What We Clean With Matters More Than We Think

What We Clean With Matters More Than We Think

For years, my work at Bryluen Botanicals has focused on one core belief: what we breathe in, day after day, matters. Much of my writing has explored the candle industry — particularly the widespread use of synthetic fragrance oils, and why I choose to work exclusively with essential oils instead.

But fragrance doesn’t stop at candles. In fact, for many of us, the strongest and most frequent exposure to synthetic scent comes not from what we burn, but from what we clean with.

Multi-surface sprays, floor cleaners, disinfectants are used daily, often several times a day, in enclosed spaces; kitchens, nurseries, bathrooms, cars. And yet, very few of us stop to question what’s in them.

Walk down any supermarket aisle and you’ll find cleaning products promising “mountain fresh,” “cotton breeze,” or “spring meadow.” These scents are rarely derived from nature, though the marketing would make you believe otherwise.  Instead, they are usually made from complex blends of synthetic fragrance compounds, many of which are designed to linger long after cleaning is finished.

For some people, this isn’t an issue. But for others — particularly babies, young children, and those with sensitivities — these products can feel overwhelming. Strong synthetic fragrances can irritate, linger in the air, and build up over time through repeated exposure.

Babies and young children are especially close to the surfaces we clean. They crawl, touch, mouth, and absorb their environment in ways adults don’t. That awareness alone should be enough to make many families reconsider what they bring into their homes.

This growing awareness is what led me to look beyond candles and into the cleaning industry itself.

About a year ago, I began working closely with Olivia’s Cleaning Department, a professional cleaning company here in St Ives, equally curious about doing things differently. Together, we started asking simple but important questions:

What if cleaning products could be effective without being aggressive?
What if scent didn’t have to mean synthetic?
What if the people doing the cleaning were supported, rather than exposed?

We began experimenting with plant-based formulations and custom essential oil blends. Each member of Olivia’s team was invited to choose oils they felt naturally drawn to; calming, uplifting, grounding, or clarifying. From there, individual blends were created to suit each person.

The result was something quietly powerful.

Instead of breathing in harsh chemical fumes while cleaning, the team were surrounded by gentle, natural aromas rooted in traditional aromatherapy practice, creating a supportive, sensory environment while they worked.

Over time, many team members shared that they simply felt better. Less overwhelmed by scent. More comfortable during long cleaning sessions. More connected to what they were using every day.

Out of this collaboration came our All-Purpose Cleaner — a plant-based, multi-surface spray designed to cut through grease and grime effectively, without leaving harsh residues behind.

The formula uses naturally derived surfactants for cleaning performance and is naturally scented with essential oils, rather than synthetic fragrance. It is certified Vegan by The Vegan Society, never tested on animals, and made in the UK. Packaging is recycled, recyclable, and refillable.

Importantly, essential oils are used for scent, offering a subtle, refined aroma rather than an overpowering one.

This cleaner wasn’t created to be loud or dramatic. It was created to be thoughtful, effective, and aligned with the way many of us now want to live; more aware, more intentional, and more honest about what we bring into our homes.

This isn’t about fear, perfection, or purity.

It’s about awareness.

Just as many of us have begun questioning what we burn in our homes, it feels like the natural next step to question what we clean with, especially when those products are used so frequently around the people we love most.

Switching to plant-based, naturally scented cleaning products is a small change. But small changes, repeated daily, shape the environments we live and breathe in.

And that, to me, is where wellbeing begins.