Glossing woodwork and trim is always an involved job, but there’s one part you don’t need to tolerate - the smell. For some, it’s just an unpleasant part of an already annoying job. Others will get headaches, respiratory irritation, or even skin irritation after freshening up a room.
Fortunately there are odourless gloss paint options, meaning you can paint without having to cope with thick chemical smells caused by harsh solvents.
No paint is completely odour free, there’s always going to be some kind of smell. But there absolutely are paint ranges which don’t contain nasty petrochemical ingredients that linger in the air of your home for weeks after you’ve decorated.
Choosing solvent free, low emission natural paint isn’t a compromise on quality. All of our low fume paints are just as effective as their petrochemical based counterparts.
In this guide I’m going to take you through what “odourless” really means, what actually causes fumes from paint, what paint certifications to look for, and why natural gloss paint is far more comfortable to live with.
What Does “Odourless” Paint Really Mean?
Can you really get paint that doesn’t smell? Yes, you can. But it’s a paint that doesn’t smell of strong petrochemical ingredients.
No paint is odour free, a smell of some kind will be released as the paint dries. For example, our Auro natural paint range has a very mild and non toxic odour. Rather than harsh petrochemical solvents, you’ll experience a scent of natural resins and plant oils.
See also: our blog on understanding fume free paint
What Causes Paint Smell?
The smell comes from what’s released into the air as the paint dries. Conventional gloss paints release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), solvents, and other petrochemicals into the air in your home.
The process is known as “off gassing”, which is as unpleasant as it sounds. You’re breathing in everything that makes a tin of conventional gloss form a durable, solid layer on your woodwork.
Simply choosing a standard water based gloss doesn’t resolve this issue. They’ll still smell because only one harsh ingredient has been replaced with water. All paint contains 4 main ingredients: pigments, binders, additives, and a liquid. In conventional paint, that liquid is water but the rest of the tin will still release unpleasant odour into your home.
So when you’re choosing an odourless gloss, it’s not just about whether it’s water based. It’s about the full formulation and what’s actually in it.
Our Best Odourless Gloss Paint
Our best natural gloss paint is Auro 516 (colours) & Auro 516-90 (white). It’s solvent free, formulated from plant and mineral based ingredients and suitable for interior and exterior use. Incredibly durable without the need for smelly synthetic ingredients.
Its natural formulation means virtually zero VOCs. Auro 516 comes in at ≤ 1 g/l VOC, compared with the legal limit for gloss paints - 130g/l.
Rather than relying on synthetic solvents, Auro 516 uses natural and mineral based raw materials including plant oils, cellulose, and silicates. These ingredients don’t produce that aggressive smell most people associate with gloss paint.
But what does it say on the tin, and what does that information mean if you’re concerned about harsh odours?
Natural Ingredients in Auro 516
Auro 516 achieves the same quality of finish and durability as conventional paint without relying on heavy petrochemical solvents.
The ingredients used to do this include:-
- Plant based surfactants from rapeseed oil and castor oil - Used instead of harsher synthetic solvent systems commonly found in conventional gloss paint.
- Mineral pigments - Provide colour without relying heavily on petrochemical additives.
- Cellulose - A plant based ingredient used to stabilise and naturally thicken the paint.
- Silicates - Mineral ingredients commonly associated with breathable, low emission paint systems.
Certifications & Technical Standards
Auro 516 isn’t just marketed as a low odour paint, it’s backed up by genuinely impressive technical standards and safety testing.
- VOC content ≤ 1 g/l - VOC content is almost non-existent compared to conventional gloss paints, helping to dramatically reduce paint fumes during decorating.
- Solvent free formulation - Avoids the heavy petrochemical fumes associated with traditional gloss paints.
- Low in preservatives - Formulated with reduced preservative content compared to many mainstream paints.
- No added wood preservative - Achieves durability without relying on aggressive preservative chemistry.
- DIN EN 71-3 toy safety tested - Assessed to the same safety standard used for children’s toys and furniture.
- DIN 53160 saliva and perspiration resistant - Suitable for frequently touched surfaces such as doors, skirting boards, and children’s furniture.
What Does Auro 516 Smell Like?
The most important question! Some users have described the Auro 516 natural gloss as having a faint smell of citrus or linseed oil. It’s a distinctive plant based smell rather than being assaulted by an “eau de petrol station smell” in your home.
What Are the Benefits of Using Odourless Gloss Paint?
A natural low smell gloss will not impact the indoor air quality of your home. This is particularly important if you are chemically sensitive or have allergies or respiratory sensitivities to ingredients in paint.
Key benefits:-
- Improved air quality - virtually no VOCs means No headaches, sore throats or other irritations.
- No Yellowing - natural gloss will stay bright, crisp, and fresh.
- Safer for chemically sensitive families - better for families with kids, pets, sufferers of asthma and other allergies.
- Non toxic & eco friendly - not just odour free but free of guilt around sustainability. No microplastics and low environmental impact.
Low Odour Gloss Paint For Safer & More Comfortable Decorating
The gap between traditional gloss and modern natural paint options is huge.
Choosing a well formulated low odour gloss means less disruption while you’re decorating, fewer issues afterwards, and a space that feels comfortable to live in straight away.
If you have any questions or need advice on particular chemical sensitivities, contact us for advice. We’ll be happy to help share our knowledge and passion for natural paints.
