31,04,22,14,748.22.
This is the number of Indians who inhaled aerosols, back in 2022. No, this is not another article, written to state the ill effects of global warming. However, we are here to tell you that the bottle, with flowers, lemons, roses, daisies, or maybe, oranges printed on it, hiding in your kitchen cabinet, with ‘Air Freshener’ written on it, is nothing but a ‘Mini Gas Chamber.’
Have a look at this table:
| Component | Effects |
| Formaldehyde | Carcinogen (Long lasting effects leading to cancer.) |
| Parabens | Prevalent cause of breast cancer and hormone disruption |
| Phthalates | Linked to birth defects |
| Alcohol | Irritates sensitive skin |
These are the top four ingredients in any over-the-counter air freshener. So, does this mean you should not use air fresheners? No.
Since we couldn’t find an air freshener that was safe for children, pets, and pregnant women, we made one. After all, it’s been rightly said, “If you don’t find the book, write it.” Read further to know all about the 5 ingredients you should look for in an air freshener.
Essential Oils
Have you seen Jodha Akbar? Or maybe Bajirao Mastani? Or maybe any other movie directed by the great Sanjay Leela Bhansali? If you nod your head, you must know the importance of ancient ‘Attra’.
In ancient India, natural resources like plants, flowers, fruits, etc., were reduced to a liquid. The consistency of this liquid was similar to that of an oil. The fragrance was natural since the plant products were scraped, pricked, and pressed to refurbish this oil.
Most air freshener brands use methods like ‘enfleurage’ and ‘hydrodistillation’ to extract essential oils from plants. So, whenever you are planning to buy an air freshener, always check which essential oil is used in it.
Colourants
Have you ever sprayed an air freshener into the air, and your linen got stained? We have been through that many times. This happens because most of the air fresheners present in the market use Colourants to make the air freshener liquid more appealing to the eye.
However, this component is also used to know how much product is still in the container or how much has been applied. However, these are artificial colours. So, the red colour in your ‘rose air freshener’ is not extracted from a real rose.
Fragrances
Most over-the-counter air fresheners have any of the following:
| Amyl Cinnamal | Causes skin irritation, respiratory problems, and endocrine disruption |
| Cis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate | Causes dermatitis, redness, itching, and harm to aquatic life |
| Methyl Lolone | Causes respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis |
| Hexyl Cinnamal | Prevalent cause of dermatitis |
Most air fresheners, when used repeatedly, can cause respiratory diseases and life-altering effects. So, always remember to check the ingredients in your favourite air freshener.
Alcohol
Ever wonder why the fragrances of pure essential oils fade away after 3-4 hours? The reason is that they don’t have any preservative to hold the smell on the surface, and they don’t have a medium to spread the fragrance equally in the air.
Denatured alcohol is the hero ingredient in most artificial air fresheners. It helps distribute the fragrances in every nook and corner of your room with just one spray. It not only acts as a carrier of essential oils but also as a preservative of your air freshener’s fragrance.
Water
You must have seen one or the other hair care routines of famous Instagram influencers. In those routines, have you noticed that essential oils are mixed with other carrier oils to prepare a concoction that is suitable for application? If yes, then consider water to be that carrier oil. Water plays a pivotal role in blending essential oils and other components of an air freshener.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes are covered under the category of VOCs. If and when you see such ingredients on the back of any bottle, be it an air freshener, make sure to throw it far away from your reach. Why? Because VOCs are potential carcinogens and can cause long-lasting and fatal diseases.
This blog asked for 5 ingredients you must look for in an air freshener. However, we handed you 6 because there’s no shortcut to health. As concerned as you are about the worsening AQI of Delhi NCR, you should be about the ingredients that you are inhaling, which can have far worse effects than an AQI of more than 600.
If you have any more comments to add to this blog, we even have a space for that. Feel free to leave your comments in the comment section below. If you have a query or concern, you can contact BloomGreen on this toll-free number, and we will address it.