Thursday – Fragrance
Fragrance
Artificial Fragrance is one ingredient that we dislike with a passion and it’s literally everywhere.
When we talk about fragrance some people just assume the perfume industry, but you will find fragrance in so many products from skincare, makeup, cleaning products, laundry products and more. If it has a smell, it’s most probably artificial fragrance.
We have all been conditioned to believe that being able to ‘smell’ the fragrance after washing clothes, cleaning benches/floors etc. means that things are actually ‘clean’. This so-called ‘clean’ is doing more harm to our bodies than good!
HOW IS IT MADE?
Artificial Fragrance can be a combination of hundreds of chemicals that make up that one-word ‘fragrance’ or it may also be called ‘perfume/parfum’.
The shocking part is that legally, companies don’t have to list what the ingredients are that make up the ‘fragrance’ as i’s always copyright or ‘trade secret’ so you’ll never ever know.
The average ‘fragrance’ is made up of 50 – 300 distinct chemicals.
Often fragrances contain phthalates which helps the sents last longer, however, phthalates come with a whole range of side effects such as liver, kidney and lung damage. Reports are also suggesting damage to reproductive systems and a reduce in sperm count.
WHY IS IT SO BAD?
Synthetic fragrance has been labeled the new ‘secondhand smoke’, it is that bad.
Artificial fragrance can be linked to:
- headaches (we both experience this ourselves)
- nauseousness (we both also experience this)
- skin irritations
- respiratory issues
- sneezing, coughing and runny nose
- muscle aches
- watery, red, itchy eyes
- hormone disruption
- cancer
- birth defects
In 2008 the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners released a report exposing toxic fragrance chemicals in beauty, personal care and cleaning products. Their report might astound you! Their number one ranking product as the ‘most hazardous’ was found to be a children’s shampoo.
Second was JLo’s perfume, next was a cleaning product and fourth was a body lotion.
The report is too long to put into this challenge, but if you’d like to have a read, you’ll find it linked here.
WHERE IS IT FOUND?
Basically anywhere you’ll find a man-made smell, you’ll most likely find artificial fragrance:
- Air Fresheners and Deodorisers e.g. sprays, plugins, reed diffusers etc.
- Personal Care Products e.g. soaps, hand sanitiser, lotions, deodorant, sunscreen, shampoo and conditioners
- Cleaning Supplies e.g. All-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, dishwashing liquids, powders etc
- Laundry Products e.g. detergents, fabric softeners and soaps
- Body Products e.g. perfume, cologne, aftershave
- Household Products e.g. scented candles, bin bags and wet wipes
YOUR CHALLENGE TODAY
- Go to your bathroom/laundry/kitchen and pull out all products you have found that contain the word fragrance or parfum listed in the ingredients.
- Share in our Facebook Group either a photo or list what you have found.
- Decide which ones you can make a switch on pretty quickly without too much effort.
As we said, it’s impossible to remove ALL artificial fragrance from your life, like washing your hands in a public toilet or walking through the perfume section of Myer to get to the next level. But there are so many things you can control, and it isn’t that hard!
Start with your home and car. Our favourite thing to do is use pure essential oils and DIY, we’ve given you some recipes below. But if that’s not your thing, then buy better brands.
Brands we trust are:
→ Black Chicken (face & body care)
→ EcoTan (fake tan & body care)
→ Sanctum (face care)
→ Resparkle (cleaning products)
→ Adorn (cosmetics)
WATCH AND LISTEN
If you have access to Netflix we highly recommend you watch STINK! We Podcasted with Jon Whelan, the Director. Have a listen here (or listen in iTunes or on the App Stitcher. Search ‘Additive-Free Lifestyle’.)
