Humans have been trying to mask unpleasant odors in their homes for millennia. Ages ago, people used to change the scent in the air by burning incense. They also used spices, herbs, and floral extracts. But the invention of modern-day, conventional air fresheners actually dates back to 1948. It suddenly became very easy to get rid of unwanted smells and freshen up our spaces. We simply needed to spray out a fine mist into the air, and we would enjoy the lingering scent for a few hours.
These days, most households still regularly use air and fabric fresheners around their homes as they are extremely convenient to have. Yes, we can open the windows and let fresh air in, but sometimes, we want to add a nice scent to our rooms and closets.
Almost all air and fabric fresheners available in stores contain harmful chemicals and toxins that are incredibly unhealthy and unsustainable. But does that mean we need to stop using air fresheners altogether? No, it doesn’t!
In this article, you will learn more about ten brands that make eco-friendly, non-toxic air and fabric fresheners that you can safely use around your family, children and pets. We also included a DIY recipe for people who prefer making their own products!
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What Are Non-Toxic Air Fresheners?
Non-toxic air fresheners are a safer alternative to conventional sprays and plug-ins that often rely on synthetic fragrance and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Instead of masking odors with ingredients like phthalates or VOCs, these options focus on actually improving the air in your home. They’re typically made with simpler, more transparent ingredients like essential oils, plant-based extracts, or natural odor absorbers such as baking soda and charcoal.
The goal isn’t just to make a space smell good. It’s to create a home environment that feels fresh without adding unnecessary chemicals into the air you’re breathing every day.
Why Conventional Air Fresheners Can Be Harmful
Since the home fragrance industry is unregulated and there are no safety standards or ingredient transparency requirements, companies selling air and fabric fresheners fill their products with extremely dangerous chemicals. These are known to trigger allergies and asthma and may cause other health problems.
In many conventional air fresheners, you’ll often see ingredients listed in ways that don’t tell the full story.
- “Fragrance” can be a catch-all term for a mix of undisclosed chemicals
- Phthalates are commonly used to help scents last longer
- VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can be released into the air as the product is used
- Synthetic preservatives are added to extend shelf life
These ingredients aren’t always clearly explained on labels, which is why looking for more transparent, simpler formulations can make a difference when you’re trying to create a lower-tox home environment.
Toxins in Air Fresheners
More specifically, conventional air fresheners usually contain phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption and male reproductive system birth defects. Synthetic musks commonly appear in air fresheners, and researchers suspect they can cause allergies and disrupt hormones. Air fresheners are also often made with petroleum distillates, which contribute to water, air and soil pollution, and being exposed to them can lead to respiratory issues, chemical pneumonia and pulmonary damage. Air fresheners that come in aerosol cans contain aerosol propellants that can harm the ozone layer and elevate the risk of developing cancer and chronic health issues. These are only a few harmful ingredients contained in air and fabric fresheners. But so many others are problematic for both human health and the environment!
What Makes an Air Freshener Non-Toxic?
When looking for a non-toxic freshener, always check the ingredient list. If you cannot find one, it may be a warning sign that you should not buy the product! Sustainable, non-toxic air and fabric fresheners use natural ingredients such as charcoal, plant oils, and mineral- and plant-based components. Also, make sure that the product does not contain harmful ingredients like those mentioned previously. If you are not sure of your choice, always prefer brands that received trustworthy certifications, like B Corporations. And if you can, pick air fresheners that come in recyclable or compostable packaging. Refill options are great as well!
A quick checklist of what to look for:
- Certifications like EWG
- 100% plant-based ingredients
- Essential oil–based fragrance
- Full ingredient transparency
- Free from phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals
Best Non Toxic Air Fresheners (Clean + Safe Brands):
1. Grow Fragrance
Type: Air & Fabric Spray Bottle Fresheners
Price: $14
Grow Fragrance is a North Carolina-based brand that creates certified 100% plant-based and toxin-free candles and air and fabric fresheners. It has a great selection of beautiful scents for every ambiance, including a few limited editions that you can only get at certain times of the year.
All year round, you can enjoy different fragrances such as lavender, cedar citrus, bamboo, and black currant rose. With its perfumery expertise, Grow Fragrance only uses non-toxic, plant-based ingredients that are found in nature and relies on what is in season to come up with its limited editions.
The brand’s sprays can be used to clear the air in your home or to freshen up your clothes if you want to wear them again before washing them. So not only do they smell amazing, but they are also extremely versatile!And if you are not sure which scent to choose, Grow Fragrance has a helpful quiz that you can take to determine which one is best for you. The company is a B Corporation that is also a member of 1% For The Planet and Leaping Bunny certified.
2. Scent Fill
Type: Air-Wick Plug-In Refills
Price: $4-31
Scent Fill is a family-owned brand selling all-natural plug-in refills that can be used with Air Wick Scented Oil warmers. So if you are looking for a non-toxic alternative to Air-Wick plug-ins, this brand has you covered!Scent Fill offers a huge range of scents, all of which smell incredibly good and refreshing. You can choose between many fragrances that will remind you of nature, including peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, palo santo, and pumpkin.
