Alright I’ll just tell you up front: Fragrance is a foe. Do not befriend it.
But why? Let’s start from the beginning.
What is fragrance?
If you look at the ingredients of many common household products, including soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents, air fresheners, perfumes, deodorants, etc. you may notice “fragrance” listed. What is this referring to? Rather upsettingly… it’s impossible to know. The term “fragrance” is used as a blanket statement to cover all sorts of chemicals – mainly synthetic compounds. There is no law in the US requiring these specific ingredients to be listed, but one “fragrance” is typically referring to a combination of a few dozen to several hundred chemicals. There are nearly 3000 compounds classified as fragrance ingredients – again, none of which have to be specified on product labels. Basically, product manufacturers can make any magical chemical concoction they want, call it “fragrance” and sell it to the public
Why is fragrance a problem?
To put it bluntly, fragrance is a threat to your health. Many health issues, such as migraine headaches, asthma, respiratory problems, neurological issues, mucosal symptoms, and contact dermatitis have been associated with fragranced products. Some specific chemicals under the “fragrance” umbrella, including phthalates, aldehydes, parabens, and aluminum based salts are known to contribute to health problems such as allergies, breast cancer, reproductive disorders, nervous system damage, thyroid problems, liver issues, digestive tract disorders, depression, autism, and so much more.
Interestingly, some ingredients, such as Triclosan, have been banned by the FDA, yet are still used in “fragrance” combinations, without having to be specified.
Even unborn babies are exposed to these toxic chemicals when the mother is exposed, and they continue to be exposed through breastmilk.
It is a pervasive problem that I do not take lightly!
What to do instead?
I’ve gotten used to going unscented for most things and I now enjoy the underwhelm of a not-so-fragranced home and life. For example, I use Attitude’s unscented laundry detergent; I use coconut oil as a generic moisturizer; I opt out of perfume altogether.
However, there are also many companies selling healthier alternatives to all the fragrance-ridden products on the market. Many of them opt for more natural things like essential oils. For those who really love yummy smells, I’ve shared several great alternatives on other posts. For example, Just Ingredients deodorant, face serum, and other products use essential oils to get their delightful scent. You don’t have to sacrifice your health to smell great!
Just make sure to read the actual ingredients list. As you can see from the soap in the photo above, sometimes the product is misleading! It says it’s made with essential oils, which is true, but fragrance is also listed and that’s where the problem lies.
Perhaps 2025 can be your year to switch out your toxic, fragranced favorites for some healthier, fragrance-free alternatives. Let me know what you find!
Resources:
Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects from emissions – PMC
