Candles vs. Diffusers...the great debate!

As the gatekeepers of our homes, we have a great opportunity to bring in healthy products and create healthy habits for ourselves and our families. Let's talk about how we can fill our homes with the scents of the season using diffusers instead of scented candles! Fair warning: this post is a DOOZY, but it's full of valuable information so please keep reading! I have a reward for you at the end...clickable shopping links!

WHY WE LOVE DIFFUSING

It is no secret that we love diffusing - our diffusers are going 24 hours a day! One of the best things about essential oils is that they not only smell incredible but they have a huge positive impact on our health. We can diffuse blends that support immunity, our respiratory systems, healthy sleep, focus and mental clarity, emotional support, and more. We can fill our homes with the scents of the season without burning chemicals or using ingredients that harm our health.

“I used to burn scented candles all the time, so I was a little worried when we switched to diffusers. I wanted my home to smell inviting and cozy, and I have not been disappointed! Seven years later we no longer burn candles or use wall plugs, and our home still smells incredible. So much so that my husband's friends comment on it when they come over!” - Ashley C.

A FEW NOTES ON FRAGRANCE...

If you turn over your favorite products, you'll often find the word ‘fragrance' in the ingredients. But what is fragrance??

Fragrance chemicals are organic compounds that volatilize or vaporize into the air, which is why we can smell them. They are added to household and personal care products to give them a scent or mask other ingredients' odor. Unfortunately, the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs - think the smell of paint or paint thinner) emitted by fragrance products can contribute to poor indoor air quality and are associated with a variety of adverse health effects. They are pretty much the last thing you want in a product you are burning for ambiance and aroma.

But it gets a little bit worse...

Did you know that to protect trade secrets, makers are allowed to withhold fragrance ingredients, so consumers can't rely on labels to know what hazards may lurk inside those festive scented candles (and room sprays.. and wall plugs… and perfumes.. and cosmetics). This is called the “fragrance loophole” in federal labeling law. Although all other ingredients in your scented household and personal care products must be disclosed on the label by their specific name, this loophole means that ingredients added to provide a pleasant scent or to mask a bad one, need only be listed under the generic term “fragrance.”

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that, while many popular candles and room sprays contain trace amounts of natural essences, they also typically contain a dozen or more potentially hazardous synthetic chemicals, some of which are derived from petroleum.

According to the EWG, “Exposure to fragrance chemicals can cause headaches; eye, nose, and throat irritation; nausea; forgetfulness; loss of coordination; and other respiratory and/or neurotoxic symptoms. Many fragrance ingredients are respiratory irritants and sensitizers, which can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate sinus conditions.”

One example of a harmful ingredient (there are many!) when it comes to fragrance, is styrene, an ingredient added to a wide variety of consumer products. A 2011 finding by the National Toxicology Program (endorsed by the Academy's National Research Council) found that styrene is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”

We know only that styrene might be an ingredient in any fragrance because the International Fragrance Association, an industry trade group, publishes an online “Transparency List” of ingredients perfumers say they use in formulas for consumer products. Styrene is one of the 3,000-odd ingredients on the list.

According to the EWG, When you add up the number of products in your bathroom cabinets and under your kitchen sink that contain “fragrance” – and may contain styrene – the total could be many exposures to a substance we now know is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”

THIS is why we are so passionate about ditching conventional products and switching to Young Living's clean, effective, and safe options!

Young Living NEVER uses fragrance in their products - they don't even need to because of the incredible essential oils. All the Young Living products are infused with the highest quality, therapeutic grade essential oils, which not only make fragrance unnecessary, they actually improve our health!

Make a simple switch with a huge impact, and join us as we switch out scented candles for diffusers and delicious oil blends!

Here are some fall diffuser blends you can try!

To make a diffuser bomb, multiply the quantity of each oil by 10-20 and place in a dropper bottle with a pretty label. (You can also reuse old YL bottles and add a bamboo dropper top.)

To make a 10mL roller, have the total number of drops around 30-50 and fill with carrier of choice.
To make a 2oz spray, multiply the drops by 3-5, add a splash of witch haze and top with water in a glass spray bottle and add a label.

MULLED WINE