Swap That Spray for a Simmer Pot
Why This Matters
Your favorite air freshener may be filling your home with more toxins than freshness. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the EPA, many sprays, plug-ins, and candles release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemicals linked to asthma, headaches, hormone disruption, and long-term respiratory issues.
These products often mask odors instead of cleaning the air — all while polluting the space where you breathe, sleep, and rest.
It’s time to swap synthetic fragrance for something natural, ancestral, and soul-soothing: the simmer pot.
What’s Wrong with Sprays
Fragrance ≠ Freshness: “Fragrance” on a label can include hundreds of undisclosed chemicals (per the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics).
Indoor Pollution: VOCs can linger in your air for hours.
Respiratory Triggers: Synthetic scents can worsen asthma and allergies.
Why Simmer Pots Are Better
Simmer pots are nature’s air fresheners. They use whole, familiar ingredients—citrus peels, herbs, and spices—to release aroma and purify your space, without the synthetic build-up.
They’re also part of a long cultural tradition of scent cleansing:
How Different Cultures Cleanse the Air
France and Europe: Potpourri — a blend of dried herbs and florals simmered or displayed for gentle fragrance.
Japan: Kōdō (The Way of Incense) — an ancient ritual using natural incense to honor mindfulness and balance.
Haiti and the Caribbean: Boiling bitter herbs, bay leaves, and citrus peels to spiritually and physically cleanse the home — a practice rooted in ancestral healing and protection.
India: Dhoop and Agnihotra — using sacred herbs and cow ghee to purify air and energy.
Indigenous Americas: Smoke cleansing with sage, cedar, and sweetgrass, symbolizing renewal and prayer
Note: Always practice with cultural respect and source sustainably. Each of these traditions shows that scent can be sacred, not synthetic.
Simple Simmer Pot Recipe
Ingredients:
3 cups water
Orange or lemon peels
2 cinnamon sticks
A few sprigs of rosemary or thyme
3–4 whole cloves
Instructions:
Add ingredients to a small pot.
Bring to a gentle simmer.
Let the steam fill your home. Add water as needed.
Seasonal Blends:
Fall Reset: Apple slices, cinnamon, vanilla
Summer Fresh: Lemon, basil, mint
Mood Boost: Orange, clove, rosemary
Join the Clean Air Movement
Post your simmer pot creation and tag #SwapThatSpray — inspire others to detox their air and return to ancestral wellness.
Sources:
Environmental Working Group (EWG): Guide to Healthy Cleaning
National Library of Medicine: Fragrance Exposure and Health Effects
