Fresh air is one of the top things I am worried about in my home for myself and my family. We spend hours inside each day and night so it’s important that we are breathing as clean of air as possible. I also have a home full of kids, pets and lots of kitchen smells to add to the air. Finding non-toxic air fresheners is not the easiest so I wanted to share the best non-toxic all natural wall plug-in and other air fresheners on the market. As with anything there are some downsides to even natural plug-in air fresheners so you have to determine what is most important to you.

The good news is there are several non-toxic options to use as air fresheners for your home. The bad news is there is only one product I found comfortable recommending as a non-toxic wall plug-in. The rest of the plug-in products I researched had ingredients I’m not comfortable stating are non-toxic because they have some scientific data showing they can indeed cause long-term health issues and are classified as synthetic fragrances.

As with anything “natural” or non-toxic be sure to check the ingredient list to make sure the ingredients align with lifestyle. Many companies label their products as “clean” and containing only natural fragrances but its often marketing to get you to think you’re making a better choice.

It’s possible their products are slightly less toxic but many companies I found were still using products like Eugenol, an often synthetic chemical fragrances that can cause skin irritation and potentially hormone disruption. There were also using Geraniol which has similar effects to Eugenol. Both these chemicals have been found to be safe by both the FDA and EU in small amounts but are both noted as potential allergens so I prefer to avoid them.

What is the best non-toxic wall plug-in?

Scent Fill is the best non-toxic wall plug-in option. Scent fill is essentially just like the conventional wall plug-ins but completely non-toxic. All you do is pick a scent pod, plug it in and your ready to transform the smell of any room. It is VOC free (minus the essential oils that contact VOC’s as listed above), can last up to 45 days and has 1100 5 star reviews on amazon.

I love that I can actually read the ingredients list in each of their products, about 95% of which are essential oils. This is essentially a tiny essential oil diffuser but all the different scents are prepackaged in scent pod refills that you just plug in and enjoy. You can by a kit with the refillable plug hub, just the scents, or just the hub separately to meet whatever your needs are.

What is the problem with traditional plug-in air fresheners?

Traditional air-fresheners are full of synthetic fragrances that smell wonderful but can be very toxic for your health. They typically have hundreds of different harmful chemicals that have been directly linked to allergies, respiratory problems and indoor air pollution. Pregnant women should be especially concerned about traditional air-fresheners due to their potential to cause reproductive issues.

What is wrong with synthetic fragrances?

Synthetic fragrances are considered a trade secret and therefore companies do not have to reveal what is in it, which again is typically toxic chemicals that can cause a host of health problems for both people and pets.

Synthetic fragrances contain a mixture of chemicals but often have phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, benzene derivatives, ethylene glycol enters and acetaldehyde. Many of these chemicals are carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, and trigger allergies.

This study discusses some of the biggest issues with synthetic fragrances and links to other scholarly studies on the topic.

Do plug-in air fresheners have volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)?

Yes, most air fresheners contain VOC’s. VOCs are chemicals released into the air from various chemicals. Both traditional and natural plug-ins can release VOC’s so it’s important to look into the brand you choose and ensure that you’re comfortable with the level you could be exposing your family to.

Traditional plug-ins VOC’s are typically from phthalates and formaldehyde which have been proven to increase the risk of serious health problems.

How do non-toxic plug-ins release VOC’s?

Non-toxic plug-ins can use essential oils as their natural scents, essential pools contain limonene, linalool and alpha-pinene which all release VOC’s into the air. Citrus oils, pine oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil all contain VOC’s that are released when they are diffused in essential oil diffusers, air sprays, or plug ins. These are considered to be less toxic than VOC’s released from synthetic fragrances but could still cause health problems.

Do all wall plug-ins and room sprays contain VOC’s?

No, not all wall plug-ins and air fresheners contain VOC’s, there are many zero-VOC ones to choose from. I note if there are VOC’s in the brands I recommend here!

Best uses for wall plug-ins

Wall plug-ins are often used in living rooms where people spend a large amount of their waking time. They are of course used to help eliminate unpleasant odors and bad odors in the home.

Some people use them in their bedrooms to help with creating a calm, peaceful, and relaxing sleep environment.

Bathrooms are a popular place for obvious reasons. Kitchens are also a popular place after meals have been to prepared to help eliminate odors from a meal.

Are there any alternatives to wall plug-ins or spray air freshener to reduce odors in the home?

Yes there are several all-natural alternatives to use in place of not only conventional air fresheners but also non-toxic spray air fresheners. Air purifiers, baking soda, vinegar, reed diffusers, wax warmers, and charcoal are all considered natural alternatives to spray air fresheners.

Air Purifiers are a popular alternative that can reduce odor and improve indoor air quality in your home. I personally own 3 air purifiers that I have running pretty much all the time and have noticed a huge reduction in odor and dust in my home.

