POTPOURRI - Potpourri is a natural air freshener made from dried flowers, leaves, seeds and cones. Pronounced po-pur-ree, it is used to make rooms and cupboards smell fresh. Anything can be added to potpourri as long as it is dry, to ensure that the contents last longer and do not become moldy. Potpourri can be arranged in bowls or stuffed into small cotton pillows to be hung in cupboards. Cinnamon sticks can be added to give potpourri a spicy scent. Other uses for potpourri include masking the smell of mothballs in cupboards and deterring insects. Sachets can be placed in drawers or in shoes to leave a fresh scent. You can place loose potpourri in ashtrays in cars and in the fillings of soft toys. Scent is also usually added to the dried flowers and can be sprayed on every few days to be absorbed into the flowers. A fixative is necessary to absorb the scent, and the most often used is orrisroot. Other types of fixative include calamus root, dry lavender, tonka bean and sandalwood bark. There are also powdered fixatives, but these are usually used in sachets of potpourri. The powder will not look good on an open decorative arrangement and will not hold the scent as well as the chopped fixatives. Lavender is a popular addition to potpourri. There are many different scents and oils that can be used in a potpourri arrangement. If you have knowledge of aromatherapy, you can select different scents to create a mood or atmosphere in a room.

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Potpourri

What is Potpourri?

Garry Crystal

 Tonka beans, which is sometimes used in potpourri.

Potpourri is a natural air freshener made from dried flowers, leaves, seeds and cones.

Pronounced po-pur-ree, it is used to make rooms and cupboards smell fresh.

Anything can be added to potpourri as long as it is dry, to ensure that the contents last longer and do not become moldy.

Potpourri can be arranged in bowls or stuffed into small cotton pillows to be hung in cupboards.

Other uses for potpourri include masking the smell of mothballs in cupboards and deterring insects.

Cinnamon sticks can be added to give potpourri a spicy scent.

Sachets can be placed in drawers or in shoes to leave a fresh scent.

You can place loose potpourri in ashtrays in cars and in the fillings of soft toys.

Scent is also usually added to the dried flowers and can be sprayed on every few days to be absorbed into the flowers.

A fixative is necessary to absorb the scent, and the most often used is orrisroot.

Other types of fixative include calamus root, dry lavender, tonka bean and sandalwood bark.

There are also powdered fixatives, but these are usually used in sachets of potpourri.

Lavender is a popular addition to potpourri.

The powder will not look good on an open decorative arrangement and will not hold the scent as well as the chopped fixatives.

There are many different scents and oils that can be used in a potpourri arrangement.

If you have knowledge of aromatherapy, you can select different scents to create a mood or atmosphere in a room.

Always be sparing with essential oils, as they can smell quite strongly.

Eucalyptus leaves can be used in potpourri.

Always sprinkle tiny drops of the oil directly onto the chopped fixatives.

With powdered fixative, sprinkle the oil randomly and then mix it in.

The best scents to use are flower scents. These include rose, lavender, violet and carnations. Spices can also be used, including rosemary, cinnamon, sage, thyme and nutmeg.

For citrus scents, try lime, mandarin peel, lemon, dried orange and kumquat.

Mint is often used when making potpourri.

Leaves to use in your arrangement include mint, bayberry, cedar, eucalyptus, balsam and pine needles.

Fillers are used in potpourri to add bulk to the arrangement or when stuffing pillows.

Filler can be anything from small marbles to pine cones. You can also try using extra leaves, seashells or colored wood shavings.

With potpourri flowers, you should go for color rather than scent, as bright colors make the display more eye-catching.

Sunflower petals are good to use for an extra burst of color.

Rose petals are a common ingredient in potpourri.

It is easy to make your own potpourri. Simply collect all the flowers and filler and leave to dry for a few days in a well-ventilated area.

Placing absorbent paper under the mix will help absorb any moisture, but remove the paper after the first day.

The petals will be ready to use when they are crisp and dry. A potpourri arrangement makes an ideal gift and brightens up any room.

