The feeling of walking into a nice-smelling, candle-lit room is hard to beat, particularly this time of year when all we want is to soak up the pine tree, cinnamon-scented ambiance. Plus, candles are the perfect gift for all of those hard-to-shop-for people in our lives.
But, we hate to say it (like, really hate to say it), a lot of candles are not so great for the planet or our health.
Here’s why: many candles are made from paraffin wax, which studies show can release cancer-causing chemicals and be harmful to people with respiratory issues like asthma (brb, going to investigate our candle collection real quick!).
And since paraffin is a petroleum product (yes, you read that right), when it burns it produces potentially damaging byproducts like greenhouse gasses, which is not very friendly to Mother Nature.
Luckily, our homes can still be full of cozy vibes that’ll make our noses happy — the plant-based and planet-friendly way! Here’s our guide for easy ways to get the aroma you want, without the bad stuff.
6 planet-friendly scents for your home
1. Soy Candles
If you don’t want to give up on candles (we get it), look for soy candles that are made without phthalates. And be mindful to trim the wick to about ¼ inch after each time you burn the candle — this will help control the smoke and make your candle last longer.
Here are some of our favorite vegan brands:
2. Essential Oil Diffusers
We adore essential oils (like Release from Natural Habits) for lots of reasons! They help us feel more relaxed, they assist us in relieving our headaches, and they make rooms smell like the inside of a wellness spa. But our favorite part is: they’re not loaded with hidden chemicals (oh, and you’ll avoid all of the potential harms that come with an open flame).
If you’re into the essential oils route, consider investing in a diffuser, which basically mixes oils with water to create a steamy mist that gives rooms that zen, chilled-out scent.
Check out this SpaRoom Guardian diffuser from Amazon or this plastic-free diffuser from Organic Aromas.
3. Homemade Potpourri
Try this 5-ingredient-simmering potpourri recipe made with pear and cinnamon sticks. It takes less than five minutes to make, but can fill your home with cozy smells for days.
4. Pomander
For the ultimate good-smelling, easy DIY activity: make pomanders! Simply poke whole cloves into an orange… and you’re done! (Tip: to avoid hurting your fingertips, poke holes in the orange first with a toothpick and then add the cloves.)
If you want to get fancy, you can create fun designs with the cloves, but it’s not necessary.
5. Room Sprays
Room sprays are another quick and easy way to make a room smell good, just look for products that are free of parabens/other toxins + no animal testing. Or make your own DIY spray with this recipe.
Here are some non-toxic room sprays we have our eyes on:
6. Reed Diffusers
One of the beauties of reed diffusers is: they give all the yummy smelling benefits without the potential dangers of a flame. But a lot of the oils in diffusers are made with plastics and chemicals — so look for ones like this Fresh Linen-Scented Old Factory Reed Diffuser made with non-toxic fragrance oils or this “fresh air anywhere” DIY Reed Diffuser Kit from Saje.
Check out more posts to make your home more eco-friendly, here:
