Air Fresheners: Look and Sniff Before You Spray

The end of summer in New York City was crisp and cool-- time, we thought, to shake out those sweaters we’d bagged with cedar chips and lavender sprigs. But the first week of autumn brought the return of stinky sticky air, and complaints: “I thought we were over with the heat, already!”

Outside, enveloped by engine soot and the stench of rotting garbage, I recalled an exchange with a fellow pedestrian on a hot summer’s street corner. “Can you smell me from where you are?” he asked. “No,” I said, holding my breath. “Thanks! I was partying all night and have to go straight to work, so I sprayed myself all over with Febreze.” “But that’s a room air freshener,” I pointed out. “No problem!” he said. And actually, he had a point. That’s because Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher, unlike thirteen other air fresheners recently tested by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), was found to be free of toxic phthalates, which have been linked to birth defects and reproductive harm. Many of these products were labeled “natural” or “unscented.” In response to the tests, Walgreen’s last week pledged to remove all phthalates from its branded air fresheners. For the list of phthalate-tainted products, including Glade Air Infusions and both Febreze and Glade scented oils, go to http://www.nrdc.org/. Of course, there are many dozens more air fresheners on the market that haven’t been vetted for phthalates. What to do? 1. Look Before You Spray. Read labels. If you see the word “Fragrance,” it’s likely that the manufacturer is taking an advantage of an FDA labeling loophole that allows users of synthetic fragrance to avoid mentioning specific ingredients—including phthalates, used to disperse synthetic scents. Look instead for specific essential plant oils, preferably organic. 2. Do a Sniff Test. Before buying any fragranced product, natural or not, spray some from a tester to see whether it produces sneezes or itchy eyes. Strong fragrances, particularly citrus or pine, can provoke irritation and allergic/asthmatic reactions. And remember, when it comes to any perfume, a little goes a long way, so you needn’t overdo it. 3. For greener products, see http://greenerpenny.blogspot.com/2007/04/unclean-air-fresheners.html Pass this info on to your odor-phobic college student, teen or preteen. Advertising heavily aimed at their demographic urges them to spritz and spray rather than open windows, do laundry and wash with plain soap and water.