“I don’t want to hear ‘I don’t know’ from a doctor or a boss any more than I want to hear it from a romantic partner or a loved one.”

I prefer a firm reality to ground me. Often, that’s true even if it’s not the reality I would have chosen. But avoiding — or reviling — something doesn’t make it go away. (Even if an entire society unites in pretending it does.) We will always not know more than we know, of course. To pretend otherwise is to turn our backs on an entire, sparkling sea of possible realities. 

One way to remedy this is to develop a neutral tolerance of uncertainty. But poet Rainer Maria Rilke challenges us to go further in his seminal compilation of “Letters to a Young Poet.” He wants us to love our questions: 

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

We could spend a very long time dissecting this beautiful passage. But for now, here’s what stands out to me: 

Just as uncertainty is part of being alive, living inside of that uncertainty is essential to our vitality. Rilke asks us to develop an intimacy with the unknown instead of clenching our teeth and bearing it. That’s our ticket to actually experiencing the marrow of life. 

“Just as uncertainty is part of being alive, living inside of that uncertainty is essential to our vitality.”

Even if we did go searching for the answers, he points out, we wouldn’t be able to embody them. We might passively receive the information we seek, but it’s not getting into our being. It’s not alchemizing our senses and changing the way we are. The only way is to welcome our questions to penetrate us the way that we hope our answers will. And then, Rilke points out, the answer might come at some point. 

Emely Rumble, a bibliotherapist who uses literature to help her clients heal, adds that Rilke is essentially asking us to surrender to the human condition, but to do it by “living in wonder and not fear.” She points out that though we are wired to grasp at control, we have very little of it. So Rilke suggests we learn to live with curiosity that makes our lives feel more “expansive….instead of becoming a prison of our own making.” 

Embracing the unknown 

I know this can all feel a bit heady. Rilke wrote it in early 1900s Europe, where old ideas about religion and life were being challenged, and existential questions may have looked different than they do today. So I sought out a mental health professional to help us contextualize Rilke’s advice for modern life. 

Dr. Maureen Sessa, a health psychologist at the Neuroscience Institute of Hackensack University Medical Center, helps individuals with various medical conditions adjust to and process their diagnoses. As part of her practice, she employs meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP), a technique that helps patients discover and make meaning of what they’re experiencing. Given Rilke’s bent toward embracing our uncertain lives, I think Sessa’s perspective on his advice is valuable. 

“Sitting with our questions and allowing them to exist as they are is a way to promote greater self-kindness and self-compassion,” she tells me. “The unique ability to question is part of what makes us human…we can trust that our questioning is there for a reason, and we owe it to ourselves to find the beauty in that.”  

“Sitting with our questions and allowing them to exist as they are is a way to promote greater self-kindness and self-compassion.”

– Dr. Maureen Sessa, Neuroscience Institute of Hackensack University Medical Center

In practical terms, explains Sessa, this might look like engaging with the unknown while staying rooted in our current realities. Sort of like trying on different ideas about what life could mean or become, without attaching too heavily to any of them right now. The goal is to tune into our curiosity and allow it to guide us, rather than squashing it with the closest available answer. 

As someone who tends to over-intellectualize — and who is therefore an ideal candidate for Rilke’s advice — it helps me to consider engaging with the unknown in terms of how it feels in my body. For me, it feels like a light and open chest and a soft belly, with some gentle activation in my throat. It may feel different for you. But if it feels tight and constrained or alarming, you’re likely still clinging to your search for answers. 

“When we are seeking a way to obtain or maintain control, there is a sense of urgency to reduce or eliminate the distress in front of us,” says Dr. Sessa. “Healthy curiosity involves allowing space for whatever occurs, even if the ultimate answer is one we did not anticipate or like, or may not even exist at all.” 

Both Rilke and Dr. Sessa are telling us that the spirit in which we encounter our questions has an impact on how we experience the answers. If we can greet the unknown with just a touch more creativity or spaciousness, we may be able to metabolize the answer (whether it’s “good” or “bad”) with the same flexibility.

On the other hand, if we demand the answers too quickly, warns Dr. Sessa, we end up frustrated with a poor gauge for decisions. And we distance ourselves from understanding what we really want or need. Ironically, in an effort to alleviate the anxiety of not knowing, we often end up more anxious and confused than before. 

Loving our questions in modern times

Of course, most of us don’t try to circumnavigate uncertainty because we are inherently unwise or impatient. I don’t think that’s a fair judgment to put on ourselves. We live in the age of Google. Not to mention AI, urgent news headlines, and constant comparison on social media. We’re brought up in educational systems that value instant, black-and-white answers. And it’s usually no different when we enter the working world. I remember a boss telling me early in my career that even if I didn’t know the answer, I should always have an answer. That’s a perspective that cost me countless opportunities to learn.

We also have limited time to reflect and explore “existential” ideas, and — especially in the West — any type of discomfort (emotional or otherwise) is immediately branded as a problem. Not having the answers is perceived as unintelligent. Not seeking the answers is perceived as lazy. So how the heck do we learn to love our questions? 

“Not having the answers is perceived as unintelligent. Not seeking the answers is perceived as lazy. So how the heck do we learn to love our questions?”

I think we have to be a little stubborn here. And probably also lead by example. Someone has to make it safe to embrace not knowing in our homes, social circles and workplaces. So it might as well be us. 

As I write this, I’m watching my cat try to puzzle out a sound he hears outside. His ears are pricked, and his eyes are wide, but his stance is soft, and he’s purring. I think it’s fair to say he’s enjoying not knowing. Even watching this small act softens something in my chest. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could embody that for ourselves and for others? 

Here are a few ways we can try bringing this feeling into our lives more regularly: 

• Give ourselves a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect before answering a question. (Even if it’s just “What would you like from the coffee shop?”) 

• Give our uncertainty a name, and treat it like a beloved guest, so that we don’t push it away automatically. 

• Remind ourselves regularly that it’s normal to not know things, to be wrong about things, and to be new at things. It’s not a threat or a condemnation of our character. 

• Create time to reflect, which is an essential element of living our questions. A ten-minute walk or journaling session at the end of the day counts. 

• Shift our focus to exploration over solutions. Can we observe, absorb, and notice patterns without drawing immediate conclusions? 

• Notice what our bodies are telling us. A relaxed, alert body is typically a cue that we are on the right track, while a constricted, tense body is typically asking for something to be different. 

• Acknowledge that there are many things we will simply never know, and accept the fact that that makes life scarier. But notice that it also makes life more vast, mysterious, and interesting. 

We will still wake up tomorrow in a world obsessed with instant gratification and on-demand answers. It is the work of a lifetime to slow down and be present with the mysteries of life in the presence of this kind of commotion. 

“It is the work of a lifetime to slow down and be present with the mysteries of life.”

Of all the ways to use our energy, though, I think this one is especially worthwhile. I’ve not heard of anyone on their deathbed relishing in having all the answers. But I know people who feel satisfied that they’ve really, truly lived. 

We are not computers or textbooks. We are sensitive beings designed to move slowly and windingly through our lives using all of our senses. There is no rush to have everything complete and tied up in a bow. So let yourself sink into the delicious questions and feel yourself fill with grace.

Nicole Ahlering is an animal adoption counselor at her local humane society. She’s also a writer. (So basically, everything she wanted to be when she grew up!) When she’s not working, she’s hanging out with her kitties and her partner, drinking iced espresso, or reading something non-fiction.

The post Instead of Chasing Clarity, What If You Learned To Love The Questions Themselves? appeared first on The Good Trade.

Our team of editors has spent the last twelve years testing the best non toxic mattresses across price points. These are our top selections in 2026.

We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping — and there’s no better place to invest in our well-being! 😴

Over the last decade, our editorial team has reviewed dozens of organic and non toxic mattresses in our own homes and with our own families. In addition to hands-on testing, we regularly tour mattress factories in person, investigate proper certification and material use, interview the brands’ leadership teams, scour online reviews, and annually survey our audience for up-to-date consumer preferences. 

Why choose an organic mattress?

Organic mattresses use certified organic materials, including natural wool, latex, and cotton. They avoid the risks of harmful substances that may harm immunity, hormone health, and the nervous system. “Repeated exposure to harmful chemicals in some traditional mattresses can impact your health, starting with how well you sleep. Some of these chemicals can contribute to symptoms including skin and respiratory irritation, hormone disruption, effects on your nervous system, and even impaired immune function,” emphasizes Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino. Having a safer sleep environment is especially important to vulnerable sleepers like young children, as 2025 research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows.

Organic materials and production practices also ensure a more eco-friendly environmental impact. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the primary global body that governs a rigorous certification process for organic fibers, but we’ve outlined all the relevant organic certifications. While many companies may use words like “natural” and ”organic” as unfounded marketing terms, less than 2% of mattresses on the market actually receive organic certifications.

What does “non toxic” actually mean?

You’ll often find brands touting the use of non toxic materials — but that doesn’t actually promise us anything. This is a form of greenwashing, which, as clean living expert Lindsay Dahl explains in her book Cleaning House, is a marketing tactic brands use to persuade customers that the product is safe for their homes.

“‘Nature-made’ or ‘non toxic’ or ‘clean’ doesn’t mean that any criteria were met for quality or safety,” writes Dahl. “It’s simply language that makes the customer think that the product is harmless and good for them.”

Instead, what’s most important is the certifications behind the claims, like GOTS, GOLS, and UL GREENGUARD Gold, and many more listed below, that are verified by third party testing and review. So, while “non toxic” isn’t inherently a bad word or descriptor, it’s not enough to guarantee that the mattress you buy is truly sustainable or organic.

What is our review process?

Each mattress on this list has been individually reviewed by one of our editors. Unlike other review sites, we don’t order mattresses to a showroom; we actually bring these beds into our homes and sleep on them for months (or years!) to test long-term comfort and durability. Our top considerations are health and safety, comfort, environmental impact, durability, and long-term value. In addition to hands-on testing, we regularly tour mattress factories, investigate certifications, interview brands, scour online reviews, and survey our own readers for your preferences.

Rest assured, every non toxic mattress on this list has received rigorous certifications for safety and eco-friendly production and has been tested firsthand by one or more of our editors. This guide has also been medically reviewed by Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, a board-certified family physician.

Our criteria:

• ORGANIC CERTIFICATIONS | Every mattress on this list has received rigorous certifications for safe materials and eco-friendly production; each brand’s specific certifications are listed in the icon section above their feature. None of the mattresses on this list contain harsh flame retardants, and all are free from toxic chemicals, PFAS, VOCs, and fiberglass.
• COMFORT | Comfort is key, so we try each mattress ourselves, spend hours scouring online reviews, and represent all the feedback from our readers that we collect through surveys, comments, and emails. The brands on this list are here because they are organic and people love to sleep on them.
• AFFORDABLE | Every brand on this list sells directly to the consumer online and ships the mattress to your home, removing retail costs and reducing the final price. We’ve provided a range of options, from budget to luxury, without compromising safety. 
• ECO-FRIENDLY & GIVE BACK | All of the brands on this list employ eco-friendly production practices that help reduce water pollution, sequester carbon in the soil, and support biodiversity. Many of these companies also give back to their communities by donating high-quality organic mattresses to housing shelters and families in need.

Behind the scenes of our testing process:

1. Avocado Green Mattress

1% for the planet

American made

B corp

Climate neutral

FSC

GOTS certified

Greenguard certified

Made safe

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Vegan

Warranty offered

Best For | Best organic mattress overall
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | 100% GOTS Certified organic mattress (not just materials) made with GOLS and FSC Certified organic latex; full mattress is certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GREENGUARD Gold, MADE SAFE, and EWG Verified; Climate Neutral, B Corp and a 1% for the Planet Pinnacle Award Winner; PETA-approved vegan option available
Features | Handmade in California using traditional needle-tufting, up to 1-year mattress trial, up to 25-year warranty, FSA/HSA eligible
Mattress Types | Organic hybrid innerspring mattresses and organic latex mattresses
Firmness Options | Multiple firmness options available, including options made with plush Pure Talalay latex
Sizes Available | Crib, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King
Queen Price | $1259

Discounts Available | During Avocado’s Sleep Month sale, you can save up to 15% off your mattress purchase, no code needed. Or, visit an Avocado store near you to test out Avocado’s new heavenly Grand Luxe mattress to try it in-person and save $50 on any in-store adult mattress purchase when you mention The Good Trade. Valid through March 31st only at Avocado brand retail stores — find locations here.

Avocado stands out as one of the best organic mattresses thanks to its certified materials, comfort, and transparency — and it’s our editors’ top pick. It’s the kind of grown-up purchase that’s truly transformed our sleep, with noticeably better rest (and improved sleep scores) across our team.

Co­-founders Alex and Jeff D’Andrea couldn’t find an affordable, safe, and truly non ­toxic mattress for their family — one free from petroleum-based polyurethane foams, toxic flame retardants, chemical adhesives, and off-gassing VOCs. In a marketplace filled with greenwashing and white-labeled beds, Avocado stands apart by owning its entire supply chain while meeting the most rigorous standards for health and sustainability. Each organic mattress is handmade in California using GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool from India, and GOLS-certified organic latex from India and Guatemala. Some premium models even include plush FSC-certified Pure Talalay latex. Every Avocado mattress is GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low emissions and built for a wide range of sleepers — from side to stomach to back.

The brand also offers a vegan-certified mattress, an organic cotton mattress protector, a waterproof mattress protector, and a wide range of sustainably made solid wood furniture. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Avocado gives back to environmental and social nonprofits, is a Certified B Corporation, and is Climate Neutral Certified. Our editors have personally reviewed the flagship mattress, the luxurious plush mattress, the budget-friendly Eco Organic mattress, and the popular Eco Organic Kids Mattress.

This year, our team of editors visited the Avocado mattress facility in Fullerton, CA, where we joined the co-CEO of Avocado Green Brands, Vy Nguyen, for a tour to see how these mattresses get made. We also saw a demo of hand needle-tufting, where long steel needles thread cotton straps through the mattress to secure the layers in place without glue. It’s a highly skilled, time-intensive process that keeps natural materials from shifting and improves durability.

Our Editor’s Review of Avocado

“I tested Avocado’s Pillow-Top mattress (featuring a Euro-style button-tufted pillow top) since my husband and I are both side sleepers. It’s an added expense but ultimately worth it, in my opinion, since you don’t need to add your own topper. I felt supported and snuggled in. […] Since receiving the Green Mattress, I’ve been getting better rest, and my sleep scores have reflected that. My chiropractor has noticed my spine health is looking great, too.”

Kayti Christian, Senior Content Strategist [Read her full review]

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2. Birch

American made

Greenguard certified

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Warranty offered

Best For | Fastest shipping
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications |GOLS Certified organic latex, GREENGUARD Gold Certified & OEKO-TEX Certified Talalay latex
Features | Made in the USA, 120-night trial, 0% financing options, 25-year warranty, FSA/HSA eligible
Mattress Type | Organic hybrid mattresses
Firmness Options | 6–7/10 (medium firm)
Sizes Available | Kids Twin, Kids Full, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Queen Price | $1399

Discounts Available | Now through March 15th during Birch’s Sleep Week sale, you can save 25% off sitewide — just use code MARCH25 at checkout

Birch’s non toxic and organic mattress may just be the coziest mattress ever. The NYC-based brand boasts OEKO-TEX and Rainforest Alliance certifications and, for every mattress sold, Birch plants one tree through the National Forest Foundation. This green mattress is made with organic, natural, hypoallergenic, and anti-microbial materials, including a natural cotton cover, hygroscopic wool (from New Zealand), and sustainably-tapped latex to keep even the warmest sleeper cool. For support, the individually wrapped steel coils (steel made in the USA) offer extra comfort and optimized pressure relief. We’ve personally tested this mattress and found it soft and springy, while still feeling supportive (see that it’s a medium firmness) and offering excellent edge support. We especially love the support of the Birch Luxe! With all its awards and natural mattress components, Birch makes it easy to sleep soundly and safely.

Our Editorial Director, Emily, visited the 3Z manufacturing facility in 2024 and got to see firsthand how Birch mattresses are made from start to finish. John Merwin, the CEO of 3Z and founder of Brooklyn Bedding led the tour for a select group of editors, answering our questions and even letting us get hands-on experience sewing edge seams on tufted mattress covers. (Did you know they pour their foam and make all their springs in-house? It’s quite the production!)

Our Editor’s Review of Birch

“After months of sleeping on our Birch Luxe mattress, my husband and I are well-rested and clear on what we’ve missed out on all these years. We are delighted with this mattress; our 8 and 10-year-old daughters agree. […] This mattress helps me sleep better, so much so that I’ve gone from avoiding bedtime to looking forward to it. Now, I just have a more challenging time getting up. In addition to deeper, better-quality sleep, I’ve also noticed my body feels refreshed and ache-free.”

Randi Donahue, Contributing Editor [Read her full review]

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3. PlushBeds

American made

GOTS certified

Greenguard certified

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Vegan

Warranty offered

Best For | Side sleepers and customizable mattresses
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GOTS Certified cotton & wool, GOLS Certified organic latex, USDA Certified Organic, eco-INSTITUT Certified, GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Features | Handmade in the USA, 100-night trial, lifetime warranty, Vegan Certified mattresses available, FSA/HSA eligible
Mattress Type | Organic hybrid mattresses and organic latex mattresses
Firmness Options | Multiple firmness options available
Sizes Available | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Split Queen, King, Split King, California King, Split California King and kids mattresses
Queen Price | $1249

Discounts Available | Save up to 50% off all bedroom mattresses and 25% off all toppers and bedding during PlushBeds’ Sleep Week sale through March 12th; use code GOODTRADE100 to save an additional $100 off your purchase

PlushBeds is a leading online luxury mattress manufacturer and retailer, specializing in organic mattresses and non toxic bedding. All products are handcrafted in their GOLS and GOTS-certified organic production facility in California, with free shipping within the contiguous USA. Our Editorial Director, Emily, visited the PlushBeds facility in Camarillo, California, where she learned about how much the brand’s quality ethos is inspired by the most legacy mattress makers in Europe — and how, at the end of the day, quality is the name of the game. The company offers a thorough selection of certified organic and eco-friendly mattresses at accessible prices, especially through key holidays, so keep an eye out for their promotions (although the brand also has luxury mattresses at top-tier price points — trust us, we’ve experienced them firsthand and the quality is unmatched).

