3 Reasons Essential Oils Are the New Air Fresheners
Take a trip to virtually any grocery store or big-box retailer and you will find plug-in air fresheners offering a variety of fresh scents. You can also invest in something like the Zephyr Fresh whole-home air freshener to automatically freshen the air throughout your home using its HVAC system. The one thing all of these products have in common are the essential oils that diffuse into the air.
Essential oils have become the new air freshener of choice for conscientious buyers not fond of aerosol sprays and chemical-based air fresheners. They look to essential oils to create a clean, fresh scent throughout the home. The question is, why? What is it about essential oils that have made them so popular among so many?
There is no single characteristic of essential oils that explains their popularity. For purposes of freshening the air, there are three things that seem to be capturing the attention of homeowners:
1. Essential Oils Are Chemical-Free
By their nature, essential oils are chemical-free. Essential oils are concentrated hydrophobic liquids that come from plants. As such, most essential oils on the market are identified by the plants from which they come. Examples include lavender, lemon grass, grapefruit, and peppermint.
A typical essential oil air freshener consists of nothing more than water and the oil itself. Some also contain a bit of baking soda as well. The end result is a chemical-free air freshener that people can use without having to worry about things like phthalates and chemical emulsifiers.
Antifungal and Antibacterial Properties
Next, there is a growing body of evidence showing that most essential oils have antifungal and antibacterial properties. One particular study published in 2017 noted how essential oils in nature protect plants from both biotic and abiotic attacks. Simply put, the oils protect plants against fungus and bacteria.
People can enjoy the same protection in their homes to some degree by choosing essential oil air fresheners. As the oils are diffused into the air, they help guard against fungal and bacterial growth. This is not to say that a whole-home diffuser will prevent fungus and bacteria by itself, it will not. But it can contribute to a cleaner environment less susceptible to fungus and bacteria.
3. Ease and Convenience
The third and final reason essential oils are the new air fresheners is related to their ease of use and convenience. We have already mentioned plug-in air fresheners and automatic diffuser systems like Zephyr Fresh. But homeowners can utilize essential oils as air fresheners without investing in either of these products.
For example, you can mix a favorite essential oil with distilled water and baking soda to create a solution that works very well in a spray bottle. Then just walk from room to room, spraying as you go. Another option is to put a few drops of essential oil inside the vacuum, right where the clean air is vented. This little trick guarantees air freshening every time you vacuum.
Still another easy hack is to add a few drops of essential oil to a pot of simmering water on the stove. Let that water simmer throughout the day and you will enjoy a beautiful new scent permeating your entire home.
Essential oils are the new air fresheners now replacing the chemical- and perfume-laden air fresheners of the past. Whether it is through a plug-in air freshener, a whole-home diffuser system, or a do-it-yourself hack, air freshening with essential oils is easy and convenient. The known antifungal and antibacterial properties of essential oils is the icing on the cake.
