Nowadays, there are many natural and ecological alternatives that allow you to keep your home clean, disinfected and free from bad odours.

Less harmful alternatives to chemical air fresheners

According to the WHO, we spend more than 80% of our lives indoors. Whether at home or at work, for hours we breathe air that is often polluted.

BY Àngela Zorrilla | 23 January 2026

More and more people are looking for options that take care of the environment and, above all, keep these places clean and pleasantly scented. From detergents and cleaning products, fibres from carpets or used mattresses, to chemical air fresheners in toilets or entrance halls. Our daily lives are surrounded by chemical substances that we constantly inhale and that can negatively affect our health. The air we breathe is a decisive factor in our health.

This situation has driven a growing number of people to seek natural alternatives to, disinfect and scent homes and workplaces. This upward trend clean also helps to protect the environment and contributes to a more sustainable lifestyle that is conscious of the wellbeing of people and their surroundings.

Chemicals at home: a constant (and barely visible) danger

Conventional cleaning products and air fresheners usually contain compounds such as chlorine, ammonia, formaldehyde or toluene. Exposure to these substances often ends up causing irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness or fatigue. According to the OCU, some industrial air fresheners and oils can emit more benzene, for example, than cigarette smoke itself.

The risk increases when ventilation in homes is insufficient or when humidity and temperature are very high. A gesture as simple as opening the windows for 20 or 30 minutes a day allows the air to be renewed, reduces pollutants and improves the air quality in any home. In fact, according to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), 72% of exposure to chemicals occurs inside buildings.

For this reason, the first step towards a healthier environment is to identify and reduce the use of these products full of harmful chemicals. It is advisable, for example, to check labels and pay attention to hazard pictograms. With this information, it will be easier to choose other options that are safer for health and the planet.

Scent your home without chemical air fresheners

Nowadays, there are many natural and ecological alternatives that allow you to keep your home clean, disinfected and free from bad odours. All this without putting the environment or health at risk. Ingredients such as white vinegar, lemon, essential oils or bicarbonate of soda are very effective when it comes to preparing air fresheners and other household cleaning products.

In addition to being moreeconomical, making disinfectants, multi-purpose cleaners or eco-friendly fragrances allows you to control exactly what you are using. With these homemade products, it is possible to enjoy a clean home with a fresh, natural scent without compromising health.

A simple example for the kitchen (one of the rooms where grease and bad odours tend to accumulate) is to mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, adding the juice of half a lemon. This spray cleans, degreases and leaves a fresh aroma.

Ideas for making a natural air freshener

If you need more natural, effective and easy-to-prepare alternatives, here are some other options. Do not forget that scenting your home does not have to mean inhaling toxins.

Essential oil diffusers: Choose relaxing blends (lavender, lemon balm, bergamot), energising ones (lemon, pine, orange) or antiviral options (eucalyptus, tea tree, clove).
Handmade incense: Those made with natural resins emit fewer toxins than industrial ones and contain neither dyes nor synthetic fragrances.
Aromatic sprays: Combine water, a little alcohol and essential oils, or infusions of lemon, cinnamon, rosemary and clove to achieve an instant and safe fragrance.
Bicarbonate of soda and dried plants: Placing bicarbonate of soda in fridges, bins or bathrooms absorbs bad odours. Sachets of lavender, rosemary or mint add natural fragrance to wardrobes and small rooms.
Scented cotton pads: If you place cotton pads soaked in essential oils in the vacuum cleaner bag, they will release fragrance while you clean.

With these air fresheners that are less harmful to health and much safer, your home will be truly clean, fresh and naturally scented, without resorting to unnecessary chemicals. This small change is full of great benefits for you and your loved ones and brings you closer to a healthier and more conscious home.