Each of the brand’s mattresses is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, ensuring your bed has met some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low chemical emissions (plus, the brand never uses PFAS in its production). The company also provides environmental scholarships for college students, gives back to environmental and social nonprofits, and offsets 100% of its carbon emissions via TerraPass. For side sleepers like us, PlushBeds’ memory foam options are among the best non toxic mattresses. It doesn’t give us too much — or too little — firmness. Medium is just right!

Our Editor’s Review of PlushBeds

“After our first night of sleep on our Signature Bliss mattress, I noticed it was the first morning in weeks that I’d woken up without any aches and pains. […] Since sleeping on our new mattress, I’ve noticed a significant reduction in motion transfer. With a husband who tosses and turns and two little children who occasionally end up in between us, more nights than not I can feel at least one family member or another shifting around in our bed […] since upgrading to our PlushBeds mattress, the motion transfer is at an all-time low.”

Kate Arceo, Community Manager [Read her full review]

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4. Bear

American made

Budget friendly

Greenguard certified

Warranty offered

Best For | Most affordable, and good for muscle recovery
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GREENGUARD Gold, CertiPUR-US Certified foam, eco-INSTITUT Certified
Features | Made in the USA, 120-night trial, limited lifetime warranty, FSA/HSA eligible
Mattress Type | Memory foam mattresses and natural latex hybrid mattresses
Firmness Options | 7/10; multiple firmness options available
Sizes Available | Kids Twin, Kids Full, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King
Queen Price | $699

Discounts Available | Save 30% off sitewide during Bear’s end of winter sale when you use code WINTER30 at checkout

The Bear Hybrid is a GREENGUARD Gold Certified mattress designed for athletes and the most active people. A luxury mattress with coils and cooling foams, it boasts a Celliant Sleep Technology to promote better sleep and faster muscle recovery. Bear’s mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified, ensuring low VOCs and beds that are free from toxic chemicals and harsh flame retardants. In our testing, we’ve found the Bear Original to be an excellent budget-friendly option for back sleepers who prefer a firmer feel. The Bear Natural offers a cozy pillowtop feel on a firm base, making it a good option for people who toss and turn, since there’s low motion transfer. While most Bear models don’t offer the same organic certifications as the top three selections on this list, we still recommend it for its safety certifications and accessible price point.

Our Editor’s Review of Bear

“While there was a bit of an adjustment period with the deep tufts on the Bear Elite, they provide airflow underneath me and help alleviate my night sweats — a worthwhile tradeoff if you ask me. The cushy top offers softness without sacrificing stability, and I’ve noticed that I stay asleep more consistently throughout the night, without the anxious wakeups. If you’re looking for a range of fully organic certifications, you might want to check elsewhere; however, Bear mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, and made with CertiPUR-US® certified foams.”

Emily McGowan, Editorial Director (Read her full review)

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5. Awara

FSC

GOTS certified

Greenguard certified

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Warranty offered

Best For | Hot sleepers
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GOLS Certified organic latex, GOTS Certified wool, OEKO-TEX and GREENGUARD Gold Certified materials, Repreve Certified materials
Features | 365-night trial, lifetime warranty, free shipping
Mattress Type | Organic hybrid
Firmness Options | 6–7/10 (medium firm)
Sizes Available | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Queen Price | $699

Discounts Available | Shop Awara’s spring into savings sale! Now you can save up to 50% off mattresses at Awara

Purchasing a non toxic mattress is an investment, and it can feel daunting. But Awara makes it easy to take the leap with a 365-night trial, premium customer service, and a forever warranty. Our editor took the plunge with an Awara (and in her dream size, the Cal King!), and she and her husband have slept like babies and never looked back.

We love Awara’s natural luxury hybrid mattress for its breathability and organic components, as well as the nine-inch contouring support core for pressure relief. It’s firm yet plush, and we feel confident that the mattress is supporting our bodies and promoting a healthy night’s sleep. Its ability to keep hot sleepers cool at night is outstanding (hello, fellow sweaty sleepers 👋), the latex is breathable, and the coils boost airflow. The mattress arrives at your door in a cardboard box, and it’s as easy as rolling it out and using the fabric handles to place it on your bed frame for a supremely cool and comfortable night’s sleep.

Our Editor’s Review of Awara

“I like a firm mattress, so the Awara mattress was perfect for me. It had just enough give (admittedly, I did do a bounce test and it passed with flying colors) while retaining its shape. I’ve been a tosser and turner my whole life, but I slept like a stone on my Awara. From someone who has been called a restless sleeper by everyone I have shared a bed with, this was a monumental achievement.”

Langa Chinyoka, Contributing Editor [Read her full review]

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6. Brentwood Home

American made

Climate neutral

FSC

GOTS certified

Greenguard certified

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Warranty offered

Best For | Memory foam-like mattresses
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GOTS Certified organic cotton & wool, GOLS Certified organic latex, Fair Trade Certifications, OEKO-TEX Certified materials
Features | Responsibly made in USA, 1-year sleep trial, 25-year warranty, in-home delivery, free shipping, FSA/HSA eligible
Mattress Type | Organic hybrid mattresses and organic latex mattresses
Firmness Options | Multiple firmness options available
Sizes Available | Crib, Kids Twin, Kids Twin XL, Kids Full, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King, 11″ and 13″ height options available on select mattresses
Queen Price | $1299

Discounts Available | During Brentwood Home’s Sleep Month sale, you can save 10% off your mattress purchase, no code needed

A California brand through and through, Brentwood Home has been handcrafting natural luxury mattresses here in Los Angeles since 1987. The company sources its natural, organic, and non toxic materials directly — following rigorous standards for environmental responsibility and the health of the consumer. You’ll get your dreamiest (and greenest) sleep on Brentwood’s Hybrid Latex Mattress, which represents the pinnacle of eco-conscious mattress design and is GREENGUARD Gold Certified. Brentwood Home also gives back to several social and environmental initiatives and partners with Carbonfund to offset its carbon footprint. They are your best if you’re looking for an affordable option that doesn’t compromise on the organic certifications. Their twin mattress is the most affordable on our list and makes going organic more reasonable for the whole family.

Our Editor’s Review of Brentwood Home

“Brentwood Home’s Oceano mattress is medium soft, rated a 4.5/10, but with reinforcement from springs and edge protection. […] I have fewer aches and pains, and I feel so much more comfortable throughout the night. It’s brought me back to a sense of comfort that I thought I left behind in childhood. One thing to note is that this mattress measures in at 14 inches tall, adding 3+ inches to our existing setup. We might have to rethink our current platform bed frame, but it’s more than worth it!”

Ashley D’Arcy, Senior Editor [Read her full review]

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7. Saatva

American made

Greenguard certified

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Best For | Luxury shoppers, or heavy people who prefer additional support
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GOLS Certified organic latex, 100% natural New Zealand wool, GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Features | Made in the USA, made with recycled steel coils, Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment, 180-day trial, lifetime warranty, eco-friendly production, gives back to charity
Mattress Type | Organic innerspring mattresses and hybrid mattresses
Firmness Options | Multiple firmness options available
Sizes Available | Crib, Kids Twin, Kids Twin XL, Kids Full, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King
Queen Price | $2179

Saatva is a leading disruptor in the mattress industry. From latex to memory foam, the company has an impressive collection to fit every person’s sleep needs and, by cutting out retail commissions, the company can sell to consumers at a fraction of the cost. Saatva’s disruptive model extends beyond distribution: its non toxic mattresses are made with plant-based, eco-friendly materials and crafted in the USA. The company also gives back by donating hundreds of natural mattresses to high-need organizations nationwide.

Several of our editors rave about the luxury innerspring mattress — it’s their forever pick. For a memory foam mattress comparable to iComfort and Tempur-Pedic (but at a fraction of the cost), we love Loom & Leaf, Saatva’s memory foam line. While memory foam is not an all-natural material, these mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning the foam is low in VOCs. For a latex option, Saatva’s Zenhaven Mattress is 100% all-natural Talalay latex, which is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to mold, microbes, and dust mites. The Talalay manufacturing process is entirely water-based, minimizing the amount of environmentally harmful byproducts. 

Our Editor’s Review of Saatva

“Saatva’s Classic Mattress in Luxury Firm features a patented Lumbar Zone® Technology and responsive dual-coil design made of recycled carbon steel meaning it’s super supportive and will never sag. Nowadays, when I wake up in the morning, I am neither creaky nor cranky and my lower back pain is gone. I recommend this mattress if you suffer from back pain, are a side sleeper who prefers a firmer option, or you want to win at life!“

Trinity Wilbourn, Contributing Editor [Read her full review]

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8. Leesa

American made

FSC

Gives back

Greenguard certified

Made to order

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Warranty offered

Best For | Medium-firm mattresses that are just right, with breathable & moisture-wicking options
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | OEKO-TEX Certified Talalay latex, low-VOC & CertiPUR-US certified foam
Features | Designed & assembled in the USA, made with sustainable Joma Wool® and recycled steel supports, no PFAS added, risk-free 120-night trial, 10-year limited warranty, free no-contact delivery, payment plans available, FSA/HSA eligible
Mattress Types | Hybrid mattresses and memory foam mattresses
Firmness Options | 6/10 (medium firm)
Sizes Available | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King; options available for plus size sleepers
Queen Price | $1679

Discounts Available | Now through April 28th, save 25% on select mattresses at Leesa during their flash sale when you use code LUCKY25 at checkout

For a cooling and supportive rest for our medium-firm mattress lovers, you can’t get better than Leesa’s Natural Hybrid Mattress. Made in collaboration with home decor icon West Elm, this premium mattress is consciously crafted from sustainable materials for healthy, nourishing sleep. Each layer of this hybrid mattress serves a unique function. These include a thick, responsive support layer made from nearly 1,032 active response springs, and a buoyant, breathable Talalay latex layer that’s naturally antibacterial, antimicrobial, and temperature-neutral. All this and more is topped with pure New Zealand wool made from sustainably sourced Joma Wool® to wick away moisture and odor and help promote a restorative, comfortable snooze!

When we tested the Leesa Natural, we found it to be temperature-stable (while still feeling cozy), and have low motion transfer (no bouncy interruptions if you sleep with someone who tosses and turns.) With every purchase, Leesa gives back to both social and environmental initiatives, including donating mattresses to families in need and recycling ocean-bound plastic. Give this mattress a whirl risk-free for 100 nights and see why this eco-friendly and expertly made latex mattress is a hot sleeper’s dream.

Our Editor’s Review of Leesa

“After sleeping on it for a couple of weeks, our Leesa x West Elm Natural Hybrid Mattress feels even more comfortable and slightly contoured to our bodies. My husband and I have both been sleeping more soundly, and any of those minor neck or shoulder pains we’ve had have gone away (!). We credit this to the uniquely designed, individually encased springs. They adjust to the body during the night, so you’re supported in any position you find yourself in.“

Courtney Jay Higgins, Contributing Editor [Read her full review]

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9. My Green Mattress

American made

GOTS certified

Greenguard certified

Made safe

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Warranty offered

Best For | Child & crib mattresses
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GOTS organic certified cotton & wool, GOLS Certified organic latex & coconut coir, MADE SAFE Certified, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, OEKO-TEX Certified
Features | Made in the USA, 365-night sleep trial, 20-year warranty, free shipping, hand button tufting, financing available
Mattress Type | Organic hybrid mattresses and organic latex mattresses
Firmness Options | 7/10 (medium firm)
Sizes Available | Crib, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, King, California King
Queen Price | $974

Discounts Available | During My Green Mattress’s Go Green Sale, you can save 10% on organic mattresses, bedding, and more, no code needed

As a brand with an impressive number of certifications, including GOLS, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, GREENGUARD, and MADE SAFE, My Green Mattress offers two hybrid mattresses, a children’s mattress, and a crib option, all crafted from organic coconut coir. Fully hypoallergenic and toxin-free, this Illinois-based company fits its high-quality mattresses with a custom-designed Madison spring system. This includes a 7-zone innerspring and nearly 1,140 pocketed coils, along with a thick layer of 2-inch Dunlop latex for supportive yet comfortable rest. My Green Mattress is backed by a 20-year warranty and a year-long sleep trial, so you can rest easy committing to your purchase (trust us, it’s worth it!). Choose these mattresses if you have bunk beds or trundle beds in your home, as My Green Mattress offers options that work with these setups at an affordable price.

Our Editor’s Review of My Green Mattress

“The Pure Eco mattress has just enough plushness on top to give that delicious, sinking-into-a-cloud feeling without being a bean bag that destroys your back. The feeling of this mattress is on par with memory foam, only it’s not made of the synthetic, chemical stuff. […] After about an hour of too-excited-to-sleep zoomies, our daughter crashed into one of her deepest sleeps on her first night. She’s reported nothing but love for her bed every night since!”

Stephanie Fallon, Contributing Editor [Read her full review]

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10. Naturepedic

1% for the planet

American made

FSC

Family owned

GOTS certified

Made safe

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

USDA organic

Vegan

Best For | Hypoallergenic organic latex mattresses
Organic & Eco-Friendly Certifications | GOTS organic certified cotton & wool, GOLS Certified organic latex, MADE SAFE Certified, EWG Verified, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, UL verified formaldehyde-free, PETA-approved vegan options available
Features | Adjustable firmness, 100-night trial, free shipping, 25-year warranty program, free returns, made in USA, gives back
Mattress Type | Organic hybrid mattresses and organic latex mattresses
Firmness Options | Multiple firmness options available (including customized)
Sizes Available | Crib, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King
Queen Price | $1699

Discounts Available | During Naturepedic’s spring sale, you can save 15% off sitewide and receive a free sheet set when you purchase a twin mattress or larger

Founded specifically with family-safe, non toxic materials in mind, Naturepedic has been one of the leaders in the organic mattress space for over 20 years. With a range of options, including mattresses for kids, vegan mattresses, as well as luxury customizable and split mattress options, we can see why the brand is so well-loved. Naturepedic mattresses are particularly favorites for hot sleepers and folks who are sensitive to smells or have allergies, thanks to being hypoallergenic. Plus, all of their mattresses are formaldehyde-free and made without PFAS or chemical flame retardants while still maintaining flammability standards. (Psst — the brand’s crib mattresses are waterproof without the use of harmful chemicals, too.)

While Naturepedic mattresses do run on the more expensive side, you can count on the fact that you’re getting one of the best non toxic mattresses, made responsibly and sustainably in the USA, that will last you decades.

Our Editor’s Review of Naturepedic

“In my research, I found the hypoallergenic properties of latex mattresses are good for people who are sensitive to smells and have allergies (aka me). Since switching to Naturepedic, my sleep has been great (and my fiancé reported his sleep has improved too!). We both noticed the lack of motion transfer — feeling each other move in the middle of the night — and loved the luxury feel of it. And when I had a two-day migraine, it was fantastic to have a mattress that kept me cool and supported my head, neck, and back while I rested.”

Brianna Schubert, Contributing Editor [Read her full review]

Shop Naturepedic mattresses

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Our editors’ top considerations when shopping for an organic mattress:

There are now over 175 bed-in-a-box mattress brands to choose from 🤯. Selecting a new mattress is totally daunting! Especially since, as Dr. Matthew Walker, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley writes, “[S]leep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day.” Mattress shopping is an incredibly personal decision — and a steep investment — so it’s important to find the perfect fit. (Of course, our favorite brands listed above offer sleep trials to make sure you’re completely satisfied, but it’s never fun having to coordinate the return of a mattress that didn’t work out for you.) Here’s a look at what factors you might consider depending on the type of sleep preferences you have.

As Dr. Michael Breus, clinical psychologist and sleep medicine expert, notes: “When putting together the ideal sleep environment, it’s not just about optimizing temperature, humidity, noise, and light. Having the right mattress, pillows, and bedding can also help you feel relaxed and ready for a good night’s rest.”

Start your search with a budget and mattress size in mind, which may help you narrow down the type of mattress within your price range before considering other factors. We’ve listed the types of mattresses below in order from least expensive to most expensive.

When do you know it’s time to get a new mattress?

Most mainstream mattresses will last 7–10 years in your home, but there are a few other indicators that might mean it’s time to get a new one. First, inspect your mattress for visible wear and tear — are there any points that sag, or new lumps that aren’t supposed to be there? Does the mattress squeak or creak when you roll over on it? Then, consider the quality of your sleep in the past few months. New aches and pains (especially in your shoulders, neck, and back), increased allergy sensitivities, or poor sleep quality in general might indicate that it’s time to get shopping. And, maybe, even make an upgrade to an organic mattress!

Which type of mattress should you choose?