Wisegeek provides millions of readers with clear answers to common questions. It’s built for curious people of all ages, backgrounds, and areas of interest.

https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-potpourri.htm#

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SENSITIVE TO FRAGRANCE? - You're not alone – but the science is still out - A survey of people in the US, Australia, UK and Sweden last year reported that as many as 1 in 3 people have 'fragrance sensitivity'. The study found adverse effects were most often caused by fragrance in products worn by others, in cleaning products, and in air fresheners or deodorisers. The smell of scented laundry products can make some people feel sick. Top of the list of adverse effects were respiratory problems (difficulty breathing, coughing, shortness of breath), mucosal symptoms (e.g. watery or red eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing), migraine headaches, skin problems (e.g. rashes, hives, red skin, tingling skin, dermatitis), and asthma attacks. Nine per cent of people found the effects of fragrance 'disabling', causing them to lose workdays or even jobs. Products like air fresheners and cleaning materials have also been linked to a more serious condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. The science is not in yet, says molecular pharmacologist and toxicologist Ian Musgrave of the University of Adelaide. We know that components of fragrances can, in some people, cause contact dermatitis — a condition that makes skin red or inflamed. And there have also been a number of studies that have found that perfume triggers migraines and asthma attacks. But differences in methodologies make it hard to compare findings on the proportion of people affected.

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Sensitive to 

fragrance?

Could one persons pleasure be another person's poison?

You're not alone – but the science is still out

By Anna Salleh

ABC Science

 

Jacqueline Wilkes can't stand the smell of air fresheners, perfume, aftershave and scented laundry powder.

"I find these fragrances highly offensive," she says.

"They make me feel headachy, sick in the stomach and breathless."

Unfortunately, Jacqueline is not the only person in her family with a sensitivity to fragrance. 

Jacqueline and mother Nancy Wilkes are both sensitive to fragrance.

Her mum Nancy has a lung disease and is on oxygen therapy. Her reactions to scented products are even worse than Jacqueline's.

"If she comes in contact with people wearing these fragrances, or products with fragrance in them she can be severely ill," says Jacqueline.

Nancy chokes up, becomes weak and dizzy and gets headaches and sore muscles.

Anxiety about encountering smells keeps Nancy at home a lot, Jacqueline says.

"She's really cut down on her socialising. It's quite isolating for her."

Even the health professionals Nancy sees wear cologne, or use air fresheners and toilet deodorisers.

And because fragrances are naturally volatile, they get around.

At home Nancy can be affected not just by scents on visitors, but by wafts of deodorant or laundry powder used by the neighbours.

One in three affected by fragrance?

A survey of people in the US, Australia, UK and Sweden last year reported that as many as 1 in 3 people have 'fragrance sensitivity'. 

The smell of scented laundry products can make some people feel sick.

The study, by Anne Steinemann from the University of Melbourne, found adverse effects were most often caused by fragrance in products worn by others, in cleaning products, and in air fresheners or deodorisers.

Top of the list of adverse effects were respiratory problems (difficulty breathing, coughing, shortness of breath), mucosal symptoms (e.g. watery or red eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing), migraine headaches, skin problems (e.g. rashes, hives, red skin, tingling skin, dermatitis), and asthma attacks.

And Dr Steinemann found that 9 per cent of people found the effects of fragrance 'disabling', causing them to lose workdays or even jobs.

Products like air fresheners and cleaning materials have also been linked to a more serious condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

What does the science say?

The science is not in yet, says molecular pharmacologist and toxicologist Ian Musgrave of the University of Adelaide. 

We know that components of fragrances can, in some people, cause contact dermatitis — a condition that makes skin red or inflamed.

And there have also been a number of studies that have found that perfume triggers migraines and asthma attacks.

But differences in methodologies make it hard to compare findings on the proportion of people affected, says Professor Musgrave.

"Steinemann's results are plausible, although they may be overestimated."

And the difficulty is not just in comparing research, but also attributing causality.

That's because most studies are — like Dr Steinemann's — based on self-reports by people, who may be mistaken about the cause of their symptoms.

Dr Musgrave says two other studies that have deliberately exposed people to fragrance under controlled experimental conditions suggest there is no link between fragrance and respiratory problems, although these were small studies.

Could something else be involved?

Other experts have suggested there are neurological and even psychological factors playing a role.

Perhaps people come to associate fragrances used to mask other environmental agents that trigger adverse effects, like mould or cigarette smoke, with the reaction, says Dr Musgrave.

It might make things smell clean but maybe it's masking
other triggers of asthma and migraine?

"They could then become anxious or triggered by the fragrance even when the mould or cigarette smoke is not present."

Dr Musgrave says it's not clear whether the conditions reported in the study by Dr Steinemann were caused by fragrance itself or other possible triggers in the environment.

"Nonetheless, this issue is important to community groups and even if it is not fragrance itself, but other factors (such as triggers concealed by fragrance) more research is needed to ensure that health issues are not being missed," he says

It's also a controversial one, with the idea that perfumes poses health hazards listed among the 2011 Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares by a website supported by the hygiene and cosmetics industry. 

