Are air fresheners a moral issue?

Question

there's soemthing really funny going on: in the UK we seem really obsessed with recycling, as a way of saving the world's resources. By that token, shouldn't we avoid products which pointlessly use up resources? Air fresheners seem like an obvious one, they just don't really do anything apart from make your house smell of artificial scent and yet require loads of energy and resource to make.

Does anyone agree with me?

are there any other products which are so quintessentially pointless we shouldn't be using them?

does anyone think that the world is falling apart and the least we can do is make our houses smell nice as the sea level rises?

Answer 1

I agree with you and I agree that there are many other things that are produced that are useless and a waste of materials but I can not come up with another example at the moment.

Answer 2

Candles are a much better way of freshening the air anyway. Light a match, there is little to no wasted and if you buy good candles they were natural anyway. Or if that little bit of wax freaks you out that is left, melt are your left over parts into a new candle. There are also essential oils you can use to add a good smell with out being environmentally damning. Incense can add a delightful charming warmth to a room as well. You can freshen the air naturally. If you want to get down to it, how good are those scented colognes and perfumes for you anyway? And go read your deodorant's label if your looking for good scented things that are bad for you and the environment. And then do buy some all natural deodorant  and eat a ton more  fruit which makes you produce less Body Odor Naturally and things may stop stinking as badly. Don't complain about it, make a change.

Answer 3

Two words. Toxic consumerism!

Answer 4

I hate air fresheners!  They are a waste of money and resources.  None of them work long term.  They an irritant to those with respiratory issues.  And yet there is a huge segment of the market devoted to this garbage!  Go figure!

Answer 5

Air fresheners are also toxic to humans.

As for Your pointless or pollution contributing things list I can

ad car lineup, with engine idling, at drive-true fast-food

restaurants.

Answer 6

i don't own any air fresheners but I'm with you on this. why should the rich people of the world waste resources while some still go without food.

Answer 7

I tend to think that we are moving backwards with most things, I feel that the air fresheners and esspecially fly sprays are the cause of brain illnesses like parkinsons ect,,,. I have been ill in the past and was told to take antibiotics,,I never did, I drank stout. Use your instinct The world has gone mad? yes. we in Australia will kill in great numbers our kangaroos that can reach plauge  proportion but instead of selling them cheap for pet food, they burn them??? Do you also realise how much water it takes to make a standard white cotton tee shirt? A **** load. If you think too much about it you will develope deppression,{ I have suffered from this as It has been passed down from family to family and I have found a way to correct my own brain chemicals using food if you want to know how I did it  write back. We are all different and if you don,t buy this spray **** neither will I. 2 people making a difference, just 2? why not

Answer 8

I think air "fresheners" should be banned. They usually smell horrible and why wouldn't you just open the window (when it's warm enough)? I live in a cold climate, so cannot open the window year round, but never would I use air freshener. MAYBE a scented candle, but I have never used any of these either. Clean the house, I guess?

Worst, I find air fresheners and scented things irritating for my asthma.

Answer 9

I don't think of them as a moral issue, but I don't use them either. Most houses don't stink if you keep them reasonably clean. During the summer I open windows, and since I'm in southern California, that works for most of the winter too. If I need a better scent in the house, a candle or some herbs from the garden work wonders.

Besides, it has always seemed silly to me to spray chemicals in the air to cover other scents.

Answer 10

We wouldnt need as many air fresheners if the people who are exploiting the Gloobular Warmation hysteria would simply shut the h**l up and quit emitting so much stinky fertilizer.

Answer 11

I too find them repulsive. At my local health store I found a wonderful alternative, just using a spritzer with water and essential oils with a dispersant. It is fantastic with a beautiful natural scent and is great around my asthmatic daughter! s***w the multi-nationals!! Go Rudd!!

Answer 12

I have found that dried fruit pealing, flowers, and herbs make good  Eco-friendly  air fresheners. It is not hard to dry them and normally people trash these items anyways it make good sense to me.

Answer 13

I have nothing against them.

Answer 14

You are certainly environmentally friendly...but in order to do that you have to change a whole set of policies, rules, and regulations. Educate the people to know about it and find better ways to get rid of nasty smells.

Well I guess the major concern is not from small things, we must focus on much larger things like finding more environmentally friendly cars and trying to decrease the CO2 emmisions of factories, then we go to the smaller things.