Millions of homes have air fresheners -- mine included, until I started looking into the issue further. Sure, they make your home smell pretty, but how much do you know about air fresheners?

If your answer is 'no much', I suggest you educate yourself by checking out this slideshow from our friends over at AOL Body. The down-low: Most air fresheners contain chemicals called phthalates (pronounced thal-ates), which have been linked to birth defects and hormonal imbalances. And citrus and pine scents usually contain terpenes, which are not toxic on their own but can produce toxic compounds when they interact with other elements.

This is scary stuff, but stuff you need to know. So go on, educate yourself. And in the meantime, freshen your house with natural scents like fresh air, fresh flowers and fresh baking.