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Lowest-Rated Air Freshener | Reviews and Ingredients

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Worst Air Freshener

Air fresheners don’t actually get rid of bad smells. Instead, they overwhelm them with their own scent, or include chemicals that dull your sense of smell. The problem is that the scented ingredients used in most air fresheners comes with a range of health concerns. The biggest of comes from the presence of terpenes, compounds found in many plant oils that are used to give cleaners and air fresheners a pine, lemon, or orange scent. These ingredients are not toxic themselves, but terpenes react with ozone to form the irritating, carcinogenic, formaldehyde. (more)

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Worst Air Freshener

Clorox Disinfecting Spray, Sunshine Breeze
Clorox Disinfecting Spray, Sunshine Breeze
2.8
Arm & Hammer Smoke Buster W Baking Soda Deodorizing Air Freshener
Arm & Hammer Smoke Buster W Baking Soda Deodorizing ...
3.0
Safeway Disinfectant Spray, Linen Scent
Safeway Disinfectant Spray, Linen Scent
3.8
Reefer-Galler Dri-Air Super Dehumidifier, Floral Scented
Reefer-Galler Dri-Air Super Dehumidifier, Floral Sce...
3.9
Ambi Pur LiquiFresh 2 In 1 Air Freshener and Bowl Cleaner Refill, Ocean
Ambi Pur LiquiFresh 2 In 1 Air Freshener and Bowl Cl...
3.9
Renuzit AromaSense Candle, Apple & Cinnamon
Renuzit AromaSense Candle, Apple & Cinnamon
4.2
Purex Powder Classic Original Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent
Purex Powder Classic Original Fresh Scent Laundry De...
4.2
Air Wick 2-in-1 Air Freshener, Crisp Breeze
Air Wick 2-in-1 Air Freshener, Crisp Breeze
4.3
Wizard Crystal Air Air Freshener, Peach Sensation
Wizard Crystal Air Air Freshener, Peach Sensation
4.3
Neutra Air Air Treatment, Citrus
Neutra Air Air Treatment, Citrus
4.3
Willert Hanging Closet Freshener, Lavender Scented
Willert Hanging Closet Freshener, Lavender Scented
4.5
Enoz Hanging Closet Freshener, Potpourri
Enoz Hanging Closet Freshener, Potpourri
4.5
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Since there’s probably always some level of ozone in your house (how much depends on the air quality outdoors and on whether you've got an ozone-generating air purifier), most pine, lemon, or orange-scented air fresheners are contributing formaldehyde to the air in your home. Although the amount created is generally small, there are enough other sources of formaldehyde around the house that it’s better not to add any more to the air.

Air fresheners also sometimes contain phenol, an ingredient which can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. And a recent study by the National Resources Defense Council found phthalates in many common air fresheners. Although they don’t appear on the ingredients list, phthalates are commonly used as part of chemical fragrances, and have been linked to hormone disruption, developmental problems, birth defects, and cancer.

The companies that make air fresheners aren’t required to list ingredients on the product, although some choose to do so, and you can browse our air freshener ratings for companies that disclose their ingredients lists.