Just because something smells nice and fresh doesn’t mean that it is good for you. Air fresheners are a prime example.
Air fresheners can work by interfering with your sense of smell by coating your nasal passages with an oily film, or they can contain nerve-numbing agents.
Information published in a 2015 issue of The Journal of Toxicological Sciences [J Toxicol Sci. 2015;40(5):535-50. doi: 10.2131/jts.40.535.] concluded that air fresheners are a source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments. They also contain ultrafine particles and formaldehyde which may cause sensory irritation, respiratory dysfunction, and other serious problems.
The full list of harmful side effects is long and scary: damage to the central nervous system, altered hormone levels, organ damage, and damage the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Even worse, the negative effects of air fresheners may take years to surface. At that point, it’s too late.
Essential oils in an essential oil diffuser are the safe, natural alternative to making your home smell good and feel great.
But there is more to aromatic applications than just smelling good.
In the same way that harmful compounds, such as chemical cleaners or gases can be absorbed into our blood stream through inhalation, so can the positive properties of essential oils. Essential oils are also processed by the olfactory bulb and the limbic system, the same system that processes thoughts, memories, and emotions, which can help us feel calm, encouraged, and possibly even happier.