• Innerspring mattresses are ideal for people who prefer a more traditional mattress feel (think: a little bouncy), and for folks who tend to sleep hot thanks to the good airflow around the springs.
  • Pros: Often more affordable, supportive, and breathable
  • Cons: You might notice squeaking or creaking, there’s not much motion isolation (so you’ll feel it if your partner tosses and turns), and innerspring mattresses may wear out faster than other types 

• Memory Foam mattresses are excellent for side sleepers and people who deal with joint pain. The foam offers greater motion isolation than innersprings do, which means you won’t wake up if your bedmate moves or gets up a lot.
  • Pros: Contours to your body, offering motion isolation and pressure relief
  • Cons: Can retain heat (watch out, hot sleepers), and depending on the materials, you might experience off-gassing odors

• Hybrid mattresses offer a balance of innerspring and foam mattresses. We think of them as the “Goldilocks beds” because they’re just right for a wide range of people. You’ll get support and comfort no matter how you sleep (especially if you sleep in multiple positions).
  • Pros: A balance of support and comfort (not too firm or soft)
  • Cons: Can be heavy depending on the materials used, and more expensive because of the multiple components

• Latex mattresses offer similar contouring and support to memory foam, making them a good choice for people sensitive to odors or with allergies. Latex is also naturally well-ventilated, making it a great choice for hot sleepers. And, of course, latex is a natural material, so you can feel better about the eco-impact of your mattress. You can find a complete list of all-latex mattresses here. Both Dunlop and Talalay latex are good options — because of their different production methods, Dunlop will be more dense and Talalay will tend to be lighter and bouncier. Dunlop latex can be made with all-natural materials, unlike Talalay, which needs synthetic additives, which means Dunlop latex is the only option that can receive an organic certification.
  • Pros: Hypoallergenic, responsive without being too bouncy (or making you feel like you’ve sunk into quicksand, like some memory foam), and has impressive durability for many years of use
  • Cons: All-natural latex mattresses can get very heavy if they’re not mixed with other materials and often carry the highest price tags
    

Which firmness should you look for?

• Back Sleepers typically enjoy medium-firm to firm mattresses. For support and spinal alignment, look for memory foam, latex, and firmer hybrid mattresses.
• Side Sleepers will typically sleep well on soft to medium mattresses. Look for softer memory foam and hybrid mattresses to relieve pressure on your shoulders and hips.
• Stomach Sleepers will likely snooze best on firm mattresses. Look for firm innerspring and foam mattresses that reduce sinking so you can keep your spinal alignment.
• What if you’re not sure? You can tell if a mattress is too soft for your needs if you feel stuck or unsupported, experience back pain or stiffness, or overheat due to sinking in too much. If a mattress is too firm, you’ll notice aching in your pressure points like hips, shoulders, and knees (or even numbness or tingling). You might also notice that you toss and turn when you’re trying to sleep, or that there’s a large gap under your lower back when you lay flat on the bed.

Other important considerations when choosing a mattress:

• Are you a sweaty sleeper? Hot sleepers will like the breathability of latex, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses. If you do opt for foam, look for gel-infused or open-cell foam for extra airflow. If looking into hybrid mattresses, we recommend looking for ones with natural fabrics in the top layers — like organic cotton, wool, and natural latex.
• For cold sleepers, beds that you sink into will cover a larger surface area of your body (so, think soft), and you’ll benefit from the heat retention qualities of memory foam and other foam mattresses.
• If you snore, consider mattresses compatible with adjustable bed frames to elevate your head and improve airflow. Research has shown that even a 12-degree incline can be an unobtrusive way to reduce snoring and help you sleep through the night.
• If you have allergies, consider hypoallergenic mattresses made from organic latex and bamboo viscose or rayon. These materials also help protect against dust mites.
• Consider your preference between hand-tufting and other methods of layer bonding, such as glue. Some brands may use glues that won’t last as long as a quality tuft, or may contain toxic ingredients that you don’t want in your mattress.
• Warranties typically cover factory defects but may not cover standard wear and tear. Check with your mattress maker before deciding to see if you’ll be covered down the line if the mattress wears in ways you don’t like!
• If you tend to roll around a bit at night or want to maximize the usable surface of your mattress, look for models that offer a high level of edge support, which can help keep you on the bed. This is also handy if you have mobility issues and need extra firmness when getting out of bed in the morning.

What certifications ensure a mattress is organic or non toxic?

While there are a range of natural materials that offer non toxic sleep, we look for brands that carry additional certifications to ensure their mattresses are as safe as they claim to be. Here are the certifications we look for when evaluating organic (and sustainable) mattresses.

• GOTS Certified: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the gold standard for organic cotton, wool, and other textile components. Only textile products made from 95% certified organic raw materials can become GOTS Certified. There are also stringent worker protections that ban exposure to toxic chemicals and child or forced labor. Because GOTS’ rigorous certification requires environmental and social criteria across the entire textile supply chain, it is the gold standard for ensuring health and safety.

• GOLS Certified: The Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) ensures that the latex in your mattress (and pillows) contains more than 95% of certified organic raw material. Similar to GOTS, GOLS also requires both environmental and social criteria throughout the entire textile supply chain.

• MADE SAFE: MADE SAFE is a non toxic certification for everyday products, like mattresses, bedding, and skincare. This certification is extremely stringent, and every product is screened to validate that over 6,500 substances on the banned and restricted list have been avoided or constrained, eliminating the worst hazards commonly found in products used in our homes and daily routines.

• GREENGUARD Certified: A GREENGUARD Certification means that your mattress meets some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air. GREENGUARD Gold certification ensures the lowest emissions and off-gassing (making it especially good for folks who might be extra sensitive).

• OEKO-TEX Certified: OEKO-TEX is a consistent, independent testing and certification system that ensures every component in a mattress is free from harmful substances (from raw materials to the final product). 

• CertiPUR-US: While CertiPUR-US doesn’t consider organic or natural materials, it does set a non toxic standard for the flexible polyurethane foam used in many hybrid and memory foam mattresses. This certification ensures that foams meet safety standards and are free of ozone-depleting substances, flame retardants, mercury, lead, formaldehyde, and phthalates, and have low VOC emissions.

• B Corporation: B Corporations meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Organizations must be verified through B Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring a fair and sustainable global economy to become a B Corp. 

• Climate Neutral Certified: Climate Neutral Certified brands measure and offset their entire carbon footprint and implement plans to reduce future emissions — we look for these when searching for more sustainable options. Some companies even claim to be carbon-negative by removing more carbon than they emit, although that is not an official certification.

• Fair Trade Certification: One of the most rigorous social standards, the Fair Trade certification means that materials are sourced ethically and workers are paid fair wages.

• USDA Certified Organic: The USDA Organic seal assures consumers that raw materials like cotton or wool are 95% or more organic. This seal does not cover any chemicals used in the production process, or the entire mattress like GOTS does.

• eco-INSTITUT Certification: The eco-INSTITUT label is awarded to mattresses that have been tested for harmful substances, odors, and emissions in order to ensure healthier indoor air quality. 

• FSC Certified: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) examines wood components like bed frames, as well as paper packaging materials. This certification ensures that these products come from responsibly managed forests.

• PETA-Approved Vegan: The PETA-Approved Vegan certification assures shoppers that no animal products were used in the manufacturing process (such as wool, down, or leather). Many organizations offer other vegan certifications, too, like the Vegan Action certification. Just make sure that the entire mattress is vegan — not just a handful of the components.

• 1% for the Planet: Members of 1% for the Planet donate 1% of annual sales to environmental causes, which is a bonus when we’re looking for sustainable bedding options.
  

What are common harmful substances found in traditional mattresses? 

While you can find more affordable mattresses than the options on this list, it’s important to recognize that not all mattresses are created equal. Most conventional mattresses available online and in-store contain harmful substances that affect your home’s air quality and your health through chronic, long-term exposure. Here are a few to look out for:

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids, including many synthetic materials used in mattresses. (They’re also common in paints!) VOCs have health impacts ranging from mild irritation and nausea to liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Some VOCs are even known carcinogens.
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals used in some mattresses and furniture for their water and stain-resistant properties. Research on these “forever chemicals” by the CDC and the EPA has linked PFAS to liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression, and cancer.
• Chemical flame retardants, like brominated or halogenated flame retardants, are added to mattresses to ensure they meet fire safety standards. These flame retardants have been linked to health issues such as endocrine disruption, neurodevelopmental issues, and cancer, especially in vulnerable populations like infants or the elderly.
• Fiberglass is used in some mattresses as an inexpensive flame retardant, but fiberglass fibers can be released into the air and environment if the mattress cover is removed or torn. Aside from short-term irritation, chronic inhalation of fiberglass can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis.
• Polyurethane is a commonly used foam in mattresses, but it can release VOCs through off-gassing. (That new mattress smell? It might be the polyurethane!) This can cause respiratory irritation and headaches, and some research suggests potential endocrine disruption.
  

What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing is the practice of a company claiming to be more environmentally friendly—or non toxic—than it really is, often through misleading marketing language. This is particularly prevalent in the mattress industry, so our reviews focus only on brands that hold trusted third-party certifications like those listed above. Not every mattress will be perfect, but when it comes to such big investments in our daily routines and well-being, we want to know that the brands are accountable to outside sources for their claims about non toxic materials and sustainable production.

How to care for an organic mattress (and why they last longer!) 

A mattress can be a steep investment — especially when you opt for an organic or natural one. But the perks of a well-crafted mattress include longevity: many of our favorite mattresses last 25+ years while maintaining quality and comfort. (And, compared to more “mainstream” brands that release more VOCs and can crumble as they age, you won’t get that funky smell or degradation with natural mattresses). That doesn’t mean you don’t have any upkeep; in order to keep your mattress cozy for the long haul, here’s how to best take care of it:

• Always use a mattress protector to prevent spills from absorbing into the mattress (the number of times we’ve spilled coffee in bed has taught us this lesson firsthand).
• Rotate and flip the mattress according to the manufacturer’s suggested timeline. Each timeline may differ, but the standard is to rotate once every three to six months.
• Snuggle up with natural and organic bedding to get the most breathability out of your new mattress — it’s a game-changer.
• Clean spills immediately (and use a mattress protector, as noted above) to keep your mattress dry and mold-free. If you live in a humid environment, consider getting a dehumidifier to reduce moisture retention.
  

How long will an organic mattress last?

Standard mattresses have a 7-10 year lifespan, but many organic options on our list feature lifespans of 25 years and longer! Some even offer lifetime warranties; that’s how deeply the brand stands behind their product. Review each brand’s recommendations for how frequently to replace your mattress, but know that generally, the higher the investment, the longer the mattress should last.

How does The Good Trade’s editorial team review mattresses?

The Good Trade’s editors are a diverse team of writers and sustainable product enthusiasts who offer trusted brand recommendations based on our hands-on testing and extensive research, including third-party verifications, certifications, and accreditations. We rigorously test the products featured in our guides so we can provide you with sincere recommendations that meet our standards for sustainability and health.

We’ve slept on mattresses from these brands for over ten years, and have recommended them to friends and family based on our own experience. Additionally, we’ve met with the teams of each and every brand — often the founders and makers of the mattresses — and even toured massive mattress manufacturing facilities to see just how each mattress is made. We’re especially proud to be able to offer direct feedback to each brand to push their sustainability and non toxic certifications further to ensure our readers can *actually* get a healthier night’s sleep. 

We’ve also personally tested and reviewed the best organic bedding brands, including mattress toppers, protectors, and pillows, so you can make the most informed decision. If you have any questions or are in search of a recommendation, drop a note in the comments, and we’ll point you in the right direction!

Editor’s note: This piece was originally published in March of 2016 and is updated monthly to feature new products, prices, certifications, and new brands based on our reviews. The current content reflects our most recent evaluations of the best organic mattresses on the market.

More Sleep Reviews From Our Editors

Organic Mattress Toppers

Non Toxic Mattress Protectors

Most Comfortable Pillows

Best Sustainable Bedding Brands

Organic Comforters

Sustainable Wood Bed Frames

Non Toxic Twin Mattresses

Organic Crib Mattresses

Header image from Amber Interior Design

Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces.Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions — including personally touring mattress factories around the USA to learn more about what goes into making safer, organic mattresses. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.

Psst! Google launched a new feature that lets you choose “Preferred Sources” — so your searches highlight trusted, values-driven outlets instead of clickbait. To add The Good Trade, tick the box beside our name. That’s it — our stories will be waiting whenever you search. Read more about it here.

The post 10 Best Organic Mattresses For Non Toxic Sleep – 2026 appeared first on The Good Trade.

“My 20-something self would’ve never guessed that 90% of patients would be complaining about the very same thing — they’re so tired.”

So why is it that nearly 1 in 4 women report feeling fatigued most days of the week? Why are women almost twice as likely as men to experience chronic exhaustion and sleep disruption? And why, despite getting close to the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep, do so many women wake up feeling like they never rested at all?

From a conventional lens, fatigue is often chalked up to stress, busy schedules, or “just part of life.” But from a functional medicine perspective, persistent exhaustion is rarely random — and almost never meaningless.

Fatigue is a signal that too many women simply ignore. I’ve had far too many patients see me for the first time and tell me they’ve been tired for months, if not years, before they even consider it something to discuss with their doctor.

It can reflect hormone shifts that begin years before we label them “perimenopause.” It can point to iron depletion long before anemia is diagnosed. It can be tied to blood sugar instability, thyroid patterns hovering just inside “normal,” chronic inflammation, micronutrient deficiencies, or a nervous system that has been running in overdrive for too long. In my own story, it was one of the only signs I was dealing with before being diagnosed with breast cancer in my early 30s.

In other words, fatigue can be more than simply needing better rest: It can indicate your biology is carrying more load than it can sustainably replenish.

The hidden metabolic cost of chronic stress

One of the most common drivers of fatigue I see isn’t a single lab abnormality. It’s accumulated chronic stress.

And I don’t just mean emotional stress.

From a physiologic perspective, stress includes blood sugar swings, sleep disruption, under-fueling, inflammation, over-exercising, nutrient depletion, environmental exposures, and the constant cognitive load many women carry. The body doesn’t distinguish between a tense email and a skipped meal — both register as demand.

“The body doesn’t distinguish between a tense email and a skipped meal — both register as demand.”

When demand consistently outpaces recovery, the nervous system shifts into survival mode. Cortisol rhythms begin to flatten, causing your hormonal symphony to get out of balance. Sleep becomes lighter and less restorative. Energy turns volatile. You may feel wired at night and foggy in the morning. Coffee starts to feel less optional and more necessary.

You may have heard the term “adrenal fatigue,” but that label doesn’t fully capture what’s happening. What we’re really seeing is Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation: a disruption in how the brain and adrenal glands communicate under chronic stress. The result is a body that is technically awake, but not deeply restored.

Chronic stress exhausts you mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s not just in your head. In my practice at Love Life, I look for where that exhaustion is stemming from and how to bring it back. That often begins by helping the body move from constant, high-alert stress to something more sustainable — everyday, manageable stress. And yes, there is a difference.

And restoring that difference is where real healing starts.

Taking a look at iron deficiency

If I had to name the most overlooked nutrient cause of female fatigue, it would be iron depletion. It’s notoriously missed in conventional medicine because as long as you aren’t technically anemic, the conversation often stops there.

In functional medicine, we look at optimal ranges, not just whether a value falls inside a wide reference interval. A woman can have a “normal” hemoglobin level and still have ferritin (her iron storage marker) that is too low to adequately support energy production.

Women are particularly vulnerable to iron depletion due to menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, certain diets, endurance training, and chronic inflammation. Heavy periods alone can gradually lower iron stores over years, often without anyone noticing until symptoms become disruptive.

“Women are particularly vulnerable to iron depletion due to menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, certain diets, endurance training, and chronic inflammation.”

Iron is essential for oxygen delivery at the cellular level. When iron stores are low, your cells quite literally receive less oxygen. The result can be persistent fatigue, shortness of breath with exertion, hair shedding, cold intolerance, brittle nails, anxiety, and brain fog.

I can’t tell you how many women I’ve seen regain clarity and stamina after correcting iron stores that were technically “normal,” but far from optimal.

That said, simply adding an iron supplement isn’t always the right first step. Iron status should be properly evaluated with a full iron panel with your doctor before supplementing, since excess iron can also create problems. A registered dietician and health coach can support a food diary review to understand your iron intake and ways to support healthy digestion. For many women, beginning with iron-rich foods is a supportive and safe foundation, especially during seasons of increased demand.

Iron-rich foods include:

• Grass-fed red meat and liver
• Dark meat poultry
• Sardines and shellfish
• Lentils and beans (paired with vitamin C for better absorption)
• Spinach and other dark leafy greens

Supporting iron absorption by including vitamin C–rich foods and avoiding excessive calcium or coffee at iron-rich meals can make a meaningful difference too.

Blood sugar instability (even without diabetes)

If you haven’t heard much about balancing blood sugar, this one may be a game-changer.

Blood sugar volatility refers to repeated spikes and crashes in glucose levels throughout the day. Even if your fasting glucose is “normal,” you can still experience significant fluctuations after meals — especially when meals are low in protein and fiber or spaced too far apart.

“You can still experience significant fluctuations after meals — especially when meals are low in protein and fiber or spaced too far apart.”

Skipping meals, relying heavily on caffeine, under-eating protein, or grazing on high-carbohydrate snacks can all create subtle surges followed by dips. Each dip triggers a stress response. Cortisol rises to bring blood sugar back up, which further strains the system.

Over time, this internal rollercoaster can leave women feeling:

• Shaky or anxious between meals
• Ravenous at night
• Foggy mid-afternoon
• Energized late in the evening
• Exhausted but unable to sleep

Blood sugar stability is foundational to energy because it directly influences metabolic function. When glucose and insulin patterns are erratic, your mitochondria (the cellular engines responsible for producing energy) cannot operate efficiently. The result is a body that’s technically fueled, but still fatigued.

Balanced meals that include adequate protein, fiber, and healthy fats, eaten at consistent intervals, often improve energy more effectively than any supplement. Before adding something new, sometimes we need to stabilize what’s already there.

