Believe it or not…
Unscented is not Fragrance-free

Many of us are keyed in about the dangers of perfume. But have you considered the fragrance in your laundry detergent? Or hand soap? Or all-purpose cleaner? Those fragrances are perfumes too.

Whether we use fragranced products on our skin and hair or whether we use them around the home, the chemicals that make up that fragrance are being absorbed into the body and our livers have to process them.

These days we are all aware of eating clean – processed food is hard to digest and can make us unwell. But have you considered that clothing permeated with chemicals rubbing up against your skin all day long or air filled with lingering chemical scents from an overpowering laundry detergent also have to be processed by your body?

We are creating an environment where the air we breathe is never pure!

Josh Axe talks about scents in a recent video regarding microplastics.

According to Wexner Medical Center:
Common short-term effects of chemical smells:
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Congestions, Runny nose
• Throat irritation, coughing, wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Hear rate or blood pressure changes
• Migraines
So many complain of congestion, blame it on allergies and reach for Sudafed. What if that “allergy” was just a reaction to fragrance being inhaled with every breath?

Possible (Surprising) Long-Term Effects
• Disruption in the endocrine system of your body
• Increase in glucose levels
Wait…did I read that right? Increased glucose levels?? Huh???!
And disruption of the endocrine system? That sounds…disruptive.

What does the endocrine system regulate?
• Thyroid function
• Metabolism
• Mood
• Fertility
• Menstrual cycles
• Testosterone levels
• Stress response
• Development during pregnancy

When synthetic chemicals interfere with the endocrine system, they can:
• Mimic hormones
• Block hormone receptors
• Alter hormone production
• Disrupt detox pathways
If we reduce the number of fragrance-laden products
in our homes that would reduce the need for detoxing.

As I was writing this I was thinking about my first response to a product, for example skin cream. Now skin cream is needed to alleviate dry skin, reduce wrinkles, etc. But upon picking up a tube in the store chances are my first response would be to SMELL it to make sure I like the scent. Who cares about its effectiveness! Where did that get off track?

Unscented, Organic, Natural can be Misleading

Products labeled “natural” or “clean”
can legally contain synthetic fragrance blends without full disclosure.

Using unscented products as often as possible is a great thing to do but unfortunately, we can’t rely on the labels. Words like NATURAL, ORGANIC, and BIODEGRADABLE might not be unscented and often contain the same scent chemicals as products that don’t have those labels.

True Story…A while back I was trying to use up a bottle of (scented) Ecos Organic Detergent that I purchased. I have found a certain chemical used in soaps these days to be highly disagreeable to my nose but dove right in with my ‘organic’ Ecos detergent. I was outside at a historical site sitting at my spinning wheel and could not believe how I was being overwhelmed by the detergent smell of the lady sitting next to me…then she got up and walked away…it wasn’t her! I was smelling MYSELF! I was smelling and being overwhelmed by my own laundry soap! I had to chuckle…and then found someone to gift the rest of the bottle to.

DID YOU KNOW??
A single fragrance blend can contain 50–200+ individual chemicals.

Toxins Commonly Found in Home “Fragrance”

1. Phthalates = Hormone Hijacker
• makes scents last longer
• linked to hormone disruption
2. Petrochemicals = Petroleum
• tied to respiratory irritation/allergic reactions
3. Parabens = Preservatives
• extends shelf life
• avoid “-paraben” (methylparaben or butylparaben).

Everyday Products that contain “Fragrance”
1. Garbage bags
2. Toilet paper
3. Dryer sheets/detergent
4. Dish soap
5. Feminine hygiene products
6. Baby wipes/diapers
7. Candles
8. OTC Medicines/Vitamins
9. HVAC fragrance systems

OK – someone please explain #8…medicine??

‘Compounding’ is an issue. Users become nose-blind and within a short time cannot even smell the product anymore, leading to more intense application.

Have you ever walked down the street and breathed in a huge breath of perfume…but no one was even there?

Fragrance smells linger – even in the outside air – long after the wearer is gone. And when they are sprayed in your home they land on food, pets, in your eyes…on everything. I have heard fragrances referred to as the new second-hand smoke.

Even the reclaimed water we use to irrigate our yard
has begun to smell like laundry detergent.
(That can’t be good for the grass.)

What Can You Do?

· Reduce your total toxic load one product at a time.
· Create space detoxify.
· Visit the Environmental Working Group
· Read labels before you purchase a product.
· Choose fragrance-free not “unscented” (they aren’t the same)
· Use essential oils sparingly.

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I APPRECIATE YOU!