Non-toxic air freshener

[Gilly100]

Can anyone recommend a non-toxic air freshener or how to make your own, that will not affect the lungs? Thanks in advance.

[Dogruff]

I mostly use essential oils as air freshener. Pop in a spray bottle with water or in a diffuser. Strangely, I find that can tolerate some incense also.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

No one has said this here but because I've seen people online who think that essential oils are ok for asthma as they are 'natural' or more pure: please be very cautious with them! If the scent is one that's a trigger, the more pure and natural it is the worse it will be. Cheap rubbish fake lavender or 'extract' is ok for me as long as it's not in an aerosol can, the pure quality stuff is the worst (much worse than aerosols in my case).

I personally am fine with citrus oils so I use those in one of those reed diffusers - there are likely to be options you can use even if some scents trigger you.

But it's extremely personal - I can't say that someone else should use those because they might be a trigger for them, just like lavender and rose aren't a problem for other people I know with severe asthma but are for me.

I would also say consider other people who may be in your house - is anyone else asthmatic, and if so are they fine with the scent too? Do you have regular visitors or family members with asthma or migraines (scent can be a migraine trigger and like with asthma, migraine triggers are variable)? You can't guard against every eventuality eg the postman, but it's worth considering people who are likely to be in the house a lot and making sure they're ok with it healthwise, since there isn't a single 'lung friendly' scent.

[Wheezycat in reply to Lysistrata]

I agree with Lysistrata. It is worth remembering that essential oils are concentrated plant scents. No plant in nature would come up with that, so as it has been concentrated it really isn't natural.

[lakelover]

Opening a window is good if you don't have too much pollution around you. It's free as well!

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to lakelover]

Problem is if you're like me and the smell is in the bathroom or kitchen - I have fans but no windows in either! And my neighbours seem to enjoy weed and fish, sometimes together.

I get why someone would want an air freshener that's ok for them, though I think some people are OTT when the choice is a smell or setting off someone's lungs - the smell won't kill them, but the spray can be a health issue.

[CDPO16 in reply to Lysistrata]

Sorry Lysistrata but your comment about your neighbours enjoying weed and fish together made me laugh. Can't comment about the weed but the smell of fish really lingers in an unpleasant way.

[Gilly100 in reply to lakelover]

Unfortunately I live on a main road and there is a lot of pollution. I have my bedroom window open at night

[runcyclexcski in reply to lakelover]

The UK is one of the worst countries in Europe (not the EU) in terms of air pollution, not mentioning pollen, farm smells, neighbors with BBQs, weed etc. Not living next to a big road is not enough.

I pump the air from the outside through two HEPSas and carbon-filter it before injecting it into the living space. Takes about 200W of energy in blowers.

[CDPO16]

I just open windows. All scented air fresheners, plug ins, diffusers and the like irritate my lungs.

[Wheezycat]

I got myself an air purifier. It wasn't cheap, but I find it helps to cope with smells that might affect my lungs. My triggers include anything that burns, but also some VOCs. As Lysistrata says, choose what you want with greatest of care, but if you can do without it is probably by far the best option.

[Gilly100]

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply, really helpful.

[Singinglouder]

I agree with Lysistrata that it’s very personal, also finding out what’s safe can be traumatic - I can’t go near the pot pourri section or the scented candle aisle in shops, especially at Christmas! - but I’ve found avoiding floral and going for vanilla is helpful. I’ve not (yet!) met anyone allergic to vanilla, and a reed diffuser is ideal because it’s easy to control the strength by restricting the number of sticks. Good luck finding something.

(I wonder how many people here will turn out to have vanilla as a trigger 😊)

[runcyclexcski]

If by "air freshener" one means removal of odors, that's a good idea for asthma and can be done with carbon-based purifiers (they remove odors from farms, smoke etc). I use IQAir's carbon beds, and greenhouse carbon beds work fine, too. Ozone and UV-based "purifiers" are bad news.

[Wheezycat]

I have felt irritation from some reed infusers, and not others. Thus I personally just avoid anything like that.