Its ScentDiffuse collection has several deodorizer refills that are formulated to neutralize malodor molecules from the air. These are ideal to use in rooms that tend to get smelly, like bathrooms, basements, kitchens, or simply near a cat litter box.
The plug-ins contain 100% non-toxic, plant-based ingredients that are all certified cruelty-free and disclosed on the website. They are free of artificial additives, enhancements, or synthetic chemicals, like parabens and phthalates.
Manufactured in the USA, Scent Fill’s plug-ins are made to last longer than aerosol air fresheners, which is very convenient!
3. Fresh Wave
Type: Odor Eliminating Gels, Air & Fabric Freshener Sprays
Price: $4-130
Fresh Wave makes odor eliminators that remove unwanted smells in your home using safe, natural ingredients.The brand sells different types and sizes of air and fabric freshener sprays.
Very versatile, these sprays can be used to eliminate odors on water-safe surfaces and fabrics. They are great for deep cleaning trash cans, refreshing clothes before washing them, and making your surfaces smell amazing. Its sprays are incredibly efficient, but Fresh Wave stands out from other brands thanks to its odor-eliminating gels. These are very easy to use as you simply need to remove the cap and set the gel wherever you need to remove unwanted odors.
Fresh Wave’s sprays and gels are formulated using reverse osmosis water and a proprietary blend of plant extracts, including pine, lime, clove, cedarwood, and anise oils. They are free of VOCs, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, or harmful chemicals. The brand’s products have even been recognized as EPA’s Safer Choice products as they meet stringent criteria for environmental protection and human safety.
4. Enviroscent
Type: Air Freshening Sticks, Sprays, Plug-ins
Price: $7-14
Enviroscent is a sustainable brand creating non-toxic, sustainable fragrances for the home and car. The brand offers different options for freshening up the air depending on your needs and preferences. For instance, it sells solid, liquid-free plug-ins that come with refills made from sustainably-sourced paper pulp. They are available in five nature-inspired scents that should last for 45 days.
Enviroscent also makes air freshening sprays packaged in a recyclable, aluminum bottle for which you can buy refills. How cool is that?! But if you prefer a more chic-looking alternative, the company has air freshening sticks that you place in a beautiful mango wood stand. They look great all while filling the room with a nice smell.
With its patented technology that helps diffuse the fragrance evenly over time, Enviroscent makes its products using liquid silica, one of the most abundant minerals on the planet, and maltodextrin, a renewable resource made from corn. The brand’s air fresheners are all cruelty-free and formulated with non-toxic ingredients, so they are safe to use even on a daily basis!
5. P.F. Candle Co
Type: Air & Fabric Freshener Sprays
Price: $23
P.F. Candle Co is a Los Angeles-based brand making lovely candles and home fragrances, including different room and linen sprays. These air and fabric fresheners are available in five scents that will make you think that you are living in nature.With its sage, moss and lavender scent, the Amber & Moss spray will take you to the mountains whenever you use it. But if you prefer a more fruity scent, definitely choose the Sweet Grapefruit freshener!
P.F. Candle Co’s sprays contain a blend of non-toxic fragrance oils and water, and they are vegan, cruelty-free and free of harmful chemicals, like phthalates. They are also packaged in a beautiful amber glass bottle that looks really nice, so you will not even need to hide them.
P.F. Candle Co is climate neutral-certified, and it donates a portion of its yearly profits to charities such as the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Communities for a Better Environment.
6. Attitude
Type: Solid Air Purifiers
Price: $7
Attitude is a sustainable brand making body and hair care products as well as cleaning solutions for an eco-friendly, healthy home.It offers solid air purifiers that contain natural, plant- and mineral-based ingredients. Formulated with activated carbon from charcoal, they are designed to trap pollutants and neutralize odors, all while filling your home with a nice, refreshing smell. You can choose between five lovely scents that you will be able to enjoy for up to six weeks: green apple and basil, coriander and olive, lavender and eucalyptus, passion fruit, and pink grapefruit.
Attitude also has similar air purifiers specially made to be used in children’s rooms. Formulated with the same ingredients, their soothing scents will help your baby or kids sleep well and have a more restful night.
Made in Canada, Attitude’s air purifiers are all free of artificial fragrances, phthalates and preservatives, so they are good for you, your kids and your pets! They are also certified cruelty-free and vegan, and they received the ECOLOGO certification. We also love that, for every product sold, the brand plants a tree in partnership with two non-profits specializing in reforestation projects!
7. Moso Natural
Type: Odor Absorber Bags, Air Freshener Sprays
Price: $9-23
Moso Natural specializes in the production of natural air purifying bags that freshen up the air and absorb odors (instead of just covering them up) wherever you place them.These bags are incredibly helpful and versatile as they can be used to purify any space. They are made in different shapes and sizes, so you can put them in your basement, closet, car, fridge, and even in your shoes!
