You lot've likely spotted information technology in the mall always since y'all were a teenager: the Bathroom & Body Works store, in all its scented, vibrantly-hued glory. With all those helpful employees continuing at the ready in their checky aprons and with cleverly named scents like "Sunkissed" and "Endless Weekend," it can certainly be tough to resist all that beautifully packaged goodness and delicious-smelling aromas.

Although we can all concur that nearly everything in a Bathroom & Body Works store smells corking, there are some things to go along in listen when shopping their products—specifically, if you lot're interested in purchasing anything from their Wallflower line. Are Bath and Body Works Wallflowers toxic? Let's intermission down the potential risks to yous and your family unit, and what to utilize instead.

This post may contain affiliate links, which ways we may earn a modest committee if you choose to make a purchase. Nosotros only make recommendations that are genuine and run across our ingredient/cloth prophylactic standards.

What Is A Bath & Body Works Wallflower?

Much like the plug-in air fresheners you see lining the shelves at grocery stores and big-box retailers, Bathroom & Torso Works Wallflowers are plug-in air fresheners that are an adjunct of their other scented products, which include lotions, body washes, and candles. They're marketed as "always-on" fragrances, which are plugged in and characteristic white plastic flowers that distribute aromas into the air. They feature scents that include "Crisp Morning Air," "Berry Waffle Cone," "Lavander Vanilla," and more than.

How Do Y'all Use A Bath & Torso Works Wallflower?

You simply plug a Wallflower correct into a wall outlet, just like the plug-in air fresheners y'all run into at mainstream stores. You can replace the scents with refills. The plugs themselves last around two years, while the refills each last about thirty days.

Is It Safe to Leave A Wallflower Plugged in All The Fourth dimension?

Mostly, it's rubber to leave a Wallflower, or whatsoever plug-in air freshener, plugged in for long periods of time since they utilize very little electricity. The only instance in which plug-in air fresheners can become fire hazards is if there is faulty wiring (which has nothing to practise with the freshener itself).

are bath and body works wallflowers toxic

What Is An "Air Freshener?"

Whether it's plugged in, sprayed, or presented equally gel in a plastic container, an air freshener is a product that releases fragrances into the air. It doesn't really clean the air or decrease indoor air pollution in any way, but rather just masks odors with another, more pleasant scent.

Can Air Fresheners Hurt You?

Over fourth dimension, experts generally agree that the chemicals in traditional air fresheners, plug-in or otherwise, tin can impact health and overall wellbeing. Although these chemicals make things easier for the companies that create the air fresheners (in the interest of saving money or being efficient during the manufacturing process), they aren't ideal to breathe in and out all day long in your abode. Air fresheners contribute to indoor air pollution (which tin really exist worse than outdoor pollution) and release toxins into the air that tin can bring most a host of wellness woes, from respiratory difficulties to even cancer.

How Does A Bathroom & Body Works Wallflower Freshen the Air?

Since Wallflower refills are made upwards of fragrance oils, when you lot plug one in, the electricity heats upward the oil and releases the aroma into the air. Again, Wallflowers don't technically freshen the air, but rather adds constructed fragrance into the air to mask other smells.

Are Bath and Body Works Wallflowers Toxic? What Makes Them Dangerous?

Fifty-fifty though Bath & Body Works shares that Wallflowers are crafted using essential oils (which sound totally natural, right?), unfortunately, those oils are mixed with not-so-great-for-you chemicals also. These chemicals include:

Formaldehyde

While information technology is something frequently used in scientific labs, formaldehyde isn't the all-time thing to be releasing into your home. It is a often used chemical in a wide variety of products, from glues to cosmetics to dishwashing liquids to paint, but information technology's however not something you'll desire to inhale on a regular footing. In fact, in Europe, information technology'south a chemic that'due south very strictly regulated due to its carcinogenic backdrop, something that the National Cancer Found has confirmed.

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals that are often found in personal care products: think anything fragranced similar soap, shampoo, and air fresheners. It's used to make fragrances last longer, which is why that Wallflowers scent continues smelling fresh and effluvious long afterwards y'all showtime plug it in.

Fragrance

Unfortunately, the U.S. laws and regulations effectually 'fragrance' and/or 'parfum' allow companies to include various toxic chemicals in their products without listing them on the ingredients label. You can read more well-nigh that correct hither.

VOCs

"VOC" stands for "volatile organic compound," a term that mostly applies to diverse chemicals that can easily turn into gas, which then turns into vapor in the air. VOCs profoundly contribute to indoor air pollution, something that doesn't bode well for the lungs and heart. You can read more about VOCs here.

are bath and body works wallflowers safe for dogs

Are Bath & Body Works Wallflowers Safety Humans and For Pets?

Considering Wallflowers have chemicals that aren't the best to exist inhaling within your home, the same matter goes for your furry friends as well.

Are Wallflower Air Fresheners Toxic to Me and My Family?

Since Wallflowers contain ingredients like formaldehyde, phthalates, and VOCs, this tin brand them potentially toxic to you and your family when inhaled. Air freshener poisoning symptoms can include allergy symptoms, hormone disruption, cough, stomach upset, and more. When encountered on the skin, air freshener fragrances tin can bring on rashes and pare irritation. And if you have modest children, exist forewarned that plug-in air fresheners are their deadliest when ingested.

How Do Wallflowers Air Fresheners Bear upon Cats?

Co-ordinate to PetMD, the essential oils contained in air fresheners, like Bathroom & Trunk Works Wallflowers, can be very toxic to cats. It'south imperative that your cat, or any of your pets, do not ingest the air freshener. When inhaled, a Wallflower or any other air freshener tin cause cats to develop feline asthma or neurological problems.

