Who doesn’t love a good smelling house!? As humans we definitely produce odors. It’s not intentional it just happens. So how can we naturally deodorize our living spaces without spraying harmful chemicals?
Read on!
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I never actually thought about just how harmful air neutralizing sprays like: Febreze and Glade plug-ins were until I met my current partner. Sam has asthma which can definitely be exacerbated by strong smells from candles, plug-ins, and various room sprays. So when we moved in together, I had to think about natural ways that we could keep our living space smelling good without compromising our lung health.
Many people suffer migraine or asthma induced episodes due to strong chemical smells. In fact, some chemicals in perfume have been found to be unsafe for our bodies when used topically and also offend others with the strong odor they emit. I specifically remember my middle school choir teacher wouldn't allow students to wear perfume because it caused her to get a headache for many hours.
I was actually introduced to a natural yet effective way to deodorize when I was riding in the back of a ride share one day and smelled something really good! I asked the driver what he used to get the car smelling so fresh, and he said a diffuser. I had never seen one of these before and his was so undetectable. Basically you fill the diffuser machine with water (preferably purified) and add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice. After that, you plug it in and it disperses the natural and safe smells into your space. The ride share driver had a diffuser which was small enough to be powered by a USB port in his car! Since that day I have purchased one for each of my rooms and have discovered that they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.
Since Sam and I have started practicing daily meditation, we also found that the aromatherapy that the diffusers produce helped to reduce anxiety and provide a relaxing atmosphere in our living spaces. We also like to have them on when we are working out, even after an intense work out session, the room always smells fresh. Not to mention having a small one in the bathroom for all those odors! I have the one that has a night light in bathroom for those late night trips to the loo, so we can avoid turning on bright lights in the middle of the night! Before bed we set the diffuser on a timer, so it automatically shuts off which saves energy and turns back on in the morning so we are greeted by a nice smelling room first thing in the morning!
I would definitely recommend purchasing high quality, pure oils which specifically state whether they are safe for consumption, as these will ensure that you aren’t harming your air quality in your living space. Many oils are toxic, so please make sure you do your homework on which brands to buy. They can be pricey but last a long time as you only need one or two drops per use. I specifically like: Young Living and you can save money by buying the variety pack verses single bottles.
Without delving in too deep on this topic (because there are so many oils), did you know that essential oils have been used for centuries and each one can aid in various things?
Lemon Verbena is not only our very favorite because of it’s fresh, citrus smell, but its also loaded with antioxidants, boosts energy, and helps combat nausea.
Lavender can be used to aid in relaxation and sleep but can also be applied topically (mix a couple drops with a carrier oil like coconut or almond) to reduce headaches and itchy bug bites.
Roman Chamomile has a calming effect for the body and can also ease eczema.
Rose oil can be used topically to clear skin and acne, as well as calm the mind.
Peppermint on top of smelling good, it can help upset stomachs, ease sore muscles, and provide sunburn relief.
I think my favorite thing about diffusers, are that the odor of the aromatherapy does not make the air too strong, which is a major plus- especially for those with asthma. I do know that diffusers are not the only natural method of deodorizing. Tell me how you naturally, and safely make your living space smell good. Comment below.
Xoxo,
Mari