Have you heard about Walgreen's recall of air fresheners? Few people would want to live in a world without the smell of flowers or the scent of air after rain. Scents have the ability to alter mood and trigger powerful memories that are embedded in our minds. Research indicates the sense of smell impacts not only psychological but physical health as well. During the past three decades the use of scented products has soared. Scented products are used by every segment of the population. The popularity of fragrance demonstrates that pleasant scents enrich our lives.


Fragrances are increasingly cited as a trigger in health conditions such as asthma, allergies and migraine headaches. In addition, some fragrance materials have been found to accumulate in tissues and are present in breast milk. Other materials are suspected of being hormone disrupters. The implications are not fully known, as there has been little evaluation of systemic effects. There are environmental concerns as well, as fragrances are volatile compounds, which add to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Synthetic musk compounds are persistent in the environment and contaminate waterways and aquatic wildlife. At present there is little governmental regulation of the fragrance industry.


Fragrance can induce or worsen respiratory problems. There are increasing anecdotal and clinical accounts of fragrance triggering and exacerbating respiratory problems. Fragrances are thought to trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions due to their irritant effect. Those with asthma, allergies, sinus problems, rhinitis and other such conditions are more susceptible to the effects of irritants, often at levels that are many times lower than what would cause problems in the general population.


A good natural alternative is to plant fragrant flowers outside your window and let the breeze carry the scent inside; you can also try these safer alternative recipes for room sprays:


Natural Deoderizing Spray
8 drops essential oil of lavender
4 drops bergamot essential oil
4 drops clove essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil 1/2 cup vodka
1/2 cup distilled water

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle, shaking well to mix.

Antibacertial Room Spray
Fill a 2-ounce glass spray bottle with distilled water.
Add to it 7 drops of lavender oil and 4 drops of thyme oil.
Replace the spray top and spray