Fragranced Products: The Startling Truth About What’s in Them
Did you know that 98.3% of Americans are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week?
These exposures come from personal use of air fresheners, personal care items, cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and other household products.
When factoring in exposure from other people, this number jumps to a staggering 99.1%.
What’s in Fragranced Products?
The term “fragrance” on a product label might sound harmless, but most often it’s a cocktail of several dozen to several hundred chemicals.
Amazingly, companies aren’t required to disclose all the chemicals used to create these fragrances, leaving us, as consumers in the dark about what we’re really being exposed to.
Even products marketed as “green,” “natural,” or “organic” often emit hazardous air pollutants like formaldehyde.
Fragrance chemicals are used to give products their signature scents or to mask unpleasant odors. Even in those products labeled as “unscented.” The implications for indoor air quality, human health, and even workplace productivity are significant.
Over a third of Americans report adverse health effects from exposure to fragranced products. These range from respiratory issues to migraine headaches. Half of those individuals find these effects disabling.
Health Concerns and Fragranced Products
Fragrance exposure is increasingly linked to health conditions like asthma, allergies, and migraines.
Some fragrance compounds accumulate in body fat, are present in breast milk, or act as hormone disruptors.
The full systemic effects remain unclear due to limited research, but what we do know is alarming.
A Natural Alternative: Essential Oils
For those of us who prefer to avoid synthetic fragrances, essential oils offer a natural alternative.
Derived from plants, essential oils provide subtle and pleasing scents without the overwhelming potency of synthetic fragrances. Lavender, citrus, and other floral oils are among my favorites for skincare products.
And, making your own products using essential oils allows you to control the fragrance. You can choose to add a scent or not.
However, it’s important to understand the downsides of essential oils too.
It often takes hundreds of pounds of plant material to produce a single ounce of oil. And some companies even use chemical solvents to extract oils, introducing unnatural components into what should be a natural product.
This is why it’s crucial to source your oils from reputable suppliers.
Be wary of oils that are suspiciously cheap. They are likely diluted or chemically altered.
Tips for Using Essential Oils Safely
- Allergies: If you’re allergic to a plant, you’ll likely be allergic to its essential oil. Always perform a patch test with a carrier oil before using.
- Potency: Essential oils are highly concentrated. Most recipes require just 2 to 5 drops, and it’s best to start small.
- Carrier Oils: Some essential oils can irritate or burn the skin if used undiluted. Always mix with a carrier oil unless you’re certain it’s safe to use neat.
- Research: Many essential oil companies provide dilution guidelines. Follow these to ensure safe usage.
My Personal Journey
It took me years to figure out I was allergic to fragranced, and sometimes unscented, store-bought products. Since, I’ve shifted away from store-bought personal care products.
I make my own moisturizers, facial cleansers and many of my own household cleaners.
While my husband still uses fragranced laundry detergent and some cleaners, we’ve found a balance that works for us.
Reading labels has become second nature, and I’ve learned to appreciate the subtlety of essential oils over the overwhelming scent of synthetic fragrances.
Final Thoughts
Fragranced products are everywhere, but we have the power to make informed choices. By understanding what’s in these products and exploring natural alternatives, we can protect our health and create a more pleasant environment.
Whether you choose to go completely fragrance-free or opt for essential oils, the key is being intentional and informed.
If you’d like to learn more about being intentional and learn to create your own personal care products, check out my Beginners Infused Oil Course here. You can learn to make cleansers and moisturizers specifically for your skin type. And your infused oils can create all kinds of lotions and salves for you and your family.
And don’t forget the Teas, Infusions & Decoctions course. With these you can create everything from personalized fascials to eye solutions and more, all completely natural.
