Air Fresheners- yea or nah?

[Livinzoo]

I'm curious as to every ones thoughts on air fresheners, perfumes, colognes, and scented laundry products. I found this study and saw their statistics and was curious as to how BYC fit them. http://water.washington.edu/Research/Articles/2009.JEH.prevalence.fragrance.pdf

I am bothered by fragrances on people, in rooms and even dryer sheets that are vented outside. I get migraines and just feel messed up for several hours after a few minutes of exposure.

 

[Whispering Winds]

I have read several articles and tv that our air is the reason we have allergies and upper respiratory problems is because of the candles, sprays and things like this we use in our homes without much ventilation. Certain colognes kill me; I will be snotty and sneezing for hours after being around someone, and some of the more citrus-y ones make me plain sick to my stomach. . .I guess simmering Cinnamon on the stove is the safest thing to do.

 

[Judy]

I actually believe that these air scenting products are about as evil as anything out there, and should have been taken off the market some years ago. Same for candles that are not beeswax; lots of cases of lung cancer in people making candles out of paraffin and Crayolas. I do use Lime Mate or Orange Mate for air odors, though not often.

If you want safe odor elimination, pour some vinegar in a bowl and set it out. If you want an end to your migraines, research homemade household cleaners and similar items. Get into Self Sufficient stuff, on a sister forum: http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/

It's really amazing what nonsense the chemical people have been telling us. You really can keep your windows clean, and wash your clothes, and clean your counters and toilets and oven, without poisoning yourself.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Perfumed ladies and home air fresheners hurt my head, too. I grew up in a home with no scents to speak of, except Tide, and I now maintain a home with no scents to speak of, except Tide. Yet I've had asthma and allergies since I was young. I'm the only one in my family with asthma.

Car air fresheners make me want to leap out into traffic.

 

[gypsy2621]

Most of the air freshners and perfumes are enough to gag a maggot.
If people only knew ( or realized) whats in those things they would be banned as an environmental hazzard.

scented candles, air freshners, dryer sheets will kill indoor birds just as fast as carbon monoxide.

Being asthmatic and getting in a check out line behind or in front of someone who is convinced bathing in perfume or after shave makes them sexy or smell pretty kill me.( litterally have been hauled from a store by ambulance because of this)

People complain about second hand smoke being a hazzard to their health dont think twice about what that perfume is doing to them or other people.

 

[Camelot Farms]

And what about when you get seated at a restaurant next to a group of ladies who think swimming in perfume is a good idea and all 4 of them have swam in different scents....*migraine coming just thinking about it*


I like how many Dr. offices now have signs that tell their patients NOT to wear fragrances to their appts!!

 

[Reinbeau]

I hate all those scented things and would never use them. My mother never did, either, mainly because she has asthma, as does my brother, so we were always careful about scents in the house.

 

[SarahFair]

Scents dont bother me much. I love the smell of my Gain Joyful Expression.

I also have about 100 diff purfume bottles sitting next to me now. Very light sents though. What I really hate is mens cologne. UGGGHHH it smell soooo bad!

 

[Dar]

I work in a nursing home/retirement home. and because it is the HOME of these people the residents can get away with swimming in what ever cheap perfume they just picked up at the dollar store to mask the fact that they have not bathed in a week. and there is nothing we can do or say about it.. because They pay to live there..

scents kill me i can handle lite scents natural scents, fresh berries, vanilla, cinnamon

but some of this stuff wowzers

and what would make you think that this stuff is safe for your skin when it will peel paint off your dresser?.......... most bottles say not to keep it on woob cause of surface damage

 

[StupidBird]

The scent thing has made me sick as far back as I can remember. The DS came back from college having used a regular laundry detergent and it slammed my sinuses so bad I'm washing all his stuff over and making him keep his supplies in the garage. I've gradually switched to all natural cleaners over the years.
I think that if something smells unpleasant, its your evolved animal brain warning something is wrong. For heaven's sake, if your place smells foul, find out what's causing it and clean it up! A light whiff of something off is generally all the warning I get before a full-bore anaphylactic reaction to air borne mold. Not to mention all the chemical sensitivities. It's a darn minefield out there.