Have you ever looked at the ingredient list for all those air fresheners, fragrance waxes and the like? It reads like a chemical warfare nightmare. Some of them even make your nose and eyes burn, or make you cough. I can't imagine that they are doing our health any favors when we use them long term. You can do a little research and find some of the "benefits" of using these chemicals. One that comes to mind is that many of them are Xenoestrogens. In other words, they are chemicals that have an estrogen-like effect on our bodies, especially when we are regularly exposed to them in our cleaners, plastics, air fresheners, shampoos, soaps, etc. As they build up in our bodies, they can throw our whole endocrine system out of whack and we can end up with thyroid, adrenal, pancreatic, and other hormonal issues. Chemical cocktail, anyone?
We want our homes to smell nice and not like last night's fish dinner, but we don't want to pay the price with our health. So what's a girl to do? Here are a few easy, cheap recipes that are a healthy alternative:
Air Freshener & Linen Spray #1 This is the official, "I-am-so-together" recipe. It works great, but I usually use recipe #2, because I live in the real world. I need super-fast recipes. If you only use air freshener occasionally, and it will sit around a long time, this is the recipe for you. The distilled water and alcohol will act as preservatives.
3 cup distilled water
3 oz. isopropyl alcohol
15-30 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or other essential oil of choice. Some nice ones are Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Orange or Lemon. Or try combining scents. For a more feminine choice, try Jasmine or Ylang Ylang.)
Shake together in a spray bottle. Use to freshen the air, the curtains, the sofa, the linens, etc. (Always test in an inconspicuous area, first.)
Air Freshener & Linen Spray #2 This is the "I'm-in-a-hurry-and-I-need-it-now" recipe. It can't get any easier than this.
Fill your spray bottle with water. Add 15-30 drops Lavender Essential Oil or Essential Oil of choice (see above). Shake. Use as above.
Aromatherapy for the Home
It is so easy to make your home smell nice without chemicals. Simply put a pot of water on the stove and bring to a low simmer. Add several drops of essential oil, or add some cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. You can also use citrus peels. It smells wonderful, and in the winter, it has the benefit of adding moisture to the dry air.
