True story: I once bought an air freshener product that plugged into an electrical outlet on my wall. Apparently I assembled the thing incorrectly because a few hours later I noticed that all the scented liquid had dripped onto the floor … and eaten through the vinyl!

I’ve been terrified of air fresheners ever since. I open windows, or sprinkle a few drops of vinegar around the house; that works well enough, but sometimes I want to set a mood with scent. Y’know?

When I received samples of Vermont Soap’s Aromatherapy Air Freshener, you can bet that I read the label carefully before spritzing.  The ingredients listed are purified water, essential oil blend, and castile liquid soap as a dispersing agent. That sounded as safe as anything in my home, but I was doubtful that such a simple collection of ingredients would make any significant difference to the air around me.

It turns out that aromatherapy’s subtle energy doesn’t require a big punch. Unlike the vinyl-chomping product, Vermont Soap’s air freshener (which is safe to use everywhere, including on fabric and skin) doesn’t slap you in the face when you walk into a room. Instead, it delivers a quiet little hint of scent that just makes a room … well, happier.

Vermont Soap offers these air fresheners in three scents – peppermint, lemongrass, and lavender.  Aromatherapy is a fascinating and complex discipline, and if you aren’t familiar with it at all, I hope you’ll dig in and do some research on the physical and emotional benefits to be gained.  For example, peppermint is widely used to relieve mental fatigue, so that’s a great item to have on your desk for those days when you need a 2 p.m. wake-up call. Lemongrass conveys a sense of general well-being, but it also has antiseptic properties and has long been used as a skin toner.  Lavender, of course, is a popular scent worldwide because of its ability to soothe frazzled nerves.

Here’s the big question, though: is Vermont Soap Aromatherapy Air Freshener something I can afford? To find out, I paid a visit to their website. Holy cow, y’all!  They’ve got all sorts of products and the prices are low enough that even I, the cheapskate of all cheapskates, consider them reasonable.

If you aren’t in the market for truly effective aromatherapy spray, do yourself a favor and visit Vermont Soap’s website anyway.  You’ll find out a lot of things about soap you never knew, test your skin type,  and learn why those artificial ingredients in most soaps are doing more harm than you ever imagined.

While you’re there, take advantage of the clever and creative  Clean Up Your Act Campaign and let Vermont Soap make a statement on your behalf to the politician you like the least.