Dangers of Synthetic Scents

This morning I came across this article by Dr. Axe and I am still in shock.

Once we found out our daughter is allergic to Perfume we knew it would be a tough job to look for any products that did not contain any of these fragrance scents in them. However, I never knew there were so many different synthetic scents and most of all the dangers of them.

I hereby share with you a couple of highlights from the article. To read the full article click here.

Toxic ingredients continue to turn up in products we use and breathe in on a daily basis. Some of the worst toxic ingredients used in lotions, shampoos, laundry detergents, cleaning products and so much more include synthetic scents, often listed as on labels as the elusive “fragrance.”

Avoiding the dangers of synthetic scents is crucial. When a company puts “fragrance” on the label, don’t be tricked. This is a term that stands for thousands of different ingredients (literally, at least 3,000). And when you use a product containing “fragrance” or “parfum,” all of those mysterious ingredients are absorbed right into your bloodstream. These ingredients are predominantly made from chemicals and are just outright toxic for your health in so many ways.

What Are Synthetic Scents?

Dr. Axe explains that Synthetic scents or “fragrance” represent an unidentified mixture of ingredients including carcinogens, allergens, respiratory irritants, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxic chemicals and environmental toxicants. These artificial scents can can be found in all kinds of body care and cosmetic products, as well as air fresheners, cleaning materials and laundry detergents. According to the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics, hair products are especially problematic. More than 95 percent of shampoos, conditioners and styling products contain fragrance as an ingredient.

Serious Dangers of Synthetic Scents

• Cancer

• Child Autism & Other Birth Defects

• Allergic & Toxic Bodily Reactions

• Asthma & Other Breathing Difficulties

Better Alternatives to Dangerous Synthetic Scents

There are also many better options and ways to avoid the dangers of synthetic scents including:

• Just live with fewer fragrances in your life. One easy solution to freshen your air? Put a bowl of white vinegar your counter top or windowsill to aid in natural odor control. Be sure to focus on cleaning up the source of odor, though, too — not just covering up the foul smell.

• Completely avoiding any product that lists fragrance, parfum, phthalate, DEP, DBP, or DEHP as an ingredient.

• Look for products that use essential oils when you are looking for a scent.

• Buying certified organic products, which are less likely to include artificial scents (but still read labels). Watch out for “limonene” or “linalool” on labels, too. When they are listed in this form on the label, they are likely synthetic, man-made versions, not the natural compounds part of a more complex organic essential oil.

• To provide a fresh, natural scent to your home or office, use fresh cut herbs and flowers and potted plants. Studies have even shown that the best houseplants that remove pollution  help strip indoor air of some toxic compounds.

• Make homemade cleaning products since they are another huge source of synthetic scents.

• Buy laundry detergent that is scented with pure essential oils or that is fragrance-free. You can also make your own homemade laundry soap.

• If you are super sensitive or just don’t want to deal with smelling anything at all then choose fragrance-free or unscented products. Just make sure to still read labels carefully because sometimes companies will use other questionable ingredients to create that lack of a scent.

• If you want to burn an occasional candle, use beeswax with a lead-free wick. But understand that any type of combustion will cause some level of particulate pollution in the home. (But at least you won’t get the toxic fragrance or petroleum chemicals.)

• Question companies that don’t fully explain how their products are scented. Maybe you’ll get some additional information or at best, get them to think again before not fully informing their customers.

• Share the stats in this article with your employer and favorite businesses. Let them know about the economic harms of allowing fragrances in public and work spaces.

One of the best ways to protect your overall health is to choose products that are truly free of fragrance or ones that fully disclose a natural fragrance ingredients. So toss those synthetic scents in the trash immediately and go smell a flower and remember how the best scents are truly all around us in nature, and bottled in essential oils too.

Contact me if you want more information on essential oils and how these can help you in your daily (cleaning and healthy lifestyle) activities.

Source: draxe.com