So, what can you do if you're affected by fragrances?

Although the science is not yet conclusive, Jacqueline and her mum are not taking any chances.

"There's no doubt in our minds that fragrance is the culprit," says Jacqueline.

She's not convinced we know the full impact of fragrances on health, so she tries to avoid them altogether.

One way to do this is to use unscented products only, which means avoiding those labelled as containing 'parfum' or 'fragrance'

Even these seemingly-innocent incense sticks may insence some.

Another way is to use simple products like bicarb soda and vinegar.

If fragrance use by others is the issue, having a conversation with them is a good starting point.

However, this can be tricky, as Jacqueline and Nancy found when they complained about fragrant oil sticks used in a physiotherapist's practice.

They were told to go elsewhere!

If you are in the workplace and you can't solve your problem by talking to colleagues, you could ask your boss to deal with it as an occupational health and safety issue.

This could mean putting some distance between you and someone who is wearing a strong scent, or changing the chemicals used in places like bathrooms.

Some countries even advise workplaces on how to have a "scent-free policy" — although Dr Musgrave says this may not solve the problem if the scent is covering up some other environmental trigger.

Natural versus synthetic scents?

Jacqueline says she focuses on avoiding products containing synthetic fragrance and petrochemicals.

But since the exact ingredients of individual fragrances are not required to be on the label, consumers are a bit in the dark.

So, Jacqueline avoids anything labelled 'parfum' or 'fragrance' and opts instead for essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint, which she and her mum find aren't a problem for them.

But it is worth noting essential oils can have their own risks.

Anna Salleh is a journalist with the ABC's Science Unit. As well as producing online content, she produces radio output for programs such as Science Friction, All in the Mind, the Science Show, Earshot and The Health Report. Anna has also worked as a TV researcher and producer on Australian Story, Quantum, The Investigators and Insight (SBS TV), and produced articles for Nature News, New Scientist, Australasian Science Magazine, Griffith Review, the Medical Observer, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times and Choice Magazine. She has degrees in science and journalism, a PhD in science and technology studies and has a special interest in the intersection between science and society. Anna has also taught journalism at university, contributed to the development of science journalism courses, and to a number of books. She also sings, plays – and produces radio documentaries about - Brazilian jazz.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-03-14/fragrance-sensitivity-science/12030608

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AIR FRESHENERS - Air fresheners have been used to mask unpleasant odors for decades. The first type for home use were aerosols. These are sprayed into the air and create a fine mist of fragrance that lingers. When aerosols became unpopular due to health and environmental concerns, manufacturers reformulated air fresheners as scented oils, reed diffusers, solids, and gels. High-tech versions are heat activated or can automatically spray into the air throughout the day. Most air fresheners contain a variety of fragrances and essential oils. Fragrances are chemical compounds that have pleasant odors. Essential oils are naturally occurring oils typically obtained from plants. Small amounts of most air fresheners are usually not dangerous. Swallowing the gel-type evaporative beads or reed diffuser solutions can cause serious effects in children.

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Air Fresheners

Are they safe?
Of all the formulations, the evaporating beads and reed diffuser solutions have the greatest risk of serious toxicity when swallowed by children - the beads are more dangerous than other formulations because they are easy to swallow, can be swallowed in large quantities, and contain enough VOCs to cause serious effects.

Karen D. Dominguez, PharmD

The Full Story

Air fresheners have been used to mask unpleasant odors for decades. The first type developed for home use were aerosols.

These products are sprayed into the air and create a fine mist of fragrance that lingers.

When the use of aerosols became unpopular due to health and environmental concerns, manufacturers responded by reformulating air fresheners as scented oils, reed diffusers, solids, and gels.

High-tech versions are heat activated or can automatically spray into the air throughout the day. Even the names of the fragrances have been revamped.

Traditional scents such as "rose" or "lemon" have been replaced with more exotic sounding names such as "Tahitian spring mist" or "dewy citrus orchard."

Most air fresheners contain a variety of fragrances and essential oils.

Fragrances are chemical compounds that have pleasant odors.

Essential oils are naturally occurring oils typically obtained from plants. The oil contains the essence of the plant’s fragrance, hence the term "essential".

Examples of essential oils include cinnamon oil, pine oil, and lavender oil.

Liquid air fresheners, such as plug-in refill bottles and reed diffusers, typically contain fragrances and essential oils dissolved in a solvent like isopropyl alcohol, which is also found in rubbing alcohol.

The evaporation of the solvent helps carry the fragrance into the air.