Volition Bathroom & Body Works Wallflowers Hurt My Dog?

The aforementioned goes for dogs. Canines can develop neurological problems just like cats equally a upshot of inhaling air fresheners. These symptoms can include unsteadiness, weakness, and tremors, as PetMD shares. Dogs can besides feel asthma and allergies from animate in air fresheners.

Are In that location Safer Options to Bath & Torso Works Wallflowers?

While it'south certainly better to apply air fresheners in your home that contain more natural ingredients that haven't been mixed with worrisome chemicals, you should know that not all essential oils are ideal for your pets to exist around.

For humans, even so, almost essential oils are completely safety when emitted into the air. So consider purchasing one of these non-toxic air freshener plug-ins instead of Bathroom & Body Works Wallflowers.

Use Non-Toxic Products to Clean and Deodorize Your Domicile

non-toxic-diffuser-1

Aera

This company purveys diffusers that agree canisters of natural scents. Lasting a whopping 800 hours with a aroma that doesn't change over time, you tin can choose from scents like "Linen," "Citrus," and "Mint and Eucalyptus."

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Grow

These found-based air fresheners tin be spritzed around your home or in your car and don't conduct those chemicals derived from petroleum. Freshen up the air and your domicile and experience amend knowing that this company provides ingredient transparency, ranging from essential oils to hexenyl acetate, constitute in green tea, to alcohol that's been naturally fermented from grains. Choose from scents like Lavender Flower, Citrus Cedar, Bamboo, and more.

non toxic cleaners from blueland

Blueland Cleaning Products

Of course, one of the all-time means to keep odors at bay and your habitation smelling fresh is to go on it clean. Blueland'due south non-toxic and refillable household cleaners can exist used to keep bathroom and living spaces fresh.

Blueland'southward products come with a handful of eco-friendly and not-toxic certifications, including EWG Verified, Cradle to Cradle, Leaping Bunny, B Corp, Climate Neutral, and more.

non-toxic-air-fresheners

Moso Natural

Moso's completely not-toxic olfactory property-absorbing numberless come in various shapes and sizes, which y'all can place all throughout your business firm. By setting a bag in the kitchen, bathroom, closet, or laundry room, this is a swell way to actually get rid of odors (instead of but masking them).

These bags terminal a really long time, too. Simply let the bag soak in the sun every one time in a while to refresh it and then reuse them for up to 2 years.

Other Ways to Scent Your Dwelling

You tin e'er cull to purchase an air-freshening production with a pre-made scent, or you can customize the scent by turning to other products and hacks. For instance, an essential oil diffuser is a great way to create your ain blends by using the organic essential oils of your pick. Boiling citrus peels in a stockpot tin immediately release an orange-filled scent into your space. Ionic air sanitizers, which broadcast negatively charged ions into the air, can besides make your habitation experience a lot fresher.

What Are Pet-Safe Essential Oils?

While it's best to confirm with your vet, it'due south generally believed that some essential oils are safe for pets and others are non. According to Rover.com, the essential oils that have been deemed safe for dogs include lavender, copaiba, frankincense, peppermint, and petitgrain. The American Kennel Club (AKC) shares that cinnamon, citrus, pine, tea tree, ylang ylang, and other essential oils can be poisonous to dogs. Experts can disagree on the toxicity of some essential oils (i.due east. some say that peppermint is prophylactic while others believe that it's not). This is why it's imperative to check with your vet before using essential oils in your home, whether they're diffused or applied.

Essential Oils That Aren't Good for Your Cat

Only like dogs, some essential oils can be quite irritating for your feline friend. These include the aforementioned essential oils that are troublesome for dogs, like cinnamon, citrus, and tea tree. Again, check with your vet earlier using essential oils in any style.

What about Bathroom and Trunk Works' Other Products?

Bath and Trunk Works sells other products like candles, body sprays, shampoos, soaps, and more. Nosotros looked into every category, along with the brand as a whole, and asked questions like:

  • Does Bath & Body Works have any non-toxic products? Is any of it safe?
  • Is Bath & Torso Works vegan or cruelty-complimentary?
  • Is Bath & Torso Works eco-friendly or sustainable?

You tin can read more virtually all of that hither.

Conclusion

Even though essential oils are considered a natural, fragrant alternative to chemical-laden products, keep in listen that while Bath & Body Works Wallflowers have essential oils, the fragrances are mixed with less-than-desirable chemicals. If any production contains toxic chemicals and VOCs, it may be time to rethink your product choices to do good the wellness of you, your family, and your pets—especially since our fur babies can't tell the states if they have headaches from an air freshener!

Y'all may certainly adore a home fragrance product y'all've been using for years, and information technology'southward upwards to you to weigh the pros and cons of that product. Merely it'south good to know that at that place are many natural alternatives out there to deodorize your dwelling.

About the Author

Shelby Deering is a lifestyle writer from Madison, Wisconsin. For the past sixteen years, she has contributed to national print magazines and websites, includingNaturally, Danny Seo, Healthline, Good Housekeeping, Parade, U.s.a. Today, and more than. In her ain life, she embraces not-toxic, cruelty-gratis dazzler and cleaning products, and when she's non researching a "clean" shampoo or lotion to add to her daily regimen, you'll find her walking her corgi, Dolly, running local trails, or discovering treasures at nearby flea markets.

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Image credits: Chewy, Anna Svets, Element5, product photos vest to respective brands