Hormonal transitions that start earlier than you think

Perimenopause doesn’t always begin when you expect it to. For many women, subtle hormonal shifts start in their late 30s or early 40s and sometimes earlier. These shifts are happening long before anyone uses the word “menopause.”

Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can quietly affect sleep quality, mood stability, body temperature, and insulin sensitivity. Progesterone, in particular, has calming effects on the nervous system. When it begins to decline, women may notice lighter sleep, increased nighttime awakenings, or feeling more “wired” before bed — even if hot flashes aren’t present yet.

“Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can quietly affect sleep quality, mood stability, body temperature, and insulin sensitivity.”

Hormones also don’t operate in isolation. Estrogen influences thyroid function, thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, and both affect how efficiently your body produces energy. Even subtle shifts can leave you feeling depleted, foggy, or not quite like yourself — sometimes while labs are still technically “normal.”

Postpartum recovery is another often-overlooked chapter. Nutrient depletion, sleep fragmentation, blood loss during delivery, and the metabolic demands of breastfeeding can leave women exhausted for months — sometimes years — without structured support. And yet many are told this is simply part of motherhood.

Too many women push through hormonal changes as if they’re supposed to just soldier on.

You don’t have to.

Hormonal transitions are normal. Ignoring the signals your body sends during those transitions is not. When hormones fluctuate (and they will) energy fluctuates with them. Paying attention early, rather than waiting until you’re completely depleted, can make a profound difference.

Micronutrient deficiencies, mitochondria, and circadian rhythm

When women are tired, the default advice is often, “Just go to bed earlier.” And while sleep absolutely matters, that’s not the full picture.

Energy isn’t created when your head hits the pillow, and thank goodness for that! It’s created all day long.

The most foundational system driving how energized you feel is your metabolic health, and that’s not just about weight or “having a fast metabolism.” It’s about how efficiently your body produces energy at the cellular level.

“The most foundational system driving how energized you feel is your metabolic health.”

Energy production happens inside structures called mitochondria. These are the tiny engines within your cells responsible for converting nutrients into usable energy. And mitochondria require specific vitamins, minerals, and cofactors to function well.

Common deficiencies I see in fatigued women include:

• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Omega-3 fatty acids

These nutrients support cellular energy production, nervous system regulation, and inflammation control. Without them, energy production becomes less efficient, even if you’re eating enough calories.

Chronic stress, gastrointestinal issues, restrictive diets, poor protein intake, and certain medications can quietly deplete these nutrients over time. And then there’s your circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that tells your body when to be alert and when to restore.

“Your mitochondria don’t just need nutrients; they need better timing.”

Your mitochondria don’t just need nutrients; they need better timing. Exposure to morning light, consistent meal timing, movement during the day, and reduced light exposure at night all help regulate your circadian rhythm.

When that rhythm is disrupted by late-night scrolling, irregular sleep schedules, never getting outdoors except when you’re commuting, or chronic stress — your energy production becomes less synchronized.

Fatigue in survival mode

Fatigue doesn’t always look like collapse or wishing you could have better sleep. Sometimes it looks more like anxiety.

When the nervous system remains in a prolonged fight-or-flight state, sleep becomes lighter, digestion slows, and restorative processes are deprioritized. You might feel “tired but wired.” Exhausted, but unable to fully relax. In this state, even seven or eight hours of sleep doesn’t translate into true restoration.

“This is why energy is never just about sleep duration. It’s about regulation.”

This is why energy is never just about sleep duration. It’s about regulation.

Supporting the nervous system through consistent meals, stable blood sugar, morning sunlight, strength training, breath work, social connection, nourishing meals and targeted clinical support helps shift the body out of survival mode and back into repair.

And that’s the deeper point. When women are tired, they often blame themselves. They assume they need more discipline, more productivity, more resilience. But most of the time, it’s more about our capacity and not our character. You don’t have to be so hard on yourself if you’re tired.

Fatigue, no matter where it’s coming from, is simply information. It tells us that demand has exceeded reserve. It tells us that something upstream needs attention.

“Fatigue, no matter where it’s coming from, is simply information.”

So if you’re still trying to push through your fatigue, I’d like you to stop judging yourself for being tired and just pause. It’s okay to listen to the signals. Because if we’re brave enough to look upstream, exhaustion that once felt mysterious becomes understandable. And what becomes understandable becomes treatable.

Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino is a Board-Certified Family Physician and the Lead Functional Medicine Physician at Love.Life. Specializing in women’s health and hormone optimization, she has been featured in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and Women’s Health. As a functional practitioner and a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Tolentino is dedicated to uncovering the root causes of health challenges, employing a holistic, whole-person approach to empower lasting wellbeing. Follow her on Instagram here for more insights.

The post A Functional Medicine Doctor Explains Why Women Are So Tired Right Now appeared first on The Good Trade.

We’ve researched and tested lots of produce delivery boxes offering convenient subscriptions of organic, fresh veggies from sustainable farms. These are our favorites.

Looking to freshen up your plate this year? Why not start with a produce subscription box. They’re great for the environment (less international shipping), fantastic for local farmers (less food waste), and good for your budget. No shade to conventional grocery stores though; shop where you can, however works best for you!

What are the benefits of organic fruit and veggie subscriptions?

Getting enough fruits and vegetables in our diets can be tough. Thankfully, produce delivery boxes makes it easier. They help us gain access to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that are more local, seasonal and fresh than what’s available at most grocery stores. Many produce delivery services utilize local farms and markets to gather fruits and vegetables to deliver in the quickest and shortest distance possible. This ensures higher levels of freshness and better quality produce. (Not to mention, you won’t have to leave the house to visit a grocery store or farmers market!) Produce delivery services typically prioritize organic and sustainable farming practices, helping farming communities thrive.

Having your fruits and veggies delivered can also help limit food waste. Since many produce subscription services work with surplus fruit, or sell “ugly” vegetables that don’t sell in stores, you’ll get the same nutritious foods at a lesser cost while preventing surplus fruit from heading to landfills. You’ll also reduce your food waste through pre-portioned amounts of food delivered based on your needs and preferences. These boxes are bringing fresh, seasonal goods to the forefront, rescuing produce from landfills, and making delivery more convenient than ever. Win-win.🏆

Our criteria:

Our editors have personally used dozens of clean and organic food subscription services over the past ten years. These are our favorite brands for organic produce that come fresh from sustainable farms. We’ve included options that are accessible to wide swaths of the country (and beyond!) based on their delivery ranges and cost. We regularly add emerging favorites to this list when they meet the following criteria:

• ORGANIC/FRESHNESS | Our editors have tested most of the boxes ourselves, in our own kitchens to ensure the freshness of the produce is up to standard. While not all of these boxes offer organic produce, we’ve ensured every option sources locally for optimal freshness.
• DELIVERY RANGES | It’s important for produce delivery boxes to be as widely accessible as possible, especially in areas where it can be tough to find fresh, local fruits and vegetables. These produce delivery boxes are available for delivery across most regions in the US/UK.
• SUSTAINABILITY | Each of these produce delivery box services utilizes sustainable practices in their farming, delivery, and packaging.
• AFFORDABLE | For many, organic produce feels like a luxury. Since we think it should be accessible for all, we’ve tried to include options suitable for smaller budgets that you can easily pause and cancel.

If you’re looking for full meal delivery, check out our guide to organic meal delivery services and our wine subscription guide for dinner done easily. And if you’re looking for sustainable meat and fish delivery, scroll to the bottom for bonus options!

  Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best For Fruit | Best For Veggies | Best Nationwide Delivery

1. Misfits Market 

American made

Budget friendly

Eco friendly packaging

Recycled materials

Subscriptions available

USDA organic

Vegan

Best For | Accessible organic produce delivery across the US
Products Available | Organic & conventional produce, animal & plant-based proteins, dairy & eggs, pantry staples, beverages, snacks, wine
Price | Order minimums start at $15; delivery fee starts at $6, plus a $2 operations fee
Delivers To | Contiguous US (See all)

Misfits Market finds fresh, organic produce that might have otherwise gone to waste due to scarring, surplus, or cosmetic blemishes, and ships boxes directly to you at up to 30 percent off traditional grocery store prices. (Think onions that are too small, oddly shaped squash, or twisted carrots!). With up to 22 pounds of organic produce delivery coming your way, this biz uses compostable plant-based bags, eco-friendly insulation, and recycled cardboard. Box minimums start at $15 to minimize packaging and carbon emissions, and Misfits Market delivers to nearly all zip codes across the contiguous US. 

Customer Review | “I love saving food so it doesn’t go to waste. And I love the challenge of creating meals out of the products that are available each week.” – @chefjennyben (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Misfits Market

2. Farmer Jones Farm

American made

Family owned

Gives back

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Best For | Fresh greens, supporting regenerative & sustainable farming practices
Products Available | Regeneratively-grown vegetables, animal proteins, pantry items
Price | Boxes start at $89
Delivers To | Nationwide (See more)

Farmer Jones Farm is a second-gen family farm as part of The Chef’s Garden in Ohio. The team invests in organic and regenerative farming practices such as rotating field plantings between produce and multi-species crops, which benefits both the plants and the soil. In addition to one-time produce boxes such as “powerhouse vegetables” and “best of the season”, Farmer Jones Farms has robust subscription options as well, with convenient delivery to your home. For inspiration on how to prepare your delicious box of fresh veggies, check our Farmer Jones Recipes, organized by vegetable and box type!

Customer Review | “The most amazing assortment of beautiful veggies. Things I’ve never heard of before, like oca. And the flavors! NOTHING like what you get in the stores. Doesn’t even compare.” – Mary L. (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Farmer Jones Farm

3. Hungry Harvest

American made

Budget friendly

Recycled materials

Vegan

Best For | Waste-free produce
Products Available | Produce, proteins, dairy, snacks, beverages, pantry items, bakery items, sauces & spreads
Price | Order minimums start at $40
Delivers To | Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, Northern Delaware & Raleigh, North Carolina. (Check your zip code)

Hungry Harvest wants us to use every part of every plant. By working with farmers to rescue fresh, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste, the company delivers fresh produce to our doors instead. The boxes come in a variety of sizes and Hungry Harvest shares simple recipes, storage tips, and kitchen hacks so that we can make the most of our produce. It’s worth noting that every delivery saves at least 10 pounds of food from going to waste.

Customer Review | “I love getting fresh food delivered. I know my money is going to people who truly care about the community.” – Eileen (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Hungry Harvest

4. Oddbox

B corp

Budget friendly

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Made in the UK

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Best For | Affordable, varied produce deliveries
Products Available | Fruit & vegetables
Price | Boxes start at £12
Delivers To | The UK (See all)

Oddbox, a certified B Corp based in the UK, ethically sources fresh produce from dozens of fairly paid farmers and suppliers across the country. Delivered overnight to minimize excessive emissions, Oddbox’s fruits and veggies arrive at your doorstep in recyclable packaging. Weekly sustainable produce boxes start at £12 perfect for a couple, or you can opt for a large family-sized box for £24. Leftover produce is donated to orgs fighting food poverty in the UK.

Customer Review | “It’s great to test your ideas for the week incorporating the latest group of veggies and fruits from oddbox whilst knowing you are helping to reduce unnecessary waste. Brilliant initiative.” – Deborah L. (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Oddbox

5. Farm to People

American made

Budget friendly

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Gluten free

Recycled materials

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Vegetarian

Best For | Vegetarian, paleo, & omnivore boxes, protein & dairy add-ons
Products Available | Produce, meat & seafood, plant-based proteins, dairy & eggs, pantry & bakery items, beverages, frozen & prepared meals, gluten-free options
Price | Boxes start at $25
Delivers To | NYC & Jersey City/Hoboken (See all)

Farm to People brings the farmer’s market experience to NYC’s door with its organic, seasonal produce, protein, and groceries. The produce, in particular, is sourced from organic, and regenerative farms. Best yet, up to half of every food dollar raised goes directly to the farmer or small-batch maker. You can go a la carte or opt for a subscription — and swap with items you don’t want and add the ones you do. Paleo, omnivore, and vegetarian diets are also accommodated with specific boxes.

Customer Review | “I’ve been using Farm to People for over 2 years now. I love the fact that the produce is sourced locally, which reduces travel time, waste, and emissions. It’s also a great way to support local farms & farmers.” – @thevicstyles (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Farm To People

6. Hungryroot

American made

Dairy free

Eco friendly packaging

Gluten free

Recycled materials

Soy free

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Vegetarian

Best For | Easy, healthy meal prepping
Products Available | Produce, meals, meat & seafood, plant-based options, sauces & condiments, meals, supplements, pantry items, dairy & eggs, beverages, dairy-free, gluten-free & soy-free options
Price | Boxes start at $70
Delivers To | Contiguous US (See all)

Hungryroot’s subscription boxes are the perfect combination of your standard produce delivery box and meal delivery kits – each box comes with fresh produce and proteins alongside recipes on how to utilize each ingredient. You’ll also receive individual grocery items like healthy snacks and sweets to help keep your pantry stocked at all times. Through an online quiz, you’ll receive a box each week, catered to your preferences and needs. The fresh produce is zero-waste sourced with recipes that help fight food waste, and packaging that’s both recyclable/biodegradable.  

Customer Review | “Hungryroot makes my weekly meal prep 10 times easier. So many healthy options and beautiful produce. I love how often they have new products to pick from week by week. Truly one of the best things to happen to my health. Easy cooking makes for easy living.” – Gabriella L. (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Hungryroot

7. FreshDirect

American made

Gives back

USDA organic

Best For | Large variety of produce and pantry staples
Products Available | Produce, prepared foods & deli, meat & seafood, dairy, bakery, frozen, pantry & household items, beverages, wine & spirits
Price | Order minimums start at $30
Delivers To | NYC metropolitan area; seasonal delivery to eastern Long Island and the Jersey Shore (See all)

Since 2002, FreshDirect has been an online grocery staple for the NYC community. The Bronx-based facility is committed to providing the best quality fruits, vegetables, seafood, dairy, baked goods, and more. You can even get wine, spirits, and prepared meals delivered locally in the NYC and New Jersey regions! With FreshDirect, you’ll be able to craft your own box with foods that suit your taste from Freshdirect’s extensive collection of over 800 products. The company gives back through local organizations like the New York Common Pantry, which works hard to combat food insecurity. 

Sign Up For Freshdirect

8. Melissas

American made

Family owned

Gives back

Recycled materials

Vegan

Best For | Speciality produce
Products Available | Organic, conventional, and specialty produce, pantry items, wine
Price | Boxes start at $43
Delivers To | Contiguous US (See more info)

For unique and exotic produce boxes (with organic options too!), try Melissas‘ fruit basket delivery. These seasonal produce boxes are full of premium fruits of vegetables, with something new for everyone (we recommend gifting a box!). Melissas allows you to pick the type of box you’re looking for so you know exactly what you’ll be getting and how much of it. You can scour the site for recipes, tips, and tricks on how to use your fruits and vegetables in your day-to-day. You’ll even find options that offer free shipping, allowing for the ultimate flexibility. 

Customer Review | “I just wanted to say that the pineapple I ordered was positively wonderful!! Where are they grown?? The golden color is like nothing I have ever seen. This is the first thing that I have ordered from Melissa’s and I am telling everyone about the website. I will be sure to order more very soon!” – Kelly W. (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Melissas

9. South Mountain Creamery

American made

Budget friendly

Family owned

Gluten free

Grass fed

Vegan

Best For |  Large varieties of organic produce 
Products Available | Produce, meat & seafood, prepared foods, beverages, pantry items, dairy & eggs, desserts, snacks, gluten-free options
Price | Bags start at $28
Delivers To | Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, & Washington, D.C. (See all)

South Mountain Creamery was started in Maryland by the Sowers family over 40 years ago. While churning out fresh milk and dairy products is the creamery’s bread and butter (see what we did there?), they’ve recently expanded their offerings to fresh and organic fruits and vegetables. You have the choice of ordering small or large bags, including organic options if you prefer, all ready to be delivered to Maryland and surrounding regions!  Each bag is filled with a large variety of seasonal produce, from potatoes and bananas to onions, avocado, and papaya. Add on fresh cuts of their butcher’s choice meat bundle, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a perfect and flavourful meal! 

Customer Review | “I have to say that after trying a few other produce delivery companies, you all are the best! The produce I received yesterday was very fresh and I especially love the big selection of organic options as well as the ability to customize my bag! I am happy with the quantity as well – the other companies would send just a couple of apples, one onion, etc. so for the price, you offer the best value. I look forward to continuing with the service!” – Brent & Jenny H. (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For South Mountain Creamery

10. Flamingo Estate

American made

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Subscriptions available

Best For | Weekly regenerative farm box 
Products Available | Produce, eggs, baked goods, surprise additions (e.g. seeds, spices, teas & Flamingo Estate products)
Price | Boxes start at $130
Delivers To | Los Angeles, CA

For our LA friends who are looking for a gift for yourself or a loved one (or who simply have a taste for thoughtfully grown, nutrient-dense foods), nothing comes more highly regarded than Flamingo Estate‘s Regenerative Farm Box. Curated each week and filled with a variety of locally harvested produce and pantry items by independent producers (with an occasional Flamingo Estate goodie thrown in!), you’ll be delighted by this selection of regenerative and diverse Californian harvests. New selections are available to local LA residents each week, with shipping included and an option to add a handwritten note if gifting. If you’re not sold, read up on 500 reviews of 4.9+ stars to understand why you should add this box to your local rotation!

