The idea of creating an oasis is to give you one room which is as clean of chemicals as you can manage, where you can go to clear out of chemicals whenever possible; a room which can be a resource for you if ever you have high exposures to chemicals that you cannot avoid. It is not a refuge; it is a source of strength and renewed energy.
If you use an oasis as a means of testing whether you are chemically sensitive, set up the oasis and use only a minimum of common chemicals when you have to – outside the oasis if possible as well as inside. Wait for a week, and then reintroduce any chemicals you want to test, either using them outside the oasis, or bringing them in if you need to.
Having an oasis is also a way of handling tension within a household when other members want, or are obliged, to do things that upset the chemically sensitive member. If there is a rule that one room is a no-go area for certain activities, but that they are permitted elsewhere or outside the home, it helps defuse squabbles and emotional competition, especially between children.
The bedroom is usually the best place for an oasis, partly because most people spend so much of their lives there, and partly because it is usually recognised as a place for privacy and individual expression. If you share the room with a partner, or if a chemically sensitive child shares with a sibling, there may have to be a compromise on how far you go. If you have enough space in your home, you can also create an oasis living-room or playroom, in addition to the bedroom, but for most people, this is not feasible.
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