How to Choose a Long Lasting Air Freshener
A long lasting air freshener is a must-have for any home, office or car. There are plenty of options to choose from, from sprays and solid air fresheners to gel products and diffusers.
Unfortunately, many air fresheners contain toxic chemicals that pollute indoor air quality. Some have been found to contain benzene derivatives, pinene and limonene, phenol, aldehydes and cresol.
Plug-In Fresheners
The easiest and quickest way to freshen the air in your long lasting air freshener home is with a plug-in freshener. These usually consist of a piece of card soaked in fragrance oil, which is then sealed into a plastic sleeve or case to prevent the scent from escaping.
These can be used in the kitchen, bathroom or living room, and are ideal for removing cooking smells or smoking odours. They should be plugged in somewhere with good air circulation so that the scent can disperse evenly throughout the room.
It is a good idea to refill these with new oil when the old one starts to fade, as this will prolong the life of your air freshener.
Reed Diffusers
While there are many commercial reed diffusers on the market, you can also make your own for less than $25. Look for a glass bottle that matches your aesthetic, and experiment with different essential oils to find a scent you love. Keep in mind that the oil mixture must be light enough to travel up the reeds; thicker oils will clog them. Also, you must be diligent about flipping the reeds to refresh the scent.
You’ll need to mix the fragrance oil with a carrier liquid such as safflower or sweet almond oil. This is a key factor in the longevity of your homemade reed diffuser because it allows for the fragrance to penetrate the reeds and travel into the air. Other carriers, such as olive oil and jojoba oil, will work but are more expensive. Lastly, rubbing alcohol can be used as a substitute for the carrier oil, but it may make the smell slightly different.
Fill the bottle with the scented oil mixture, and top it off with three to six wooden skewers or diffuser reeds. You’ll want to use reeds that have more length than width, so the reeds have plenty of ‘transport links’ to carry the scent into your home’s air. Be sure to flip the reeds several times per week to keep them fresh.
Gel Air Fresheners
Gel air fresheners are household deodorizing products that reduce odors and leave behind a pleasant fragrance. They work by slowly dispensing fragrance composition into the air over a period of weeks. They are available in various forms, including sprays, solids, and gels. Gel air fresheners are safe for use in homes, offices and cars because they contain fewer chemicals than some other types of scenting products.
Gel air freshener scents last longer than other scented products because they use a gelling agent to slow down the rate of evaporation. The gelling agent in gel air fresheners is often natural, such as gelatin, carrageenan or tragacanth. These natural polymers are derived from carbohydrates and act as a semi-solid. They can be combined with fragrance oils and other ingredients to produce a variety of scents and effects.
To make your own DIY gel air freshener, simply add baking soda to a glass jar and sprinkle in some essential oil. The baking soda absorbs odors while the oil leaves behind a pleasant aroma. The jar can be placed in your bathroom, kitchen or near a litter box. You can also use these homemade air fresheners for your car or office. To keep your homemade gel air fresheners from molding, you can add a pinch of salt or potassium sorbate to the mixture.
Candles
Candles are the most familiar air freshener, and they can be used in a variety of ways. They can be scented, and many are made from natural ingredients like wax or soy. Some are molded into interesting shapes, and others have decorative designs or colors that look great with modern interior design styles.
The main ingredient in candles is wax, which can be made from paraffin wax, soy wax or beeswax. They also have wicks that are usually made of cotton or a cotton blend. Most candles are scented with chemicals that are added to the wax. These chemicals are called volatile organic compounds, and they may contain phthalates, which have been linked to a number of health extension shift knob problems. Some of these chemicals are known to release carcinogenic gases and particulate matter when burned. Breathing these chemicals in large quantities can be harmful to your health, so it is important to burn candles in a well-ventilated area and away from drafts.
Some candles release less of these chemicals than others, and soy candles are one example. These candles are made from a mixture of hydrogenated soy beans and palm oil, and they are not associated with the same health risks as paraffin wax candles. In addition, soy candles produce less smoke when they are burned than traditional candles.