Customer Review | “I have tried a variety of farm boxes throughout California for the last almost 20 years. None has come close to the quality and variety in this box. All of the contents are in perfect condition coming from some of the most responsible providers in the area. They are presented beautifully and there is always a bakery item and a surprise or two. Iʻm currently traveling so have paused my box until after the first of the year but have been anxiously anticipating my next box. I cannot recommend this highly enough!” – Deborah N. (Read more reviews.)

Bonus: Force of Nature

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Small business

Subscriptions available

Best For | Regenerative-raised meat
Products Available | Grass-fed bison, beef, chicken, elk, wild boar, and venison
Price | Box subscriptions start at around $150/month
Delivers To | Contiguous US

Force of Nature isn’t just selling meat—they’re restoring ecosystems. Their selection of grass-fed bison, beef, and venison is available for delivery—so you can eat well while supporting a healthier planet. With a mission to revolutionize our food system, this regenerative brand partners with ranchers who prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and ethical animal treatment. Their Land Steward Index ensures every farm they work with actively rebuilds grasslands and restores keystone species like bison.

Once on the brink of extinction, bison are now thriving thanks to regenerative ranching. These majestic animals play a crucial role in land restoration, helping to enrich the soil, increase carbon sequestration, and bring balance back to nature. For a deeper look, watch Restoring the Wild, Force of Nature’s short film about how sustainable ranching is healing both the land and our food system.

Customer Review | “I’m so glad I found this company. I appreciate their mission statement and purpose, and the quality of meat is superb! I’m on auto delivery, and look forward to each shipment!” – Georgia (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For Force of Nature

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Bonus: Wild Alaskan Company

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Small business

Subscriptions available

Best For | Curated wild seafood boxes
Products Available | Coho salmon, pacific cod, halibut, sockeye salmon, salmon burgers, and more
Price | Box subscriptions start at around $145/month
Delivers To | Contiguous US

For seafood lovers who care about quality and sustainability, Wild Alaskan Company makes it easy to enjoy wild-caught fish while protecting our oceans. This direct-to-consumer seafood company is dedicated to responsible fishing practices, ensuring that every fillet comes from well-managed fisheries that prioritize ecosystem health. By sourcing exclusively from Alaska’s pristine, sustainable waters, Wild Alaskan Company supports small-boat fishermen and promotes ethical harvesting methods that maintain fish populations for future generations. Their seafood is always wild-caught—never farmed—meaning no antibiotics, artificial coloring, or questionable feed.

From rich, flaky sockeye salmon to tender Pacific cod and halibut, their subscription-based service delivers premium seafood straight to your door. Whether you’re looking for heart-healthy omega-3s or simply want fresher, better-tasting fish, Wild Alaskan Company makes it easy to cook with confidence.

Customer Review | “I spent 8 years in Alaska and have not found fish this fresh or tasty since I returned to Virginia other than what I caught myself. The customer service is over the top, I could not be happier.” – Donald P. (Read more reviews.)

Sign Up For wild Alaskan company

Bonus: Good Chop

American made

Grass fed

Subscriptions available

Best For | Responsible & sustainably-sourced American meat & seafood
Products Available | American beef, animal welfare certified chicken, responsibly-raised pork, sustainably-sourced seafood
Price | Box subscriptions start at $149/month
Delivers To | Continental US

Good Chop‘s meat and seafood delivery service makes it easy to stock your freezer with high-quality, American-sourced proteins without paying steakhouse prices. All cuts are sourced from independent farms and fisheries across the U.S., including responsibly raised beef, pork, and chicken, along with sustainably caught seafood. You can choose from more than 100 cuts and customize flexible deliveries every 4, 6, or 8 weeks, with everything arriving frozen at peak freshness in insulated, recyclable packaging. With no commitments, easy order changes, and a money-back guarantee, it’s a convenient way to enjoy premium proteins at home whenever you’re ready to cook.

Customer Review | “As a former steakhouse cook and butcher, I find the quality of the meat to be excellent, at a very good price. Much better than many other online ordering services and the beef is aged to perfection compared to supermarkets or the local butcher.” – Jeffrey L. (Read more reviews.)

The post 10 Organic Produce And Vegetable Delivery Boxes For 2026 appeared first on The Good Trade.

We love using natural products, especially in the bedroom. These are our top picks for safe sex toys that are cute, discreet, and have other perks, too.

Even a decade ago, owning a pleasure device of any kind felt slightly shameful. It was a secret to be hidden away in our most private drawers, furtively used on lonely nights. This feeling was, in part, due to how sex toys were manufactured to be blatantly realistic and obnoxiously large. Let’s just say, before the ’90s, vibrators were not discreet — or cute.

As we continue to shift our cultural narratives surrounding sexuality, we’re seeing a ripple effect throughout the industries catering to our sexual desires. The sex toy industry has been expanding its approach to pleasure for people with vulvas, well beyond the classic dildo or vibrator model (though these are classic for a reason!). There have also been notable innovations for transgender and non-binary pleasure as well.

Why shop sex toys for women, especially those made by women?

We love the newer emphasis on wellness-based, versatile models by women designers who are modernizing the industry. They’re helping us to explore our sexuality and desires while also caring for our bodies. No room for shame in this new game, where education reigns, and customization is endless. After all, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to sexual pleasure. Below are some of the best sex toys for women, started mainly by women founders who are leading the industry into a new frontier of empowerment and liberation.

Our criteria:

Our editors have personally used and reviewed nontoxic and sustainable products for a decade. Yes, that includes lube and even toys. These are our top picks for natural lubes that are made of organic materials, safe to use, and have other benefits too. We regularly update this list with new finds that meet the criteria below.

• NATURAL & ORGANIC | These toys are made with all-natural and skin-safe materials.
• DISCREETNESS | Each of these brands creates toys that are fun, cute, and discreet enough that you don’t have to feel embarrassed keeping them in (or on!) your nightstand.
• VERSATILE | Whether you’re looking for a solo vibrator or a toy to use with a partner, these brands are versatile and can be used in many ways!

If you’re looking for other sexual wellness products, check out our guide to vegan condoms and our favorite nontoxic lube brands!

Table of contents

• Best Overall: Smile Makers ($130)
• Most Affordable: Maude ($52)
• Most Discreet: Maude ($52)
• Most Ergonomic: Smile Makers ($130)
• Most Sustainable: The Natural Love Company (£100)
• Best For Menopause: Tabu ($95)
• Best For Couples: Unbound ($71)
• Most Quiet: LELO ($349)
• Most Personalized: Dame ($119)
• Best Warming Vibrator: Bloomi ($74)
• Best Low Frequency: Je Joue ($99)

1. Smile Makers

Best For | Ergonomic sex toys
Product Range | Vibrators, lubricants, wipes, oils, candles, condoms, sex education guides
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $130

Smile Makers is on a mission to bring sex (and vulvas!) out into the open. For nearly a decade, the team has tirelessly worked to create sensual products for vulva owners, thinking through female anatomy, ergonomic design, and the best in quality materials. (Along the way, Smile Makers also hosts pleasure-positive sex workshops and sex education programs — brava!) We love the team’s quiz to help you find your next sex toy, its playful language and product names, and largely affordable pricing.

Customer Review | “It’s wonderful! Very easy to clean and store. Has a great battery life. Would definitely recommend” – Victoria S. (Read all reviews.)

2. LELO

Best For | Quiet sex toys
Product Range | Sex toys for women, men & couples, LGBTQ+ sex toys, lubricants, accessories, condoms
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $349

Use the code TRADE20 for an extra 20% off on all Lelo products

LELO prides itself on crafting luxurious sex toys designed to make pleasure a meaningful part of self-care. No matter your gender, orientation, race, or age, there’s a toy created to suit your needs. The brand is renowned for its design, innovation, and technology, with every product meeting the ISO 3533 international standard, ensuring safety for intimate use. Over the years, LELO has earned numerous accolades, including Red Dot Awards for “Product Design” and “Sex Toy of the Year.” While many of LELO’s products are considered an investment, they come with features that offer true value: Certified body-safe construction, long-lasting rechargeable batteries, app integration, safety assurances, and the peace of mind of a one-year warranty plus a ten-year quality guarantee. In other words: These toys are built to last, designed to delight, and meant to make pleasure part of your everyday wellbeing.

Our Editor’s Review | “LELO’s SONA™ 3 was my first ever suction toy, and it completely won me over. From the first touch, it’s clear this isn’t just a toy; it’s a carefully designed experience. The whisper-quiet sonic wave technology and soft, velvety silicone make every use feel indulgent, serving as a reminder that sex is self-care. Using it feels luxurious, intentional, and somehow essential — the kind of bedside upgrade you didn’t know you needed but now can’t imagine living without.” – Stephanie Fallon, Contributing Editor [Read the full review.]

The Good Trade Partner

3. Dame

Best For | Personalized sex toys
Product Range | Personal & couples vibrators, lubricants, wipes, supplements, candles, cleaners, STI-testing kits, games
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $119

This fun sex toy brand was started by two female founders: One is a credentialed sexologist and the other is an established engineer. Alongside lubes and serums, Dame’s sex toys are sleek, sexy, and even a bit futuristic. The designs are truly a glimpse at how sex toys can be revolutionized, and they challenge our ideas on what these products should look like — take the bestselling Aer suction toy, for example. The founders continue to develop new and innovative products for all — while also closing the pleasure gap. Not sure where to start? Take the brand’s quiz to find the right toy for you!

Customer Review | “Best toy out here! I literally use nothing else and am very loyal to this brand. This company makes their products so well we even purchased the pillow! Very satisfied with everything and not to mention the customer service is outstanding!” – SK (Read all reviews.)

4. Je Joue

Best For | Low-frequency
Product Range | Personal/couples vibrators & toys, lingerie, lube, cleansers, candles, games
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $99

With an emphasis on being sex-positive, Je Joue sells toys (think beads, rings, and handcuffs) as well as vibrators that are “sophisticated and elegantly naughty.” The designers worked with gynecologists and midwives to help make sure its vibrators are beautiful and effective. The unique motors operate at an ultra-low frequency allowing the vibrations to travel more deeply through the body and access more internal pleasure points. So, simply put, they do the job right!

Customer Review | “Really good vibrator. Quality is good and it is very discreet. Easy to use and travel with!” – Allison B. (Read all reviews.)

5. Maude

Best For | Discreet sex toys
Product Range | Vibrators, lubricants, condoms, supplements, body care products, candles
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $52

We appreciate the minimalist approach to this inclusive, affordable, and beautifully designed bedroom essentials brand, Maude. Its goal is to help modernize the pleasure industry by selling body-safe products that not only look cute on your nightstand but are also functional — like the “burn” candle that doubles as a massage oil or the vibrator that looks like a trendy art piece. Plus, you can grab a travel kit or bundle for double the pleasure and double the fun.

Customer Review | “I didn’t expect to love this as much as I do. I bought this to have as a back up option and to take traveling because of its nice small size. I was always a believer that the suction vibrators worked the fastest but this proved me wrong… the first time I used it I was honestly a bit shocked! Feel incredible, looks sleek and modern, holds a long charge, and is quiet and easy to travel with. This is also a great vibrator for use during sex as it’s slim and doesn’t get in the way. 10/10!” – Lindsey (Read all reviews.)

6. Bloomi

Best For | Warming vibrator
Product Range | Vibrators, lubricants, massage oils
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $74

Bloomi’s clean, plant-based sexual wellness products are thoughtfully designed with input from top sexual wellness experts, so you can experience pleasure without worrying about toxic ingredients affecting your most intimate areas. The brand formulates its products to be free of common allergens and irritants, including glycerin, gluten, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, fragrances, and more (see the full “no” list here), helping reduce potential disruptions to hormonal balance and reproductive health. Their sex toy collection is small but mighty, with products like their new Glow Warming Massager, which is made with soft, medical-grade silicone and gently enhances arousal through warming sensations that boost circulation. Even better, each order comes in discreet packaging made from eco-friendly shipping materials!

7. The Pelvic People

Best For | Pain & sensitivity management 
Product Range | Intimacy support products, lubricants, cleansers
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $76

This fascinating toy is a revolutionary device that offers relief to those who find penetrative sex uncomfortable. The Pelvic People was founded by a woman who experienced painful sex herself and went on a journey to alleviate the discomfort. During her research, she found that one in every 10 women experiences pain during sex. This inspired her to create the Ohnut ring, which customizes penetration depth. The product is BPA-, phthalate-, and latex-free, and made from FDA-approved body-safe material. The Pelvic People also offers a lube, sensory brush, and a “getting-to-know-you” mirror for even more intimate moments.

Customer Review | “I love recommending this to my clients who experience penetrative pain. The depth-limiting rings are brilliant not only for modifying penetration, but also for alleviating the anxiety and fear that can be present when pain is involved.” – Laura L. (Read all reviews.)

8. Tabu

Best For | Menopause
Product Range | Vibrators, lubricants, pillows, body & skincare products 
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $95

Tabu is not buying the idea that sexual health and pleasure is only for the young. Dedicated to sexual education and wellness at any age, their toys, lubes, and tools are made by a dedicated panel of medical experts, pelvic floor therapists, and gynecologists. Long term vaginal health benefits from attention and care and their thoughtfully designed vulva stimulator and heating wand offer gentle vibrations that stimulate and care for the soft tissues of the vulva and vagina through reproductive years and beyond.

Customer Review | “I’ve never felt better about my body. This has been an investment in my health.” – Bri (Read all reviews.)

9. Unbound

Best For | Couples
Product Range | Personal/couples vibrators & sex toys, lubricants, condoms, 
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | $71

This brand, Unbound, is fully women-led and run with an emphasis on creating a feminist space to explore and experience women’s sexuality. The products are safe, playful, and inclusive, and we love that you can filter by categories like “beginner,” “couple,” or “multispeed.” They also have a number of sensation toys and nipple or clit clamps if you want to explore pain safely. Our favorite unique design is the “Puff,” which uses a rhythmic sucking sensation and intensity for clitoral pleasure. The Puff is rechargeable, waterproof, and sent in discreet packaging. It’s no surprise that Unbound sex toys have thousands of five-star reviews.

Customer Review | “This is my new favorite vibe from unbound babes! Even the lowest setting is great. Love the flexibility of it. It makes it easy to hold.” – Nekera F. (Read all reviews.)

10. The Natural Love Company

Best For | Sustainability
Product Range | Vibrators, dildos, suction toys, couples toys, lubricant
Price For Bestselling Vibrator | £100

Family-run brand The Natural Love Company operates out of England and has made it its mission to make intimacy wellness products that are not only aesthetically beautiful but are also better for our planet. From sex toys made from a recycled ocean plastic internal core, to planting a tree for every purchase and giving back via 1% for the planet, to even recycling your old toys for free, the company is thoughtful in how they produce and give back to the earth. We love that every toy comes with a 365-day satisfaction promise, for the ultimate peace of mind. Plus, everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and comes in discreet plastic-free packaging, too!

Customer Review | “Love the fact it’s a two in one toy. Really easy to use and charge. Perfect size as well.” – Gemma T. (Read all reviews.)

Featured image from Lelo

The post 10 Sex Toy Brands For Women (2026) appeared first on The Good Trade.

We’ve personally used and researched the best clean vitamin and supplement brands — here are our favorite libido-boosting supplements for women.

For most women, desire changes throughout their lives — and major life changes such as menopause, pregnancy, and high stress can intimately impact their libidos. If you’re looking to boost your arousal, there are natural remedies out there that can help improve your drive and satisfaction.

What vitamins and micronutrients increase libido for women? 

According to MedicineNet, these vitamins and ingredients can improve women’s libido and hormone health: Vitamin B3, D, and E, as well as L-arginine, ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca root, and shatavari. But of course, not all supplements are the same: Many include fillers or unnatural ingredients, while others have extremely high concentrations of specific vitamins or nutrients. To help you avoid those, we’ve found ten of the best supplements to boost your libido — all carefully formulated with clean and beneficial ingredients.

Our criteria:

Our editors have personally tried and vetted clean supplement brands for years. These are our top picks that are formulated with natural or organic ingredients, are free of GMOs, gluten, and fillers, and often come with additional health benefits beyond boosting your libido.  We regularly update this list with new finds that meet the below criteria.

• NATURAL & ORGANIC | These libido-boosting supplements only contain ingredients that are good for us like organic cacao and plants like ashwagandha and maca that help us naturally increase our desire.
• CLEAN | You won’t find any GMOs, gluten, or other synthetic fillers in these libido-enhancing supplements!
• HEALTH BENEFITS | The health benefits of these supplements go way beyond increasing desire — you may find after taking these supplements that you’ll feel a boost in your energy or even benefit from hormonal support thanks to the addition of beneficial vitamins like B3 and E.

(And hey, if you’re looking for a non-supplement way to increase your libido, we understand — other natural ways to help get back in the mood include exercising more, stress management, a solid sleep routine, and checking in with your doctor. You can also try one of these discreet toys with these natural lube brands!)

Best Overall | Perelel, $44
Most Affordable | OLLY, $20
Best Vegan | Moon Juice, $38

1. Perelel

American made

Dairy free

Doctor approved

Eco friendly packaging

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Soy free

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Arousal
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Non-GMO, no synthetic fillers or colorants, fenugreek, maca, shatavari 
Price | $44; discounted subscriptions available (15% off)

Perelel is the first and only vitamin brand founded by an OB/GYN and a team of women’s health doctors. That’s why the team’s supplements are truly the best of the best: They’re made with women in mind, focus on natural ingredients, and they’re third-party tested to ensure quality. Whether you’re trying to conceive, boost your energy and adrenal support, or up your libidinal wellness, we like Perelel’s Libido Support supplements. Each capsule — you’ll take one daily — is packed with ingredients known to increase libido across Ayurvedic practices and Western medicine, including shatavari (50mg), maca (150mg), and fenugreek (300mg). Clean, easy to take, thoughtfully formulated, and effective.

