to not understand why people spend money to pollute their homes with pointless chemicals?

😂

I spend a fortune on these hahaha, I never used to- my mum used to overdo it and glade puffers made me feel sick but over time in my own home I realised how clean it makes everything smell and fell in love with them lol I also overdo scent boosters and fabric softener and my.clothes always smell lovelllllly.

I think my biggest bug bear is that they're not particularly effective either- you can usually still smell wet dog/pets etc under the air freshener, and even if there's no underlying bad smell it doesn't smell fresh it does just smell chemically. Plus it's terrible for your pets' health.

I've never got along with fabric softener, it coats clothes and towels in an unpleasant way. Laundry gel doesn't work as well as laundry powder. Ditto with shower gel - more expensive longterm for worse effect.

Nothing beats airing out your (properly dusted and cleaned) house and line drying your laundry (assuming you don't live near slurry!). I think one issue is people don't really know how to clean any more - most people just spritz random spray on a surface and give it a wipe hoping for the best (or worse, use those disposable wipes)

@MoonWoman69 I actually am/was** a scientist, though I no longer work in research - I have a PhD and everything, from a pretty decent University, and part of my Undergraduate involved studying chemistry to a fairly high level, so I make no apology for getting slightly irked when people use words out of context. I realise I have no way of proving this without outing myself, but nevertheless it IS true. Happy Sunday.

** scientists never really stop being scientists, even if they no longer work in research....it's hard to train it out of us!

Despite my scepticism this thread has opened my eyes.

This morning I boiled up a pan of peel and scrapings, reduced it down to its essence and bottled it. Just a few drops of it is enough to fragrance my home very effectively.

Unfortunately it smells uncannily like the local rubbish dump. But I think everyone will come to like it - after all it’s 100% natural. And the environmental and health benefits are immense.

The rest of the family have unexpectedly gone round to a friend’s house. I bet they’re spreading the word about my breakthrough eco-initiative.

Also, scent has been a thing since forever. When I was young it was joss sticks, pot pourri and spent cones.

I don't personally like air puffer things or laundry smell enhancers or whatever. I don't use fabric conditioner.

But I do like a wax melt. My house is fairly spotless and fresh all the time but I like the smell of coconuts and the sea. It's like wearing perfume. You don't use it instead of washing.

And to answer your question, because they want to.

I just love it when the thread isn't going the way someone wanted and the drip feed "I am a scientist" pops in?! You see it all the time on MN! Like people on a thread on the internet are going to believe that, just because they've said they are! 🙄
(I'm a brain surgeon by the way and thankfully haven't met Brain Cox! 🤣)

There seems to be a crossover here, the original post was that the poster couldn't understand why people bought into these things, with them being environmentally unfriendly and was questioning why people would spend their money on them, just to pollute the atmosphere.

Half the comments are from people who are either sensitive to or allergic to, scents! Which I completely understand of course. But that's hardly the point of the thread.

My windows are open all year round and on vent in winter, my back door is open 90% of the time, I occasionally spritz a bit of nice air freshener, perfume or Febreze. I use deodorant, Hibiscrub in the shower and whatever shampoo I like at the time. I buy all natural cleaning sprays, as I have a cat, I burn natural incense cones and sticks.
And I do like my washing to be scented.
But apparently I'm not living my life in such a way others would like me to! Well, tough, absolutely nobody is perfect and I like nice scents! It should be each to their own, just do your own thing, so long as it makes you happy and you feel happy with your own actions. That's what life should be about surely?
I do more than my bit for the environment and I am happy with that.
Oh and by the way, if anyone is considering it, don't waste your money on deodorant rocks! They cost an absolute bomb and you still stink of BO, however much you protest that you don't! 🤢

Yeah and I've been subjected to folk who ethically choose not to use deodorant or scented washing powders etc, one word - musty! They just smell dirty and unwashed! I'd rather smell nice things than smell mucky person/clothing, thank you!

If anyone is looking a for a new reed diffuser the range has a lovely new one in! Smells divine! IMO of course. 😉

I mostly agree, we don't use too much extra just washing powder, vanish if needed. No candles, reed defusers, plug ins etc but do use aerosol sprays in the bathroom because I'd rather it smell like that than shit.

I haven't seen so much smuggery, faux bemusement and defensiveness since the last time we discussed the frequency of washing towels.

Towels, bedding, air freshener...all deeply contentious issues.

Some people are really to try to suck the joy out of everything...

People use various scents because they like the smell and it makes them feel good.

Live and let live.

I use essential oils but I also have the basic air freshener stuff for the bathroom and near the cat litters. I use candles too.

I care about the environment but I also don't overthink everything and allow myself some pleasures in life.

Enzyme cleaner (the pet stuff) and dettol laundry sanitizer
Not necessarily more natural but less covering and more removing

No, quite honestly. I had to do the same when my dad was still here, dementia made him doubly incontinent and he would refuse to wash.

I don’t think anything natural would shift it. I had to use all sorts of stuff that I didn’t really want to just to give him a bit of dignity.

You just have to do what you can to help them, it’s so undignified to have someone smell of urine.

I help out an elderly relative and am liberal with the bleach to get rid of the smell of pee and use tons of fabric conditioner on clothes for the same reason. I didn’t give it a second thought before reading this thread. Does anyone have any healthier solutions?

What other answer other than "it smells nice" do you expect? It is the most reasonable one.

👏👏👏.

No you read into it what wasn’t there. Anyway, I’ve clarified it for you. HTH

You implied it.

Bottom line is people have different opinions, who'd have thought it!

Because I thought some fun at the expense of the scaremongering would be mildly amusing. And as the poster and I agree on this thread, it didn’t seem outrageous.

I’m not sure you understood, TBH.

🤷‍♀️

The same question goes to those who smoke and vape.

but at least my home smells nice. Smokers don’t

No lavender is disgusting because it stinks and old ladies wear it.

That clearer for you?

HTH

So because your home is fresh to you, you assume everyone else's smells like yours?

You really couldn't think why some people choose to use air fresheners?

Do you wonder why people do most things differently to you or is it just air fresheners?