Air Fresheners Are Often Toxic — Here's A Safer Way To Make Your Home Smell Cozy

The holidays may be behind us, but it's never a bad idea to give your home a cozy, fragrant vibe—especially as the long, dark nights of winter drag on. Who doesn't want to walk into their space greeted by a rush of cinnamon apple spice?  

Board-certified internal medicine doctor and toxicity expert Vivian Chen, M.D., is certainly not one to knock a deliciously aromatic ambience, but if you're concerned about reducing toxins in your home, you might want to take a closer look at your freshener of choice. "These air fresheners are very common sources of endocrine disrupters like phthalates. So that would be the first thing to go," she says regarding common endocrine disrupters on the mindbodygreen podcast. 

"I personally love candles, but they can also be a source of carcinogens, like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and phthalates," says Chen. These airborne particles can be harmful to health in high doses. Research has shown1 that burning a candle at home is unlikely to emit enough particulate matter to harm health, but during the colder months when you tend to keep your windows closed (aka, right about now), it may create more of a vortex effect. 

That doesn't mean you should avoid candles entirely. Chen's solution? "You can look for soy or beeswax. Those are better," she notes. If you do opt for beeswax, just make sure it's 100% on the label; many candles include a blend of paraffin and another wax but will call it a "beeswax." 

Ah, simmer pots. If you're in the mood to DIY your own moody scent, you can't go wrong with one of these warm mixtures. It's also incredibly easy to whip up: All you need to do is add your fruit and spices of choice to a large pot of water, bring to a boil, then uncover and let it simmer for two to three hours. Trust me, it will make your whole home smell like the holiday season never left.

Feel free to browse TikTok for a slew of simmer pot recipes—my current favorite is this orange, apple, bay leaf, cinnamon, clove, and peppermint blend. But go ahead and let your creativity run wild. Vanilla! Cranberries! Grapefruit! Rosemary! The fragrance blends are truly endless.