Everyday we are exposed to a variety of toxins & less than stellar ingredients. Culprits can be found within food, packaging, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, water and even the air you breathe.
Wanting your house to smell good isn’t a crime...(Obviously, I love my dog, but I don't want my house to smell like him.)
But what should be illegal are the artificial fragrances & ingredients used in air fresheners and candles.
A sneaky, but common ingredient found in air fresheners is Phthalates.
Phthalates are usually blanketed under the term "fragrance", "Parfume", "Perfume" or "Aroma". Ubiquitous terms to begin with and a loophole that many companies utilize. They are not required to list individual ingredients that make up a particular scent concoction due to protecting "trade secrets".
When sprayed, phthalates bind themselves to air particles so fragrance lasts longer. In theory this is great. Why wouldn't you want your air freshener to be longer lasting, especially if it smells-oh-so-good? But in practice, not so much.
Since the 90’s, studies have shown phthalates mimic hormones. It disrupts the body's natural cycle of hormones. Specifically a hormone called estrogen, which plays a huge role in fertility. Women, in particular, have a higher rate of exposure to phthalates due to the amount of cosmetic & household products that are used on a day to day basis.
It is, however, possible to enjoy a nice aroma without the heavy serving of endocrine disrupters...
Here are some Simple & Easy Swaps👇🏻
-Simmer Pots: We’re heading into fall (i.e) spooky cozy season.🎃 You can use simple ingredients like apple slices, cinnamon sticks, clove, eucalyptus, lavender😉, vanilla beans…etc and simmer on the stove top or in a small crock pot of water to create a delicious smelling atmosphere!
-Make your own Beeswax Candles! It may feel intimidating, but it is actually pretty simple & straight forward to do. If you want some guidance check out the How To video on Grandma’s Lavender YouTube!
-Switch to a Natural Air Freshener! (Like Lavender Rose Room Spray 🌿)
-Open up your house for a few minutes every day; no matter the season. It will help recycle and get rid of “stagnant” air. It's best to leave them open for at least 20 minutes, but leaving them open for an hour or two is ideal.
-One of the easiest things to do is eliminate heavy usage of fragrant products in your home. With that being said, I understand for some it is difficult to toss new products in the trash. If that is you, finish what you have and then determine if it is a product you can live without or replace with a better option! It makes it a slower paced approach, but much more sustainable and less overwhelming long term. The best plan of action is one that you will adhere too.
You don’t have to forgo a heavenly aroma in your house. There are Simple & Natural Swaps that will improve your air quality and lower the amount of chemicals and toxins you are exposed to day to day!
-Emma Kesterson
If you are interested in pursuing in-depth articles about phthalates:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157593/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7559247/