by Matilda Willows

Created on: December 17, 2011   Last Updated: December 18, 2011

Increased awareness about the chemicals contained within commercial air fresheners and their harmful effects have caused many to opt for healthier, more natural alternatives to refresh the home or any indoor space. Thankfully, there exists a nice selection of natural air fresheners that don’t cause the irritating symptoms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which many commercial air fresheners contain and cause symptoms from headaches to nausea and difficulty breathing. It’s no wonder then that the following different types of natural air fresheners have been gaining interest in recent times.

Potpourri

Apart from the aesthetic visual beauty of potpourri, this natural air freshener has been used for centuries and can add a touch or aromatic and warm fragrance to any room. Potpourri can be assembled by oneself by collecting dried lemon and orange peel, lavender buds, cloves and cedar wood shavings among many other natural ingredients and spices. They can all be placed within a mesh bag, filled in a vase or placed inside a bowl on a table or counter top. Cedar wood and tea tree oil as well as yalng ylang, orange and chamomile oil mixed together make a mood-enhancing combination. For a more relaxing and natural spray, why not go for a mix of four drops of lavender oil and three or four drops of chamomile.

Natural Candles

Natural beeswax candles with cotton wicks and natural oils are another nice slow smell diffusing type of air freshener which never fails to add that touch of elegance and warmth to any room once lighted.

Window opening

Just the simple act of opening a window or door from opposite sides of the room will have a naturally refreshing and neutralizing-odor effect. The two openings from opposite sides of the room will remove the stale air and bring in new fresh air. This is perhaps the cheapest and most effortless of all the options.

Sprays

To quickly refresh and leave a lasting beautiful scent in the room, simply mix some distilled water and seven to eight drops of a nice-smelling essential oil into a misting bottle and spray when needed.

Boiling spices

Some people also like to boil some water and add some fresh orange peel and a few sticks of cinnamon to refresh the home and the smell of cooking or frying. Orange peel and cinnamon make a nice aromatic and warming combination that speaks welcome to any visitor within that home.

It’s no wonder that many are increasingly opting for different types of natural air fresheners, as they are inexpensive, refreshing and do the job of adding a beautiful smell without the nasty negative symptoms and chemicals, which are often a result of using commercial air fresheners.

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