The Exceptional Essential Oil Recipe to Freshen Up Your Car

I need to be honest with myself.  My truck stinks to high heaven in the summer!  I frequently engage in sweaty runs in the middle of the day.  Upon return to my truck my clothes are as damp as if I jumped in the river.  I do my best to wipe off the sweat from my leather seats and remove the sweaty clothes as soon as possible.  Though I do my best these dastardly clothes and my sweaty body stink up my car.  My car with the windows up after a hot days smells worse than 300 adolescent gym shorts after football practice.  This is when the exceptional essential oil recipe to freshen up your car comes into play!

What is wrong with the conventional air freshener?  Do the makers of that “Summer Breeze” scent actually capture the breezy air of the Florida Keyes or Malibu and miraculously transport that scent onto a cardboard freshener?  Unfortunately, no.  The large majority of conventional car fresheners use chemicals to mimic their respective scent.

Fresheners are laced with:

• Phthalates, known to be associated with higher rates of birth defects, reproductive issues, obesity, and even cancer. (Listen to our NPE Radio episode on phthalates.)
• Dicholorbenzene, a likely carcinogen that even California classifies as a cancer-causer in its Prop 65 list.  Its sister chemical oxybenzene, is the main toxin found in conventional sunscreen. (Listen to episode on sunscreen toxicity.)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), most commonly seen in varnished furniture and paint. (Listen to episode on 5 Toxins You Must Remove From Your House...including VOCs.)
• Formaldehyde, a Class 1 known carcinogen. (Read our article on IARC’s list of known carcinogens.)

In fact, a 2007 study of car fresheners tested 74 of them and revealed that a large majority contained over 300 chemicals and additives.  Here is a link to a Time Magazine article elaborating on its findings.

Conventional car fresheners are highly problematic.  But it gets worse, most of these aforementioned chemicals are found in house fresheners as well!   Here at Naturopathic Earth, we always encourage DIY natural remedies and alternatives to toxic chemicals.  This is where our exceptional essential oil recipe to freshen up your car comes into play.

Which Essential Oils?

The arsenal of aromatherapy is strong and brings many “weapons” to the table.  When it comes to the ideal essential oil recipe to freshen up your car, you don’t want to employ oils that lead to somnolence (sleepiness) or over relaxation.

In particular avoid the following oils:

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Cedarwood
• Vetiver
• Ylang Ylang 

The ideal exceptional essential oil recipe to freshen up your car would include oils that increase alertness, energy, and  cognition while at the same time not make you overly stimulated.  For this reason, avoid eucalyptus.  Though it has a terrific scent (they use it in my gym’s steam room), it might lead you to drive recklessly.

If you use wool felt, cut it into fun shapes that your children will enjoy.

Remember that essential oils are potent.  Though they might smell terrific in the car their potency might cause side-effects.   Use with discretion…but enjoy!  Lord knows my car and fiancee are glad that I did!

Subscribe to Kate’s Apothecary: A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils & Herbs.  In particular her episodes on peppermint and lemon.

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