carefully wrapped in film and stored in the freezer.

The simplest bathroom freshener

Cotton wool soaked in essential oils can refresh and absorb unpleasant odors. Simply apply 5-10 drops of oil to a small piece of cotton wool and place it in a small jar or bowl. You can enhance the effect of the fragrance by placing it near a heat source.

How do air fresheners affect the body?

According to scientists, the harm of air fresheners can hardly be overestimated. Moreover, all the most important systems of the body suffer: nervous, respiratory, digestive, circulatory.

Regular inhalation of the chemical can adversely affect the functioning of the nervous system. Formaldehyde vapor causes lethargy and drowsiness, weakness and decreased performance. In case of severe poisoning, a headache appears, fingers tremble, and vision decreases.
On the part of the respiratory system, frequent use of a refreshing aerosol leads to lack of air, burning and sore throat. Severe poisoning can result in bronchospasm, shortness of breath, and pulmonary edema.

The use of air fresheners in an apartment where people with bronchial asthma live is strictly prohibited!

Excessive use of air-flavoring substances may disrupt the functioning of the digestive system. In this case, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain appear.
The air freshener is harmful for people prone to allergies. When the chemical comes into contact with the skin, it causes redness, burning and itching. Sometimes you may even develop eczema.
Harmful vapors negatively affect the composition of the blood, reducing hemoglobin, which leads to anemia.

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Many people constantly use air-refreshing aerosols and do not understand why they feel bad, because intoxication does not accumulate immediately. If at least one of the listed symptoms of poisoning is noticed, you should stop using the chemical, ventilate the room and consult a doctor.

Incomplete composition on the label

As part of the “Safe Cosmetics” campaign, research was conducted on the composition of the products we use every day. In the process of testing the products, a dozen chemical compounds were found that were not even listed on the label .

The study covered not only air fresheners, but also lotions, shampoos and other hair styling products. It is worth knowing that in the world there are about 3 thousand ingredients that are used to create these aromatic products.

This is also confirmed by the results of studies carried out at the request of the European Consumer Union. Most air fresheners contain toxic substances that are certainly higher than safe levels .

Researchers from Emory University in Atlanta also took up the topic of dangerous air fresheners. They confirmed that the chemicals contained in air fresheners cause asthma, hormone imbalances, and carcinogenic mutations in DNA.

So why do manufacturers add these substances to their products? The answer is simple - they are certainly cheaper than natural aromatic ingredients.