Baking soda is another great alternative to reduce odors in the home. You can actually just stout containers/bowls of baking soda and it will absorb the bad smell. This is very popular for the refrigerator since it’s a smaller contained space. Many sprinkle baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming to help reduce or eliminate odor there as well.

Vinegar is said to reduce odors as well. This one is a bit of a contradiction because it initially can cause what many to consider an unpleasant odor but is supposed to then eliminate the odor that it is targeted at. I personally use a DIY vinegar cleaner throughout my home and find it does help with eliminating grim and odors.

Reed diffusers are another alternative to spray air fresheners and can offer similar effects. A reed diffuser uses reed sticks placed halfway in an essential oil mixture. The mixture moves up the sticks and then releases a pleasant scent into the room. These should be utilized for small spaces because they will not be able to fill larger ones easily. These are very portable and can be placed on a window sill, kitchen tables, side tables and do not need any electricity to work!

Solid air freshener is another alternative to spraying something into the air. Solid air fresheners typically come in gels, waxes or crystals.These can often be filled with toxic chemicals but the fact they are not spraying into the air is a huge plus. Air wick is a super popular conventional version of this style of freshener, there are not a ton a non-toxic ones but I’ll list the ones I am aware of. Solid air fresheners typically come in gels, waxes or crystals.

Charcoal based products. Charcoal is well-known for being an odor eliminator by absorbing bad smells. Some companies make air fresheners that have charcoal in them thanks to this odor absorbing property.

What are other non-toxic options for standard air fresheners?

Reed Diffusers

Reed Diffusers are a great choice because they do not require electricity and release less VOC’s than aerosol sprays or wall plug-ins. There are several non-toxic options and the fact that they aren’t an aerosol spray means they can add less chemicals to them that allow them to disperse in a fine mist into the air. While looking for some of the best non-toxic options I found it really hard to get a company to reveal their ingredients. I’m not down with anyone unwilling to share what’s in their product so my recommendations are from companies who believe in safety and transparency.

Earth Easy is a great brand that makes all natural diffuser blends from 100% essential oils. These are considered long lasting due tot he high essential oil content and no alcohol in their recipe.

Plant therapy has a great non-toxic option for a reed diffuser. I have used this brand for all my essential oil needs for the last several years and love the quality. This reed diffuser is of course, essential oil based but does contain Isopropyl myristate which can cause skin issues. Its not a VOC but something to be aware of if you’re not comfortable with it.

Wax Warmers

Wax melts or warmers are another way to reduce, mask or eliminate odor in your home. They like many other things fragrances are hard to find brands that are transparent with their ingredients. You also want to ensure they contain wax that is plant-based versus paraffin for non-toxic and environmental choices.

Kermode wax melts seem to be a great choice. They don’t disclose their ingredients but specifically state that they use soy wax, essential oils are free of dyes, phthalate, carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and other potentially harmful chemicals. They have great reviews and are made in the US!

Farm Raised is another wax melt that seems like a great choice. They also do not disclose their ingredients but utilize soy wax, essential oils and state they are free of dyes, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and other toxic ingredients. They have several scents, are US made and have good ratings on Amazon.

Air Freshener Spray

There are several great non-toxic air freshener sprays on the market. These can be used to spray fabrics or just the air in general.

Fresh wave is a great choice for all natural spray air fresheners. They have no harsh chemicals, synthetic perfumes, alcohol, or phthalates. They do reveal most of their ingredients outside of their proprietary brand blend. They have great reviews on Amazon as well.

Saje is a wellness brand that has all non-toxic, wall natural room sprays made from just water and essential oils. They reveal their entire ingredients list on their website and sell numerous other products including a reed diffuser.

Charcoal Products

There are numerous Charcoal products on the market that can reduce and eliminate odors in your home.

My favorite is the Attitude Living charcoal air purifier which is is made with charcoal and essential oils. It absorbs odor and then also releases a fresh scent. It’s supposed to last up to 6 weeks and actually eliminate odors thanks to the charcoal and resin.

This little Chada Magic Rock is a really cool concept. There isn’t a ton of science supporting the claims but its made from tropical charcoal that is supposed to be able to absorb odors, excess moisture and EMFs. They don’t have a ton of reviews but the ones they do have state they work great for reducing odors.

Bamboo Charcoal Bags are a great choice to reduce the odor in your home. These do not release any smells but absorb order really well. They have great reviews on Amazon and no chemicals to worry about!

I’m going to wrap my list up here but there are still several other options you could use. I have three air purifiers in my home which I think have greatly reduced the odor in my home. I also love to use simmer pots, they are an eco-friendly way to use scraps from leftovers. Let me know what you utilize in your home to reduce odor? Is there something I can add to this list?

If you are looking for some other all natural home products check out my guide on non-toxic paint that features Zero VOC paints.