Customer Review | “I had purchased this on a whim when it first came out because it sounded fun and wanted to try something new. After a few months I canceled my subscription because I didn’t think it did very much (I had recently gone off BC and figured my sex drive was my new post BC “normal”) and I was trying to save money. Fast forward two months and I noticed that it took me longer/was more difficult to climax and sex became a once a week thing. I had a bottle I had not finished in my cabinet so I decided to take it out again. I had noticed my sex drive pick up after about two weeks, so I figured I was just ovulating…well I’m well past ovulation and I still can’t get enough…its these supplements for sure!. I’ve been taking them again for 2 weeks and I easily orgasm every time and I haven’t had a sex drive this high since college! Needless to say I just started my subscription back up.” – Colleen (Read all reviews.)

2. Moon Juice

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Libido & creative energy
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Organic cacao, wildcrafted shilajit, shatavari, organic epimedium, organic maca organic schisandra
Price | $38; discounted subscriptions available (10% off)

Moon Juice has been at the intersection of plants, science, and wellness for over a decade. The Sex Dust® blend is crafted with adaptogens and herbs (all informed by Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda!), combining shatavari, shilajit, epimedium, cacao, maca, and schisandra. And all you need to do to reap the benefits is take one teaspoon per serving, which can be blended into coffee, chocolate, or tea — consider it your turn-on tonic! Each serving size is approximately three grams, and each container is around 43 grams, so you’ll need one to two batches of Sex Dust per month, but we’re pretty sure it’s worth it. Read the reviews for yourself to see!

Our Editor’s Review | “Taken as a daily supplement, Sex Dust is meant to have a longer-term, overall impact on the body by helping it adapt to stressors that can disrupt the sex hormones that cause problems with libido. I am intrigued by many of the reviews by older women who say that using this dust during menopausal and post-menopausal times has been transformative, reigniting desire that they had worried they’d lost.” – Stephanie Fallon, Contributing Editor [Read the full review here.]

3. Sunmed

American made

Family owned

Gluten free

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Libido-boosting gummies with THC
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Korean red ginseng, muira puama, horny goat weed, L-arginine, zinc picolinate, full spectrum hemp extract
Price | $40 – $60; discounted subscriptions available (20% off)

Enhance your bedroom experience with Sunmed’s Libido Boost Gummies. Options are available with or without full spectrum hemp, with the hemp version containing a proprietary blend of aphrodisiacs and 25 milligrams of hemp extract in each gummy (including 2 mg of THC) to enhance mood, sexual performance, and blood flow. These sugar-coated gummies help reduce stress and heighten sensations, making them perfect for deeper connections in the bedroom. Key ingredients include Korean red ginseng for stress management and sex drive, muira puama for improved sensations and mood, and horny goat weed for increased arousal. Take one gummy 30 minutes before intimate moments or incorporate it into your nightly routine to nourish a healthy libido.

SAVE 30% OFF ALL PRODUCTS WITH CODE SUNMED30.
(EXCLUDES ALREADY DISCOUNTED PRODUCTS.)

The Good Trade Partner

4. Wisp

Doctor approved

Gives back

Natural materials

Best For | Libido & menstrual symptoms
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Tribulus, zinc, vitamin E, maca, fenugreek, Korean ginseng, ginger root
Price | $72

Doctor-formulated with all-natural ingredients, Wisp’s Women’s Libido Supplement enhances desire, drive, and arousal by targeting hormonal balance and blood flow. Developed by a medical advisory team and supported by research, this supplement combines tribulus with other beneficial ingredients like zinc, vitamin E, maca root, fenugreek, Korean ginseng, and ginger root. The key ingredient, tribulus, optimizes hormonal balance to boost desire. In a study, 67% of women with very low libidos reported increased desire after 90 days of taking tribulus. With numbers like that, give it a try and reap the benefits!

Customer Review | “Wisp is simple to navigate, and informative for those who are unsure of their needs. Access to medication was pretty quick. The whole interaction was stress free. Will definitely utilize it again!!” – Amy L. (Read all reviews.)

5. Zuma Nutrition

American made

Gluten free

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Hormone (im)balance
Natural & Organic Ingredients | No pesticides, chasteberry, evening primrose, shatavari, wild yam, black cohosh
Price | $40; discounted subscriptions available (10% off)

Zuma Nutrition understands how much hormones play a role in our libido; its Women’s Hormones Tonic is meant to balance out and promote normal hormonal levels and support endocrine health. This tonic is made in small batches using wild-harvested raw ingredients, like chasteberry, evening primrose, shatavari, black cohosh, and wild yam. The herbs are harvested at peak potency levels, and they’re water-soluble, so your bloodstream absorbs them right away. Not only will your libido improve, but you may also enjoy a more restful sleep cycle, more regulated periods, better gut health, and more…worth the try!

Customer Review |“I was on birth control for almost 20 years. Now that I am no longer taking it, my hormones need to be balanced BIG TIME. I have been taking these drops, along with other supplements, and I can tell the difference! I will keep buying these drops!” – Amanda C. (Read all reviews.)

6. Dame

Cruelty free

Doctor approved

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Increased satisfaction
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Non-GMO, ashwagandha, L-theanine, mucuna, shatavari
Price | $35; discounted subscriptions available (25% off)

Dame’s Desire Gummies are designed for daily libido enhancement (and have a delicious strawberry mango flavor!). Taken once daily, these gummies improve mood, increase desire and satisfaction, and reduce stress and anxiety within 2-4 weeks of regular use, according to clinical studies. Formulated specifically for women but safe for all adults, these gluten-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and non-GMO gummies contain no artificial colorants or dyes. For the best results, Dame recommends taking the correct serving at the same time each day.

Customer Review | “These are effective. Like, VERY effective. I didn’t really think they would work, but I was hopeful. I don’t take them every day because as much as I enjoy being so sexual, I don’t always have the energy or time (I’m a working mom of two small toddlers), to actually fulfill my sexual needs. So, again, they are effective and, quite possibly too effective for my daily life.” – Amber (Read all reviews.)

7. OLLY

B corp

Budget friendly

Subscriptions available

Vegetarian

Best For | A healthy drive & sensation
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Ashwagandha, damiana, maca
Price | $20

These Lovin’ Libido capsules from OLLY are designed for women experiencing low interest and satisfaction in the bedroom. Formulated with clinically studied ashwagandha to boost desire and arousal, this supplement also includes damiana and maca extracts, both celebrated for their historical use in enhancing libido. This vegetarian supplement provides a 20-day supply of 40 capsules, with a recommended dosage of two capsules daily. Lovin’ Libido is NSF-certified, ensuring quality, safety, and accurate labeling.

Customer Review | “Being a mother of 3 and dealing with kids and the house all day, the only thing I desire is sleep. This has definitely aided in boosting desire and arousal. I have been taking these for almost 2 weeks and the desire kicked in about day 3! It comes in an easy to open bottle and the pills are easy to swallow.” – Mylesc (Read all reviews.)

8. Bonafide

Doctor approved

Gluten free

Soy free

Subscriptions available

Best For | Hormone-free support
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Non-GMO, L-arginine, L-citrulline, rose hips extract, French maritime pine bark extract
Price | $58; discounted subscriptions available (18-26% off)

Ristela® by Bonafide offers hormone-free support for those of us seeking an enhanced sensual response. Its proprietary blend includes powerful antioxidants, such as French maritime pine bark extract and rose hips, along with the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline, for boosting blood flow to the vaginal area, and aiding in arousal and orgasm. For optimal results, take consistently for two months. Clinical trials show a 75% increase in satisfaction after two months of use. Some HSA/FSA cards may also cover the cost of Bonafide products, so be sure to check with your provider!

Customer Review | “Ristela is awesome! This is my second time around. The first time I tried this product, it didn’t work for me and I think it’s because I was taking the pills half at a time. Well I started back taking Ristela about 3 days ago but didn’t crush or cut the pills in half, and had my first orgasm in 2 years. Yep, that’s right it only took 3 days for me. I couldn’t believe it. I had given up hope. Thank you so much, Bonafide!” – Donna A. (Read all reviews.)

9. Wild Wholistic

Family owned

Natural materials

Third party tested

Woman owned

Best For | Fertility, libido & reproductive support
Natural & Organic Ingredients | Date palm pollen
Price | $100

Ethereal Essence by Wild Wholistic is a luxurious fertility and vitality tonic crafted from wildcrafted date palm pollen — a revered reproductive aid in Middle Eastern and North African traditions. This fine golden powder is rich in bioactive compounds like amino acids, sterols, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids, offering deep nourishment to the endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems in both men and women. Wild Wholistic ensures their formulas are safe through third party testing where possible. Whether you’re preparing for conception, navigating hormonal transitions, or seeking daily energy support, Ethereal Essence is a sacred ritual you can trust adding to your fertility routine.

The post 9 Best Libido Supplements For Women (2026) appeared first on The Good Trade.

“I used to spend my days in a near-constant state of emergency, juggling a million lists in my head of all the important things I had to do.”

You know the lists: All the chores, tasks, goals, responsibilities, and aspirations I was taking on as a new mother, a manager, an artist, a wife, friend, daughter, writer, and pet owner. Most days started with the regular checklists, but there was always something being added, some email or idea or need pinging from a direct report or my supervisor, a friend with a favor, or my husband asking me if I remembered to eat breakfast. 

Trying to figure out the best way to fit an impossible number of to-do items into a fixed set of hours each day was like being in an immersive algebra word problem during a test I forgot to study for. But I was determined to crack the code, certain that if I just tried harder, I could make it all work.

If I go to the grocery store nearest the gas station, I can also fill up and clean out my car. I have to remember to take the exit on the West and not the South side so I can pass the library drop box and the post office on my way home. Unless we need to pick up the dog’s meds, in which case I should actually start at the library, and I could go to that gas station instead of the one by the grocery — then maybe it would make more sense to put in an order for pick up and have my husband do it on his way home…

And this was just the stuff I was trying to squeeze into the bookends of my work hours, that sliver of time when I was also meant to exercise and meal plan, clean the kitchen and the bathrooms, help my team with a new project and take my kid to the activities and playdates I was supposed to schedule, bond with my husband, maintain friendships, read for book club, read for fun, write for my novel workshop, organize my closet, figure out my style, maintain a skincare regimen, and call my parents. Oh, and walk the dog.  

Every day was a Tetris game of multitasking, yet even if I somehow managed to accomplish everything on that day’s agenda, I’d still crawl into bed after midnight in a wrung-out, bug-eyed frenzy — because a new list had already begun to form. 

“I’d still crawl into bed after midnight in a wrung-out, bug-eyed frenzy — because a new list had already begun to form.”

I lived like this for years.

This might sound familiar to you. It might sound like burnout, or like I might have benefited from outsourcing some of my responsibilities to a babysitter, a cleaner, or a meal delivery service. Maybe it was time for an audit on our activities — the book clubs or soccer practices or Saturday morning swim lessons — and hit pause on the ones that weren’t an uncontested net positive on our lives. 

What if I told you that I did all those things — hired the nanny and subscribed to a grocery delivery, stopped attending my late-night writing group Zooms, and handed off swim lessons to my husband — and I was still, somehow, just as harried and wild-eyed as before? On some days, even more so?

I didn’t use that extra time to rest, but to just try to do more stuff. More tasks, more goals, more ways to optimize and strategize continued to flood into the tiny, unfilled spaces of my brain; everything lit up with urgency. 

I was living in survival mode, desperately trying to simply get through each day, confident only in the fact that I was not living up to my fullest potential. I was a day late and a dollar short, across the board. But I soldiered on, marching upstream and trying to replenish my resources as they dwindled away, all while the current was only getting stronger.

“I soldiered on, marching upstream and trying to replenish my resources as they dwindled away, all while the current was only getting stronger.”

And then our daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. Overnight, it became clear that I’d activated survival mode for conditions that were, ultimately, not all that threatening. Because now I was learning what it was like when the stakes actually were life and death. 

Spoiler alert: Survival mode isn’t a sustainable lifestyle choice. And it took going through a true emergency for me to learn how to see the rest of my life with a clear-eyed perspective about what truly matters and what, really, just wasn’t a big deal. 

The tl;dr? Almost everything on my to-do lists is just categorically not all that urgent — and the consequences for not prioritizing them were not even a little bit dire. In some cases, there were no consequences at all.

And I am willing to bet that it might be the same for you, too. 

An urgent perspective

After my daughter’s diabetes diagnosis, our life got infinitely more complicated for a time. And then, like magic, it got a whole lot simpler.

“Our life got infinitely more complicated for a time. And then, like magic, it got a whole lot simpler.”

When you get a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, you’re admitted for inpatient care for at least 24 hours, regardless of whether you’re in DKA or not. We were lucky — Poesy was four, but we caught the signs early and were able to get a diagnosis well before this life-threatening condition. But we still had to drop everything and spend the night at the hospital, because our new team of doctors, nurses, and educators had to give us a crash course in our new life. A life that, thanks to all the innovative technology and medicine available to us now, everyone promised should be as long and healthy and normal as before. 

But of course, this isn’t exactly true. 

“Everyone promised should be as long and healthy and normal as before. But of course, this isn’t exactly true. “

For starters, her medical care is lightly brutal. She gets pricked and poked every day now, sometimes multiple times a day. Her body is pocked with marks in varying degrees of healing from her pump sites and CGMs, her skin raw and irritated from the medical-grade adhesives.

She was the only Kindergartener with an iPhone, and parents sometimes worry about having her over for playdates or parties because they don’t want to be responsible for her diabetes management.

She can’t just jump in the pool or the bath without first being disconnected from her very expensive medical equipment, and sometimes she misses recess because her blood sugar drops and she has to stay in the nurse’s office eating a snack she doesn’t want because she just wants to be with her friends. After months of waking her up in the middle of the night to treat lows with juice, she had so much tooth decay we had to have four teeth pulled in a wildly expensive procedure she had to have local anesthesia for — a genuine nightmare for a parent trying to figure out how to manage her blood sugars while she’s under.  

I want to be clear: Not an hour goes by that I don’t feel like the luckiest woman in the world — that if I was going to be the mother of a child with a lifelong chronic illness, it was going to happen at a time when we could not only get a clear diagnosis but also access to the medicine and tech she needs. 

But I’m not going to sugarcoat it: diabetes sucks. It’s been almost two years, and though we are so much more familiar and adept at managing it, the truth is that living with a chronic illness is like being in an endless Iron Man race — only there’s no finish line, you didn’t get to train, and you have to keep going no matter what happens. 

“Living with a chronic illness is like being in an endless Iron Man race — only there’s no finish line, you didn’t get to train, and you have to keep going no matter what happens.”

If you’ve ever experienced a catastrophic health event, you are likely familiar with the way it reorients your perspective on what truly matters in your life. But if the event was something that had a clear end — a full recovery, a return to “normal” and life as it was before — it’s all too easy to slip back into the habit of treating everything on your to-do list with urgency. 

This is not the case with chronic illness. There is no going back. There is no break. No matter how many days we might have when everything is “going well,” there will always, always be some new wrecking ball diabetes has up its sleeve, ready to remind us what it feels like to be in a true emergency. 

Living this way can feel impossible sometimes, especially when you imagine piling it on to the frenetic pace of an already packed and busy life. But if there’s one gift that diabetes gave to us, it’s this constant readjustment to our perspective. When your days are mapped by the grace of your child’s CGM data, living in five-minute increments with the updates that inform the millions of decisions necessary to keep her alive, you suddenly care a lot less about all of those lists you used to keep. 

“If there’s one gift that diabetes gave to us, it’s this constant readjustment to our perspective.”

All that stuff that used to seem so important, so time-sensitive, such high priorities… well, it’s not that they don’t matter. It’s just that very rarely do any of those things require the sort of high-strung urgency I was giving them.

Living in real survival mode made me realize that I’d been doing so for years — in conditions that were, honestly, completely survivable. 

And I was doing it to myself.

When doing okay is more than enough

A previous employer used a system for our annual reviews where our performance was rated in various categories from 1–5. On this scale, 3 was considered “meeting expectations,” or, simply doing your job. Getting 3’s was a good thing, in theory, and yet, it always seemed like some sort of low-key failure. Maybe it was the internalized grading system of my youth, but unless I was getting 4’s and the rare and most coveted 5’s, I would agonize over what I needed to change to bridge that gap. 

Which was probably the whole idea.

“Whether I was ‘meeting expectations’ or ‘exceeding’ them, I was continuing to get paid exactly the same amount for doing that job.”

Here’s what I never understood back then: Whether I was “meeting expectations” or “exceeding” them, I was continuing to get paid exactly the same amount for doing that job. I even got a couple of 2’s over my time there, which ultimately didn’t affect anything about my pay or responsibilities, only my emotional state and my ego.

Yet I was willing to put myself through a self-imposed pressure cooker to try to prove something that changed absolutely nothing about the realities of my employment there.  

After the diagnosis, I learned what happens to perform between 1-3 in pretty much every aspect of my life: Not much.

Initially, I threw all the balls I’d been juggling in the air directly to the ground. I had to — nothing mattered as much as my kid’s life. After the hospital, I had to figure out how to start picking some of the balls back up, adding them to the new ones I was already juggling for diabetes. And at first, I dropped them all, a lot. I only picked up the ones that I absolutely had to, and I left everything else on the ground. 

Almost two years later, I still haven’t picked some of them back up. And I’m not sure if I ever will.

“Diabetes chewed up all my old lists and spit them out. It just didn’t matter anymore if we had time to clean the kitchen or if we left it for another day.”

