Things you should know about car air fresheners

Air freshener is one of the most important things to put in your vehicle, if you want to keep your car fresh and smelling great. I’m pretty sure you have one in your car, and chances are, you’re using a fruity scent, or probably a mouth-watering cinnamon aroma. 

However, did you know that some of these fragrances can bring dangerous effects to your body? Here, we will give you a bit of information about car air fresheners and share non-toxic types, as well as DIY (Do-It-Yourself) tips to make a non-chemical ones.

Air freshener can damage your health

The main purpose of air freshener is to mask unpleasant odors in our surroundings, but that’s just it – a mask. The foul smell is still there. And while fragrances give good scents, these are actually made up of chemical compounds.

According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), benzene, formaldehyde, aerosol propellants, and allergens are some of the harsh chemicals that are said to be present in some air fresheners in today’s market. Yes, you should be bothered, as these ingredients can cause headaches, nausea, and asthma. What’s worse? These substances have been linked to cancer and other neurological problems. Yikes, toxic!

Another hazardous chemical in most car air fresheners is the phthalates that is risky for a pregnant person (or those trying to get pregnant), as this may result to birth defects, hormonal changes, as well as poor semen quality. That’s the reason why we should always be careful and check the label or chemical contents of the products before buying one.

Do-It-Yourself 

If you can, and when you have extra time, why not make your own in a much affordable price? You can make a DIY version of air fresheners with these materials – felt paper, scissors, hole puncher, needle, yarn or string, cotton ball, and your favorite essential oils. Here’s what you need to do:

First, cut out the felt paper into two identical shapes and sew the two together. Be creative with the shape; don’t make a pine tree shape. Also, don’t forget to leave a small hole for the cotton ball. Next, squeeze in the cotton ball inside and drip a few drops of essential oils onto it. Lastly, punch a hole at the top of the stitched felt and put a yarn or string. 

That’s it. You can now hang and be proud of your artsy creation by the rear view mirror. You’re welcome. 

Another tip: Place coffee beans in a mesh covered jar and put it on the cup holder to get rid of unwanted odors. Believe me, it works. A can half-filled with baking soda under the car seat can also do wonders.

Additional tip: Here are some non-chemical air fresheners you can buy.

Charcoal Air Purifier

Some people use activated charcoal for teeth whitening, but it’s quite shocking to know that it’s also effective in keeping an odor free environment. This purifying bag contains activated charcoal that absorbs excess moisture to avoid the mold and bacteria.

Car vent diffuser

This small thing could be mistaken as an accessory because of its stylish appearance. All you have to do is to add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the washable felt pads and attach it to the car’s aircon vents. Voila! You’re good to go.

USB diffuser

If you're looking for an air freshener that you can carry while on the go, this handy USB diffuser might be perfect for you. This product can be plugged into any USB outlets with 12V car adapter. It has a small bottle that you can fill with essential oils of your choice. What’s also great about this diffuser is that you can set a timer, so it will diffuse every 10, 30, or 60 seconds. Nice.