Varnishing wood creates an attractive finish on interior woods, but the less desirable part of using varnish is dealing with strong fumes! If you’re sensitive, the fumes from varnish manufactured using petrochemicals can cause respiratory issues and headaches for weeks.

However, eco friendly low odour varnish options are available, offering excellent performance with an almost odourless experience for users. But what does low odour mean, and are there any truly odourless varnish options available?

What Makes a Varnish Low Odour

Low odour varnish is free from traditional petrochemical solvents. Instead, a water based carrier is used, and non toxic plant based surfactants, natural oils, or bio based binders replace high fume synthetic chemicals.

Using natural alternatives drastically reduces the fumes released during the application of varnish.

Water based clear coats can appear slightly milky in the tin but dry to a transparent finish. This is normal and just reflects the way the waterborne dispersion behaves before it cures.

Low VOC vs Zero VOC: Understanding the Terms

VOC stands for volatile organic compound. As the name suggests, these are unpleasant chemicals released into the air as your varnish dries. The drying process is referred to as “off gassing”, and is as unpleasant as it sounds. It can take several weeks for varnish to cure inside your home and means harmful fumes are released long after you’ve finished decorating.

The paint industry has moved away from using the term “VOC free”. Even entirely natural ingredients emit some sort of fumes during curing.

What matters most is the actual VOC content. Auro’s COLOURS FOR LIFE varnishes have a VOC value of less than or equal to 1 g per litre, which is effectively zero in practical home use. This is why the smell is so minimal during application.

It is also helpful to understand that odourless does not mean completely smell free. Even a very mild natural scent can be present, although this disappears quickly once dry and should have minimal impact if you follow good ventilation practises when decorating.

Benefits of Eco Friendly and Non Toxic Varnishes

Choosing an eco-friendly varnish brings several advantages, especially if you are sensitive to fumes or are decorating around babies, children or pets.

Our eco varnishes provide:-

• Better indoor air quality and reduced irritants.
• Toy safe rating DIN EN 71.
• Saliva and perspiration resistance under DIN 53160.
• Durable, hard wearing finishes that rival solvent based products.
• Ecologically sound sourcing of raw materials.

These qualities make natural and water based varnishes suitable for nurseries, bedrooms and family living areas where strong smells are undesirable.

How Eco Friendly, Low Odour Varnishes Work

You can buy eco-friendly varnish without compromise on finish quality. Petrochemical ingredients have been replaced with plant based and natural ingredients which perform just as well without the fumes.

Here’s what’s under the hood of our non toxic varnish by top natural paint brand Auro:-

Auro 515 and 518 use the Decovery bio based binder system, a modern dispersion technology that replaces conventional solvent heavy resins. This creates a clear, hard coating with almost no odour. The formula also includes natural surfactants derived from rapeseed and castor oil which support the low emission profile and improve application.

Mineral components such as silicates and silicic acid help increase hardness and abrasion resistance without relying on synthetic additives. These are part of the reason both products reach abrasion class 1 under EN 13300.

Auro 267 (floor varnish) uses a different approach. It is based on natural oils and waxes such as linseed oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, beeswax and resin esters. These ingredients harden through oxygen uptake, which creates a tough, durable film suitable for floors. Because natural oils cure more slowly than waterborne dispersions, drying times are longer, but the eco credentials are exceptional.

All these natural innovations allow eco varnishes to match conventional finishes on clarity, durability and everyday practicality while keeping odour extremely low.

Alternatives to Varnish: Hardwax Oils and Other Natural Finishes

If you prefer a softer, more natural feel to the touch, hardwax oils or pure plant oils can be excellent alternatives.

These finishes soak into the grain rather than forming a film and are usually low in odour. They are easy to maintain, simple to patch repair and often favoured for worktops and food contact surfaces.They don’t provide the same sealed film as varnish, but offer a beautiful, breathable finish that offers lower maintenance and a natural finish which nourishes the wood grain from within.

Our Best Low Odour Varnishes

Varnishing without the smell? Here’s our top products for fume free wood finishing in all areas of the home. All with rigorous eco credentials and safety certifications.

Auro 515 Clear Lacquer Glossy

Auro 515 is a glossy, transparent varnish with excellent clarity and very low odour. It is based on the Decovery bio based binder and contains no solvents or wood preservatives.

The VOC content is less than or equal to 1 g per litre and the finish is certified safe for toys. Abrasion class 1 performance makes it suitable for everyday furniture and interior woodwork. It can also be used on non rusting metals, some plastics and tiles.

Auro 518 Clear Lacquer Matt

Auro 518 is a matt version of the same ecological system as 515 with the same ultra low odour and safety certifications.

It dries to a clear film with a light honey tone that enhances the natural appearance of the wood. Durability is strong, with abrasion class 1 rating. Ideal for interior doors, furniture, shelving and decorative woodwork where a natural matt look is preferred.

Auro 267 Floor Varnish

For floors or high wear areas, Auro 267 offers an eco-friendly solution based on natural oils, waxes and resin esters.

This varnish is solvent free and has excellent eco credentials. It is tested for toy safety, saliva resistance, chemical resistance and slip resistance. Drying times are longer because the oils cure through oxygen uptake but the result is a durable, flexible and attractive surface with a medium gloss. Perfect for wooden floors in living spaces, bedrooms and hallways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the varnish look milky in the tin?
This is normal for water based systems. The milky appearance vanishes as the varnish dries.

Are these finishes safe for nurseries or toys?
Yes. All three products are tested to DIN EN 71-3 and DIN 53160, which means they are safe for toys and resistant to saliva and perspiration.

Can your varnishes go over existing finishes
Yes, provided the old surface is clean, sanded and compatible. A light sanding gives the new coat a good key.

How long until the room smells neutral again?
Water based varnishes become odour neutral very quickly, often within a few hours. Natural oil floor varnish may have a slight natural scent during curing but it fades steadily.

Why do some zero VOC products still have a smell?
Natural ingredients such as oils and waxes have their own mild scent. This is not related to VOC emissions and disappears as the finish cures.

Low Smell, High Performance

Our natural varnishes use modern bio based binders and natural oil systems to achieve beautiful, durable results with minimal fumes and excellent eco credentials. Whether you are refinishing furniture, protecting children’s toys or updating your wooden floors, there is a safe and effective option that will suit your project.

Need advice? Contact us for friendly, expert help on your next project or for more information about the eco credentials of our products!