Diabetes chewed up all my old lists and spit them out. It just didn’t matter anymore if we had time to clean the kitchen or if we left it for another day. Remembering to keep up with prescriptions and proper sharps disposal had taken over the spaces in my head where I used to monitor school calendars and family logistics. So we were late meeting deadlines and turning in paperwork. We missed information, forgot appointments. We showed up late in baseball hats and dirty hair, with very little idea about what exactly was going on. Sometimes we had to pay late fees, something that used to eat me up with self-criticism. Now, we started viewing them as the cost of buying us the extra time, just so we could breathe. 

I started doing my job with just enough focus and skill to keep it, no longer motivated by doing my best, standing out, growing into the next step. What was a slew of emails marked “urgent” when our kid’s leg has an abscess from an infected infusion site? Or when she has a tech failure that results in an all-day high, and I’m on the phone with the nurse every twenty minutes, troubleshooting?

Or when she has such a terrifying, sudden blood sugar crash that her numbers are off the chart, only reading “low,” and we’re Googling how to use the glucagon to save her life?

Every day, she could die. I’ve had to make peace with the fact that I’m not going to answer every email or remember to update a client on a work project status when I’ve been sucked into a diabetes alert.

“Now? I just apologize, and I move on. I show up late. I answer the email, finish the project, and then I move on to the next thing.”

Once, I’d agonize over all the ways that this could be interpreted by others, whether someone was mad at me or thought I was flaky, irresponsible, or just plain dumb. I’d worry about all the possible ways that my negligence was going to cost me in the future. Now? I don’t have the bandwidth to carry possible bad faith perceptions other people might have about me. I just apologize, and I move on. I show up late. I answer the email, finish the project, and then I move on to the next thing. 

Am I performing at a 5? Would you call me the sort of person who goes above and beyond, who gives 110%, who you can always count on to show up and perform at the highest possible level? Probably not. Absolutely not. I work from deadline to deadline, one fire at a time. I am not dealing with the potential fires somewhere down the line, proactively mitigating them.

But if I were, I’m not sure it would change much beyond draining me completely dry.

Learning not to take all of it so seriously, however, has had a profound impact on my life — changing it definitively for the better. Because now I’ve freed up the space to not just rest, but actually recover.

Holding it all a little loosely

Stress, everyone says, is such a killer. The effects of long-term stress on our bodies are astounding, and yet we culturally treat succumbing to it as a moral or personal failure rather than a systemic one. 

Make no mistake: We live in a culture that has lost the plot when it comes to urgency. When our environment is fraught with ambient stress and constant external pressure to be better and do more, it’s all too easy to believe that the only way to survive is by soldiering on. 

“We live in a culture that has lost the plot when it comes to urgency.”

But what if we just … don’t?

I don’t mean dropping all the balls, necessarily. What I mean is recognizing that juggling doesn’t have to be an inherently dire act — in fact, literal juggling is about entertainment and play. 

So what happens if we just start treating our juggling act a little less seriously? 

Here’s the secret I’ve learned: I know I’m going to drop something every day. And guess what? It’s usually fine. The outcome is rarely memorable at all.

“I know I’m going to drop something, every day. And guess what? It’s usually fine. The outcome is rarely memorable at all.”

I go into each day with the understanding that I won’t get everything done. I know I’m going to be late, or miss an important message, or have to ask for a deadline extension. 

I know I’m going to have to bail on a friend or reschedule a meeting, and I know the clothes are probably going to remain in the hamper for another day. And I also know that none of this says anything meaningful about my life or who I am as a person. 

When I had to drop everything for diabetes, I dropped a lot — a lot — of balls. But I learned something crucial from that experience: very few of them actually broke. What I mean is: Very few tasks on my daily to-do lists are actually important. Going from being a proactive, Type A perfectionist to a t1d mom winging it as she goes showed me that, by and large, it’s completely fine to deal only with one fire at a time. 

It’s okay if I go to the grocery store I prefer instead of the one by the gas station; maybe it means I have to do the post office tomorrow. Okay. I’ll just do it tomorrow.

If we forget class valentines until the night before, guess what? The drugstore opens at 7 am, and they have candy. Not a soul will notice or care whether Poesy gives them a cardboard Hello Kitty valentine along with their chocolate.

“No one is benefitting from my anxiety and stress about being late — it’s certainly not going to make me suddenly punctual.”

When it’s clear I’m going to be late, I send a quick heads up (sometimes!) and then do my best to get there without getting into a car accident and creating an actual emergency. No one is benefiting from my anxiety and stress about being late — it’s certainly not going to make me suddenly punctual. So I’m going to choose to just put it down and focus on being present when I get there. 

The external outcomes from doing all these things without activating survival mode are shockingly similar.

The difference in their impact on me, however, is profound.

What we have to take seriously

Living with a chronic illness is a special kind of hell sometimes, and there are days when I’m filled with grief over all the things my child is going to have to carry for the rest of her life just to keep herself alive. But most days, I’m grateful that keeping her alive is even an option.

“It isn’t just the passage of time that makes our grief and hardships easier, but the ways we learn how to live with them.”

It isn’t just the passage of time that makes our grief and hardships easier, but the ways we learn how to live with them. Every time we made it through a new challenge, we learned that we were capable of doing so. In other words, we learned to trust ourselves in an emergency. 

After the initial few months of baptism by fire, our family became more familiar with managing diabetes. We learned how to live with our new care responsibilities, how to troubleshoot and respond to the various curveballs T1D likes to throw. We got a little spontaneity back, started doing things “from before.” We even got brave enough to try eating out at restaurants again. 

We weathered so many hard days, the sort of days that give new meaning to the idea, that leave you feeling truly broken, certain there is no way you can keep going on like this. 

Until we did. Because we had to. 

Weeks and months and then a year passed, and one day we had the sort of experience that, only twelve months earlier, had brought me to my knees. Now, it was just the sort of day we sometimes had, one we knew we could survive, because we had already before. 

“I realized I had to truly prioritize my own rest and recovery — even if it came at the cost of all those other responsibilities I was supposed to be juggling.”

I couldn’t just sit around the house having panic attacks, not when it was my job to be not only alert and capable of managing the logistics of my daughter’s care, but also to be available to help regulate her emotions. For the first time in my life, I realized I had to truly prioritize my own rest and recovery — even if it came at the cost of all those other responsibilities I was supposed to be juggling.

Even if there isn’t a diabetes curveball that day, I’m likely still playing catch-up from the last time it threw us into survival mode. And these episodic dips into survival mean that I’ve learned to take my recovery needs seriously.

A breakthrough came on a day in March when, after several terrifying diabetes scares in a row, I couldn’t stop hyperventilating. I did some of the regulating interventions I’d learned in therapy, and then my husband sent me on a walk just as the sun was starting to set, so I could come down and settle a bit before locking back into the rest of the evening. 

I went to the cemetery near our house, where I often go for walks. It was a gorgeous early spring evening, and I took a few photos and videos, wanting to be as present as possible as I noticed the color of the trees, the quality of the air, the sound of the pavement beneath my feet. 

I took two selfies, one right at the start, and another ten minutes into my walk, to send to my husband when he texted to ask how I was doing. I think I’m feeling better, I texted him. I think this is helping. 

Later, looking at the images, I was floored to see the difference was apparent in my face. It wasn’t just an emotional distinction — I didn’t suddenly look more relaxed or happy or anything like that. What I mean is that I went from looking absolutely haggard to someone who had just been revived. In those ten minutes of walking in the sunset, my face got back its color. It looked fuller, like I’d been renewed with something vital and life-giving. Which, of course, I had. 

You can’t live from emergency to emergency; you have to recover. 

Sleep is no longer a luxury, but a non-negotiable. Walking outside, letting the sun touch my skin, eating actual meals, and disengaging my brain from list management are the ways I recover my body and mind, repairing and strengthening so that when the next emergency arrives, I can handle it. 

This is how I’ve taught myself to trust that it is going to be fine. Even if I have to relegate some of those other “urgent” to-do items to “not a big deal.”

“Taking things less seriously doesn’t mean they don’t get done — it just means I’m not constantly suffering while doing them.”

Taking things less seriously doesn’t mean they don’t get done — it just means I’m not constantly suffering while doing them. And the incredible thing? It’s created a surprising amount of room in my life for fun, play, and beauty — all things that contribute to recovery. 

If we treat everything as an emergency, eventually we’re going to realize that we’ve created a life that has drained itself entirely of meaning. We might even run ourselves so far into the ground that trying to extract ourselves becomes the actual emergency — the sort that would take a lot more time and far more resources from which to rebound.

We’re all juggling, here. Sometimes, we’re going to drop the balls. We need to remember that’s part of the trick.

“Sometimes, we’re going to drop the balls. We need to remember that’s part of the trick.”

Maybe instead of berating ourselves about it, or rushing to pick them back up, we let ourselves pause. 

Maybe we can set some of these balls on the ground, just for a minute, just to give ourselves a chance to stretch our muscles a bit. The balls will be waiting for us, but they might be easier to manage after we’ve given our hands a break.

Maybe we can just take a lap around the cemetery at sunset, only heading home after we’ve gotten a little bit of our color back, a little bit of the life we didn’t even realize we’d been draining.

Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and she is the author of Finishing Lines, where she writes about her fear of finishing, living a creative life, and (medical) motherhood. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.

The post What If It’s No Big Deal? appeared first on The Good Trade.

Our team has researched and tested dozens of essential oil diffusers for safe, high quality, and affordable options — these are our top nine picks.

Essential oils have been used for centuries, aiding with sleep, relaxation, and overall healing. We love using them often, too (see our top essential oil picks for a good night’s sleep). It only takes a few deep breaths to understand how soothing these aromas can be!

We especially love diffused oils for homes that need alternatives to candles — whether you’re prioritizing for pet and child safety, have sensitivities to certain ingredients, or just want a home fragrance you can set and forget without worry.

Why look for non-toxic essential oil diffusers? 

Nontoxic essential oil diffusers are a must if you’re looking to maintain a healthy and clean home. BPA-free and ceramic diffusers are a great option to help eliminate the potential of harmful chemicals being released into the air when the diffuser is heated. Another way to prevent this is by going for a non-heated or non-electronic diffuser (we’ve listed some options below!).

Diffusers are also a safe and nontoxic alternative to candles for scenting your home, as they use water and essential oils (which are safe when used correctly), rather than synthetic fragrances which are found in many conventional candles and can pollute our homes. As always, be sure to use care when introducing essential oils in your home, being especially mindful of how, when, and where they are used around children and pets.

These fragrance diffusers and nebulizers maximize their reach and fill our homes, offices, and home offices with natural and therapeutic scents. Plus, the essential oils we’ve paired them with use natural ingredients, and are responsibly sourced so you can breathe easy!

Our criteria:

• NONTOXIC MATERIALS | We’ve compiled the best essential oil diffusers made with nontoxic materials that are BPA-free and safe for the home.
• DESIGN AND QUALITY | We’ve selected high quality essential oil diffusers that are impeccably designed, will look beautiful (or discreet!) in your space, and that are made to last. 
• AFFORDABILITY | We’ve made sure to include affordable essential oil diffuser options for both small and large spaces, so we can scent our homes while staying cost-effective.

If essential oils aren’t for you, our guides on nontoxic candles and eco-friendly humidifiers will keep your home smelling fresh and your air quality on point. And for keeping your home in tip top shape, these eco-friendly cleaning supplies will make cleaning easier and safer for your health and your space!  

Best Overall | Best For Large Spaces | Best Non-Electronic 

1. Aera

American made

Cruelty free

FSC

Recycled materials

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Features | Fills rooms up to ~1000 sq. feet, app-controlled, pet- and kid-safe fragrances, ethically sourced
Price | $95 – $199
Pair It With | Aera Lilac Daydream

Aera uses the cleanest ingredients for its plug-in diffusers. Each one is made in Milwaukee and features Microdroplet Technology, which converts the fragrance capsules into droplets 50 times smaller than traditional aerosol droplets to fill your room with fragrance. The fragrance capsules are hypoallergenic last up to 60 days. Best of all, Aera fragrances are cruelty-free, ethically sourced, and safe for the entire family to enjoy — pets and infants too! We especially love the Lilac Daydream scent, and place our Aera in high-traffic areas of our home for the perfect swoosh of fragrance each time we pass.

Use code GOOD20 for 20% off your order.

The Good Trade Partner

2. Vitruvi

Cruelty free

Family owned

Natural materials

Vegan

Features | Matte ceramic outer, BPA-free plastic, 4-8 hour run time, ambient LED light, fills rooms up to ~500 sq. feet
Price | $85 – $249 CAD
Pair It With | Ceremony Diffuser Blend

Vitruvi’s collection of award-winning diffusers is one of our top choices for a classic bedroom diffuser. Voted Best Diffuser of 2023 by Wirecutter, Vitruvi’s Stone Diffuser will transform your space into an oasis with its earthy aesthetic and high quality essential oils collection. With its long run time options and 500 sq.ft. reach, this diffuser is perfect for misting a soothing essential oil blend to aid a restorative night’s sleep.

Vitruvi Review | “Such a powerful and beautiful device. Love the aesthetics it brings to my apartment.” – Valentina F. (See all reviews)

3. Saje

Cruelty free

Family owned

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Features | Heat-free, up to 22-hour run time, three timer settings, auto shut-off, fills rooms up to ~1200 sq. feet
Price | $66 – $152
Pair It With | Saje Balsam Fir

Transport yourself to a natural oasis with Saje’s Aroma Om Deluxe Stone Diffuser. This function-heavy diffuser comes with desirable features, including up to 22 hours of continuous use, an LED light fixture, whisper-quiet operation, and a 1200 sq. ft. reach. Best of all? It’s made with concrete and BPA-free plastic, and is stylish enough for any home. If healing and reinvigoration are your end goals, this essential oil diffuser is well worth the investment. (And if it’s not quite your style, we love all of Saje’s design forward diffusers — choose from 13 different styles.) We’ve used a Saje diffuser at The Good Trade studio, and love putting evergreen scents in around the colder seasons!

Saje Review | “Exactly what I was looking for. The look is subtle that it blends into my interior. The smells are delightful and fill my entire house even with only one diffuser. It brings a peaceful atmosphere to our home.” – Michelle (See all reviews). 

4. Seasons

1% for the planet

Cruelty free

Made in the UK

Subscriptions available

Features | Waterless technology, 360 leak stop, ultra quiet technology, large space coverage, portable, operates up to 15 hours, fills rooms up to ~1200 sq. feet
Price | $69 – $148
Pair It With | Seasons Summer Blend

For a cordless essential oil diffuser that makes a statement, check out Seasons. Running off no water or heat, Seasons’ diffusers — made from a stone-like resin — use patented waterless and anti-leaking technology to naturally aromatize your home. It’s also rechargeable, with certain collections including an attached vegan leather strap for easy carrying. We love the bold eye-catching colors that’ll bring some cheer, wherever you go! Pair with the brand’s “seasonal” essential oils like Winter or Summer, for a whiff of your favorite time of year.

Seasons Review | “This mini diffuser is my new fave! The fact that it’s portable and doesn’t need water means it’s always by my side, literally everywhere I go. My boyfriend and I will throw it on for a quick 5 minutes, no more, just to jazz up a room with a fresh scent. It’s got that powerful punch but feels like it’s carrying no weight at all. Total game-changer!” – Kassandra (See all reviews)

5. Vorda

Budget friendly

Cruelty free

Natural materials

Subscriptions available

Features | Non-electric diffuser, sustainably-sourced wood, travel friendly, sound-free, 6-hour run time, fills rooms up to ~100 sq. feet
Price | $38 – $76
Pair It With | Vorda Zen

Vorda’s essential oil diffusers might be unlike any other diffuser you’ve seen before. Handcrafted by a single block of sustainably-sourced beech wood, this essential oil diffuser requires zero electricity to operate! Simply add 4-6 drops of your favorite essential oil to the top of the wooden diffuser, and you’ll be welcomed with a relaxing fragrance in minutes. This minimal, yet innovative diffuser disperses up to 6 hours of essential oil aromatherapy throughout your space. It’s also travel friendly and doubles up as decor. (Pro tip: take it with you to your next sauna session to amp up your experience!)

Vorda Review | “Love this diffuser! I love that you can put your bottle of oil under the diffuser where it’s always convenient. If you use electric diffusers you have a lot of residue on furniture, lamps etc. Not with this diffuser, a game changer for sure!” – Kathy (See all reviews)

6. Aura House

Cruelty free

Gives back

Natural materials

Subscriptions available

Warranty offered

Woman owned

Features | No harsh chemicals, baby & pet safe, IFRA compliant, Clean at Sephora, cold air diffusion technology (no water needed), fills rooms up to ~2,500 sq. ft
Price | $99 – $1,379
Pair It With | Dubai

Aura House is all about bringing joy to your daily rituals with luxurious, clean, and elegant scents. Designed by an award-winning perfumer, each fragrance is crafted without harmful ingredients and is baby and pet safe. The Aura Scent Diffuser uses advanced cold-air diffusion technology to evenly disperse pure scents without water or heat, ensuring a long-lasting and mold-free experience. Find fragrances that are inspired by luxurious spa and hotel experiences, all curated to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home.

Customer Review | “This is by far the best diffuser I have used. Its smell is perfectly adjusted to your individual preference, and encompasses an entire area. I loved it so much I bought another!” – Andrea B. (Read all reviews.)

7. CAMPO

American made

Cruelty free

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Natural materials

Woman owned

Features | Sustainable packaging, clean & natural ingredients, made in the USA, fills rooms up to ~400 sq. ft
Price | $64 – $118
Pair It With | FOCUS Pure Essential Oil

The CAMPO USB-powered travel diffuser is designed for portability and modern lifestyles. With a sleek, compact design, it fits in a car cup holder or hotel room and transforms any space with its 100% natural essential oil blends. It offers over 3 hours of continuous misting, covering up to 100 square feet, and is easy to use featuring an automatic shut-off LED light and USB compatibility. Made from eco-friendly materials, you’ll enjoy this stylish and functional aromatherapy device.