Solid air fresheners, such as the cone-type products, typically contain the fragrance embedded in wax.

Gel products, such as the evaporating beads, allow slow evaporation that prolongs the presence of the fragrance.

Aerosols sprays use compressed gas propellants like butane or propane.

While many of the spray products are designed to just add fragrance to the air, others help remove odors by using disinfectants, which are chemicals intended to kill bacteria or mold.

An example of one of these disinfectants is ethanol, which is also found in alcoholic beverages.

Despite their popularity, there are concerns that these products increase indoor air pollution and pose a health risk, especially with long-term exposure.

Air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.

A VOC is a type of chemical that turns into a vapor or gas easily at room temperature.

Health problems are thought to occur from the chemicals in the air fresheners and from their secondary pollutants.

Secondary pollutants are formed when a product’s chemicals combine with the ozone already in the air.

Even when these products are used as directed, there are concerns about health problems with repeated exposure.

Unintentional injuries have been reported with these products, including burns when flammable air fresheners have been ignited by a nearly flame.

Getting air freshener on the skin can cause some irritation and redness. Typically, the discomfort goes away after washing the area well.

Fragrances are known to cause allergic-type skin reactions, so a rash is also possible.

Small amounts of air freshener in the eye are expected to cause redness and irritation, but these effects should resolve within an hour after a thorough irrigation with water.

Medical evaluation should be obtained if eyes are not back to normal about an hour after irrigation.

Briefly inhaling a small amount of a spray air freshener might cause some coughing, choking, or difficulty catching the breath. These effects should get better quickly with fresh air.

Swallowing air freshener can cause toxicity ranging from minor irritation of the mouth to life-threatening effects.

Swallowing some of a solid, cone-type air freshener is not likely to cause symptoms from the fragrance because it is imbedded into wax, which limits the amount that can be swallowed.

Swallowing a small amount of wax is a choking hazard in young children, but is otherwise not expected to be toxic.

Liquid air freshener, when swallowed in small amounts, can cause minor irritation to the mouth, nausea, and vomiting. Swallowing large amounts can cause drowsiness or intoxication.

Swallowing spray air freshener can cause similar effects as the liquid types, but they are not typically swallowed in large amounts because it is difficult get a large quantity from a spray nozzle.

Of all the formulations, the evaporating beads and reed diffuser solutions have the greatest risk of serious toxicity when swallowed by children.

The beads are more dangerous than other formulations because they are easy to swallow, can be swallowed in large quantities, and contain enough VOCs to cause serious effects.

Symptoms can last a long time because the beads slowly dissolve in the intestine causing a prolonged release of the toxic chemicals.

The diffuser solutions are dangerous to children because they are packaged with open tops, allowing large amounts of diffuser solution to be swallowed. 

If you suspect someone has swallowed, inhaled, or gotten an air freshener product in the eye or on the skin, immediately check the webPOISONCONTROL^® online tool for help or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Prevention Tips

Keep air fresheners out of reach of children.

Follow the product directions carefully.

Avoid open flames near potentially flammable products.

This Really Happened

Case 1: A woman’s home had an air freshener that was designed to automatically spray fragrance into the air. The spray contained flammable chemicals that ignited when the woman lit a cigarette. The woman had burns on her face, ears, and scalp.

Case 2: A worried grandmother called Poison Control because her 12-month-old and 23-month-old grandsons had gotten into an Airwick product and ingested some of the scented oil.

   Both children were initially gagging. The children had their mouths rinsed out and were fine by the end of the call to Poison Control.

   The grandmother wanted to know if the children needed to be seen in the ER. Based on about the small amount that was potentially swallowed, it was determined that the children could be watched at home.

   Although toxicity such as excessive drowsiness can occur with ingestion of some scented oils, only minor irritation of the mouth and stomach was expected.

Poison Control contacted the grandmother a few hours later to check on the children, and they had not developed any symptoms since the initial gagging.

Case 3: A 2-year-old girl swallowed up to 20 air freshener beads, became very drowsy, and had a low heart rate. These symptoms lasted for days and the girl needed hospitalization for medical care.

The Bottom Line

The toxic effects of air fresheners differ depending on the formulation. Small amounts of most air fresheners are usually not dangerous.

Swallowing the gel-type evaporative beads or reed diffuser solutions can cause serious effects in children.

There are concerns about adverse effects on the environment and health with repeated exposures to air fresheners.

Karen D. Dominguez, PharmD
Certified Specialist in Poison Information

https://www.poison.org/articles/air-freshener-171