Moso Natural’s bags are scent-free and filled with only one natural ingredient, which is completely non-toxic and safe to use around children and pets: pure Moso bamboo charcoal. Not only does this ingredient help eliminate odors, but it also dehumidifies the air and removes harmful chemicals and VOCs.
The bags can be used for up to two years, and after that, you can sprinkle the charcoal in your garden to promote plant growth.
Moso Natural also has a scent-free, air purifying spray. Its active probiotic formula quickly destroys any odor, and it is produced without synthetic chemicals.
8. Friendsheep Wool
Type: Hand-felted Drawer Fabric Fresheners
Price: $6-34
Friendsheep Wool is on a mission to help consumers ditch single-use dryer sheets and synthetic fresheners, and offers great reusable, plastic-free alternatives. The brand has an amazing product if you want to stop using those toxic, fragrant drawer sheets: replace them Friendsheep Wool’s hand-felted fabric fresheners! You simply need to put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the eco freshener, place it in your drawer, and it will make everything smell so good! They also work as air fresheners as you can display them in a vase or in your car to refresh the air whenever you want.
Friendsheep Wool makes its eco fresheners in a variety of designs, from lovely roses to cute little bees and colorful birds. Completely biodegradable, each product is hand-felted by women with disabilities in Nepal, and they are made from organic, Leaping Bunny-certified wool sourced from family-run farms in New Zealand. Friendsheep Wool is a member of 1% For The Planet. It also plants one tree for every item sold and offsets the carbon emissions from all the shipments throughout its supply chain.
9. Citrus Magic
Type: Air Freshener Sprays, Solid Air Fresheners
Price: pack of 3 for $35
Citrus Magic sells all kinds of natural odor-eliminating products, from sprays to solid air fresheners. It has different scented sprays, but we particularly recommend its USDA-certified organic fresheners.
You can choose between a blend of organic tropical citrus fruits and a blend of citrus fruits, lavender and eucalyptus. Both sprays eliminate odors instead of hiding them and fill the room with a clean, refreshing scent.
If you want an odor-removing solution for the long haul, Citrus Magic also has a variety of long-lasting solid air fresheners. Very practical, they can be in cupboards, under the bed or behind a couch, and they will keep the air fresh for up to eight weeks.
The brand even has versions specially made for cars, as well as small solid air fresheners in the shape of little paws that you can tuck behind a litter box to eliminate pet odors for seven days.
10. DIY Air & Fabric Freshener
All the brands mentioned in this article sell non-toxic air and fabric fresheners made with natural ingredients. But if you prefer making your own household products to clean and refresh your home instead of buying ready-made ones, this recipe is for you!
First, find an unused spray bottle in your home: the most sustainable option is to reuse one from a product that you have used up. Of course, do not forget to properly clean it so that there is no residue left.
Put one tablespoon of baking soda into a bowl, & add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to it.
I personally love making cleaning products with citrus oils, like lemon, orange or grapefruit essential oils. These always smell so good! I have also made DIY products with Ylang Ylang essential oil, which I highly recommend if you want a more exotic, floral scent.
Then, mix the oil into the baking soda with a fork or a small whisk, and use a funnel to put the mixture into the spray bottle. Finally, pour 2 cups of warm distilled water, and shake the bottle.
And there you have your homemade air and fabric freshener! You can use it to refresh the air in your home or spruce up home textiles and clothes that need a boost before washing them.
This recipe is extremely easy and cheap to make, and all the ingredients are non-toxic. Not to mention you can customize the scent and choose a different one every time you make another homemade freshener!
FAQs About Non-Toxic Air Fresheners
Are air fresheners bad for you?
Not all air fresheners are created equally.
Many conventional options rely on synthetic fragrance, which can include a mix of undisclosed ingredients, along with VOCs that are released into the air as you use them. Over time, this can impact indoor air quality, especially in spaces where you’re using them regularly.
That doesn’t mean you need to avoid them entirely, but it’s worth being more mindful of what’s actually in the products you’re bringing into your home.
Are essential oil air fresheners safe?
Essential oil–based air fresheners are generally considered a better option, especially compared to synthetic fragrance blends.
That said, more isn’t always better. Essential oils are still highly concentrated, so it’s a good idea to use them in moderation, particularly around children and pets or in smaller, enclosed spaces.
Like most things in low-tox living, it’s about balance.
What is the safest air freshener?
The safest options tend to be the simplest.
Air fresheners made with plant-based ingredients and full transparency are a good place to start. If you’d rather avoid added scent altogether, natural odor absorbers like charcoal or baking soda can help freshen a space without introducing anything into the air.
Sometimes, the goal isn’t to add fragrance; it’s just to let your home feel clean and neutral.
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