Customer Review | “This diffuser is wonderful. It’s compact, pretty, and has been working away in our hotel room for over 4 hours. Best one ever and we use diffusers all the time.” – Susan E. (Read all reviews.)

8. ECO.

Cruelty free

Recycled materials

Vegan

Woman owned

Features | Heat-free, waterless, timer setting, works via USB cable, 2-hour run time
Price | $69
Pair It With | ECO. Pure Clary Sage Oil

Fragrance lovers, meet the ECO. Nebulizing Diffuser, which disperses oils directly into the air without any heat or water. Crafted in Australia, this diffuser is 100 percent safe to use, recyclable, and energy-friendly, and pairs beautifully with the brand’s quality source-to-bottle essential oils. ECO. also offers a range of ceramic, glass, and ultrasonic diffusers. Grab an ECO. diffuser if you’re interested in subscriptions, sleek design, and sustainability! Ships free to the US, Australia, Canada, UK and more with a minimum purchase of $50.

ECO. Review | “Great to have used many times already and with the 2hr timer it’s safe to put on and know it turns off automatically” – Chantu G. (See all reviews)

9. Pura

Budget friendly

Cruelty free

Gives back

Subscriptions available

Features | Safe & clean, paraben-free fragrances, scents space up to 120 hours, fills medium size rooms
Price | $50
Pair It With | Amalfi Lemon & Mint

The Pura 4 smart fragrance diffuser is a plug-in fragrance that uses smart technology to fragrance your home with nontoxic scents. This smart home fragrance device uses Puralast technology for long-lasting scent diffusion. (Up to 120 hours of fragrance per smart vial!) The diffuser automatically detects fragrance vials and adjusts scent intensity based on room temperature, providing a consistent scenting experience. Through the Pura app you can also control settings like schedules and fragrance intensity – not to mention Pura scents are made from clean and safe ingredients suitable for homes with kids and pets!

Customer Review | “This is by far the best scent plug in I have ever had. The app lets you make a schedule so that your space stays smelling lovely during all the times you are there to enjoy it! Set it and don’t worry about it again, it is amazing. And the scent drifts much farther than you think. I can smell it all the way at the bottom of the stairs! I love love  love this purchase. I was hesitant at first, because this is on the more expensive side for these kinds of things… but I do not regret spending the money at all, not a single (s)cent!!!” – Kyleigh H. (Read all reviews.)

Featured image by Seasons

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The post 9 Nontoxic Essential Oil Diffusers (2026 Review) appeared first on The Good Trade.

“Then the realization hits: I am the only mess, but I am also the only cleaner.”

I’ve lived alone for a couple of years now since my divorce. It’s been a journey of self-discovery, while I shift from having someone who had my back for those last-minute grocery runs or helping with chopping veggies for dinner. I don’t have a particularly large base of friends here in Los Angeles (I’m a quality-over-quantity gal), so I’ve had to learn how to be — and create — my own support system more than ever before.

But amidst all the finances, the errands, and the endless cycles of laundry, I know I need more than just the bare minimum in order to feel my best. I need the basics, yes, and I also crave moments of rest. But how do you take care of yourself when you’re trying to manage it all on your own?

“The truth is, as I’ve come to learn, you don’t do it all. That’s okay.”

The truth is, as I’ve come to learn, you don’t do it all. That’s okay. You couldn’t even if you tried. Instead, caring for yourself is about finding a balance and creating a life that nurtures you, even in solitude.

And you don’t have to live alone to appreciate these tips, even if you’re partnered, parenting, or rooming with others, there are moments of aloneness where one needs to tend to themselves. Here’s how I’m supporting myself these days, and how you can, too.

1. Make everything slightly more enjoyable

One of the keys to thriving while living alone is to find joy in the little things. For me, this means making my meals beautiful. I plate them carefully, even when it’s takeout or a frozen dinner. There’s something special about not eating from a disposable container, but instead treating yourself to a nicely presented meal (sitting at the table instead of on the couch is a good move, too!). It’s a small act of self-respect and care that can make a world of difference.

“One of the keys to thriving while living alone is to find joy in the little things.”

I also try to add sensory indulgences in other ways — like, instead of just taking a shower for the sake of cleanliness, I integrate my favorite soaps and shampoos. They don’t have to be super fancy, just something you enjoy slightly more than the default (honestly, I am hooked on a Dial body wash that I purchase every time it’s on sale). 

Elevating your every day isn’t always possible, especially if budget is a concern, but even small upgrades can make you feel like you’re not just subsisting, but truly living.

2. Give yourself the gift of your own time

When you’re on your own, it’s easy for time to slip away unnoticed. That’s why I make a conscious effort to try new things. It could be as simple as taking a different route during my daily walk, experimenting with a new recipe, or attending an open mic night — even if I’m just there to listen. These small adventures keep life interesting and prevent the days from blending into one indistinguishable blur.

“Small adventures keep life interesting and prevent the days from blending into one indistinguishable blur.”

It’s equally important to identify what isn’t working for you. For me, it was gaming. While living with my partner, I used gaming as an escape from reality.

Once I began living alone, I realized how much this habit was costing me in terms of my own wellness and presence in my own life. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t believe that time spent doing something you enjoy is ever wasted. But when you’re using an activity to ignore yourself and your needs, that’s when it becomes problematic.

3. And remember to mark time’s passage

Living alone can lead to a lack of structure. I often find myself fluttering from one task to the next on autopilot. To combat this, I’ve started keeping a daily tracker of habits I want to work on, which also includes a little space to write down one good thing that happened each day. I do keep a more comprehensive journal, but not quite as regularly as I’d like, so this simple practice helps me remember that time is passing and gives me a sense of progress.

“Write down one good thing that happened each day.”

A work diary can be incredibly helpful too (especially my work from home pals). When you’re alone, you don’t always have those external markers to tell you that you’re progressing, or the validation of someone who sees you day-to-day and recognizes your growth. Tracking your own progress becomes crucial in maintaining a sense of forward momentum.

4. Create some practical strategies to support your self-care

While the emotional aspects of living alone are crucial, there are also practical considerations to keep in mind. Here are some strategies I’ve found helpful:

• Create a routine. Even if you don’t get it perfect every day, try to have a few grounding habits and routines in your week that make life easier for yourself. I like to unload my dishwasher while the coffee is brewing, which is a small act of self-care for future Emily who can’t stand the dishes piling up.
• Plan your meals, but be kind to yourself. Taking back charge of my meals was initially daunting, but it’s become one of the most rewarding aspects of living alone. I am the decider of every item of food in my household! But I can’t always cook everything from scratch and maintain a well-balanced social and work life — so be kind, and allow for occasional frozen meals or takeout.
• Get in touch with your spending. I am notoriously bad at creating budgets, but I do pop in to my accounts occasionally to monitor my progress, and to see where my money is flowing. Am I spending in alignment with my values?
• Have a support network. Social connections are so important when you’re on your own — even if it’s just from a safety perspective. I’ve had friends help me clean my space when I’m feeling low, or make me dinner when I’m tired. I have done, and will do the same for them when the time comes. We’ve all got to support one another. 
• Know when to DIY and when to get help. I am a big fan of DIYing basic home maintenance, but am realizing, again, that I am only one person. If I have wiggle room in my spending, I try to outsource things that might take me a long amount of time, and spend those re-gained hours resting or indulging one of my hobbies.

5. But most importantly, let yourself be you

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my journey of living alone is the importance of giving yourself grace. Some nights, you might stay up until 2 a.m., but treat yourself to a joyous 5-course meal. Other nights, you might microwave cheese between two flour tortillas, call it a quesadilla, and be in bed by 9:30 p.m.. No single day is a reflection of your worth as a person, although each day is a new opportunity to care for yourself.

“No single day is a reflection of your worth as a person, although each day is a new opportunity to care for yourself.”

It’s crucial to remember that self-care isn’t synonymous with self-improvement. You don’t have to push ahead or make progress to deserve basic things like sleep or rest. ✨

There’s a pervasive pressure in society for people to be constantly bettering themselves, and I feel it particularly strongly in this single, childless season of my life. “Oh you must have so much free time,” folks will tell me. I don’t have to take the kids to school, sure, but also I don’t have the same resources as a household with multiple people and incomes. While I do want to better myself in general, I don’t want to force myself forward at the cost of my mental or physical health — I want to rest in the ways that are best for me.

That goes for all of us, honestly: Sometimes, you just need to let yourself be. The pressure to better yourself every single day is unrealistic and can be harmful. We are all allowed to have our bad days, regardless of our living situation or relationship status. And we all deserve better days, even if we face them alone.

Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.

The post How To Take Care Of Yourself When You Live Alone appeared first on The Good Trade.

What I love:

• Straightforward setup: The Plunge Air comes in four manageable boxes (I moved them by myself at 38 weeks pregnant!), inflates in ~15 minutes, and plugs into a standard 110V outlet — no complex installation required.
  Thoughtful design + filtration: Continuous multi-stage filtration keeps the water fresh, even with daily use by multiple people, and the insulated cover keeps dust and debris out.
• Smart app features: The Plunge App lets me adjust temp, monitor cleanliness, and follow guided sessions and breathwork, all from my phone, even while holding a baby.
• Postpartum support tool: Daily cold water exposure has helped me feel more balanced and resilient during recovery from IVF, pregnancy, birth, and hormonal shifts. The Plunge makes it easy to have this daily mental reset at home.

Things to keep in mind: 

• High upfront cost: The Plunge Air starts at $2,990 with additional cost for the Pro Filtration system, but 0% financing helps make it more manageable over time.
• Audible filter hum: The filtration system runs continuously and produces a soft humming sound that’s noticeable (but not a nuisance) through the bedroom wall we share with our garage.

After having our first baby this summer and being cleared by my doctor to submerge in water, I knew I wanted to reintroduce cold plunging into my daily routine. Before we got pregnant and during our years of infertility and IVF, I relied on cold plunging not only to regulate my nervous system but also to remind myself that I could endure challenging experiences. While it has become a popular wellness trend, there is scientific evidence supporting the benefits of cold plunging, and I’ve been particularly interested in how these benefits are shaping my postpartum experience. 💧

“Cold plunging isn’t just a fleeting trend but a practice with tangible benefits, especially during the challenging postpartum period.”

For example, a study published in the “International Journal of Circumpolar Health” suggests that cold water exposure can positively affect health, including reducing fatigue and improving overall well-being. Additionally, cold plunging has the potential to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and boost mood. These findings align with my personal experience, reinforcing the idea that cold plunging isn’t just a fleeting trend but a practice with tangible benefits, especially during the challenging postpartum period. Cold water therapy has been a gentle yet powerful way to reclaim balance between late-night feeds and the inevitable sleep deprivation. There’s something deeply restorative about that cold shock, like hitting a reset button for both body and mind. 

What makes it that much easier is having this tool right at home. In the past, I’ve had to go to a gym or wellness center (or resort to cold showers). But with Plunge Air  —  a lightweight inflatable ice bath  —  I can now take a plunge in the garage while our daughter naps or my husband watches her. It’s been one of the best self-care gifts I could have asked for during this season. Here’s why I think everyone should consider getting one:

About Plunge

It feels fitting that our Plunge lives in the garage — especially since the company began in one. Founded by Michael Garrett and Ryan Duey in Sacramento, California, Plunge launched during the early days of the cold therapy boom and gained national visibility after appearing on Shark Tank. What started as a scrappy, garage-born idea has evolved into one of the most respected names in cold therapy — and it’s easy to see why. The brand is deeply committed to thoughtful design and high-quality performance, with features like ozone sanitation, multi-stage filtration, and precise temperature control that set it apart. Sure, you can DIY an ice bath or order something basic online, but Plunge tubs are built to last and make cold therapy as accessible, clean, and consistent as possible.

“The brand is deeply committed to thoughtful design and high-quality performance, with features like ozone sanitation, multi-stage filtration, and precise temperature control that set it apart.”

In addition to the inflatable “Air” model — our pick for its portability and quick setup — Plunge offers a full suite of recovery tools. Their product line includes the Classic, All-In, and Pro tubs (with both hot and cold settings available) and chillers and accessories designed for home and professional use. Whether you’re looking for a more permanent installation or a flexible, on-the-go option, there’s a model tailored to your needs. The Air, for example, weighs just 28 pounds and inflates in about 15 minutes, with UV-resistant, insulated materials that hold up beautifully indoors and out. It’s proof that performance and portability don’t have to be mutually exclusive — and that cold plunging can meet you wherever you are.

The setup

When our Plunge Air arrived, it came neatly packaged in four manageable boxes on a wooden pallet — something I was surprisingly able to handle on my own with my husband on shift at the firehouse, even at 38 weeks pregnant (okay, I had to drag the heaviest one, but still). 

We decided to set the tub up in the corner of our garage, which is the most practical option in our current rental. While the Plunge Air isn’t overly large, measuring 61 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 28 inches high, it weighs over 900 pounds when filled, so finding a flat, low-traffic area felt key. Our garage isn’t insulated, but we added some gym mats for warmth and comfort underfoot, and the included cover has been great for keeping out dust and debris.

“Since my husband plunges daily for recovery after long shifts, and I’ve been using it regularly since my six-week postpartum check-up, we’ve been especially impressed with the built-in filtration.”

The setup itself was straightforward. I happily passed the baton to my husband, who used the included pump to inflate the tub, installed the filtration system, and hooked up our garden hose. The Air runs on a standard 110-volt outlet, so we were able to plug it directly into one of our garage outlets. That said, Plunge does recommend a dedicated 15-amp circuit for best performance — something we’re looking into with our landlord just to be safe.

Since my husband plunges daily for recovery after long shifts, and I’ve been using it regularly since my six-week postpartum check-up, we’ve been especially impressed with the built-in filtration. It runs continuously, keeping the water clear even with frequent use. While it’s not loud, the hum is noticeable — it gently echoes through the wall into our home, so that’s something to consider when choosing your setup location.

The app

The Plunge App is a surprisingly helpful companion to the physical cold tub, especially if you thrive on structure, motivation, or a little guidance along the way. The app connects to your plunge via Wi-Fi, allowing you to remotely adjust the temperature, monitor water cleanliness, and schedule filtration cycles from your phone. It’s intuitive and easy to navigate, which makes a difference when juggling a busy routine (or, in my case, doing one-handed app controls while holding a baby). Setting the temp without stepping into the garage is a small but very appreciated luxury.

“The Plunge App is a surprisingly helpful companion to the physical cold tub, especially if you thrive on structure, motivation, or a little guidance along the way.”

What sets the app apart, though, is the library of guided plunges, breathing exercises, and educational resources. It includes curated sessions that walk you through what to expect and how to breathe through the discomfort. The app also includes videos and audio guidance from professional athletes, wellness practitioners, and therapists, making the plunge experience feel personalized. It’s even updated regularly with new content, so if you’re using your plunge as part of mental health, recovery, or mindfulness work, the app helps keep the experience fresh and meaningful.

The investment 

It wouldn’t be fair to write this review without addressing how expensive these ice baths are. Like home saunas, they are an investment and something that just isn’t doable for most people (myself included, I wouldn’t have been able to have this at home if it wasn’t for the brand gifting us one to review). Let’s talk about price, because yes, the Plunge Air is an investment. At the time of writing, it starts at $2,990, with two filtration options: The Standard Filtration System (included in the base price) or the upgraded Pro Filtration, which nearly doubles the cost. The Pro setup includes a skimmer net, higher-grade filters, and a more powerful pump — worth considering if you plan on plunging daily or sharing the tub with family. You can also purchase the tub on its own, without a filter or chiller, for $1,190, which could be a good option for those just dipping their toes into cold water therapy or looking for a more portable setup.

“Let’s talk about price, because yes, the Plunge Air is an investment.”

Plunge offers 0% down, 0% APR financing over 24 months through Bread Pay, making the investment feel far more approachable with manageable monthly payments. Each purchase includes a one-year limited warranty that covers manufacturing defects, and you can tack on extended protection at checkout through Clyde if you want extra peace of mind. Their customer support is refreshingly human, quick, friendly, and easy to reach. We got helpful answers without any runaround or automated nonsense when we had a few setup questions.

Still, I get it — this isn’t a casual purchase. But if you’re already paying for cold plunges at a gym or wellness center, the math adds up fast. I used to go to a local recovery space where one 15-minute session cost $40 to $60. I was going weekly. Factor in my husband’s usage, too, and it didn’t take long to justify having one at home.

My final thoughts

Of course, a dedicated cold tub isn’t essential. Ice-cold showers and DIY setups work too. But for me, this has been about more than muscle recovery or riding the wellness trend. After years of infertility, IVF, and navigating postpartum with a history of anxiety and depression, I knew I needed tools in place to support my mental health. Cold plunging offers nervous system regulation, helps soften the edges of hormonal swings, and — maybe most importantly — reminds me daily that I can do hard things. Having that ritual at home is something I deeply value, especially now that I’m showing up for my daughter, my husband, and myself in new ways.

“Cold plunging offers nervous system regulation, helps soften the edges of hormonal swings, and — maybe most importantly — reminds me daily that I can do hard things.”

I’m also not one to splurge lightly. If I spend on something big, it has to earn its keep, and the Plunge Air has. Living in Southern California, we can use it year-round, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. It’s not a passing phase or a seasonal tool; it’s something we reach for often, and I genuinely can’t imagine not having it now. For me, that’s what makes the investment worth it.

Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of phone notes, a Substack newsletter with 7,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.

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