Proper hygiene is essential for maintaining both our physical and mental well-being. To operate as our happiest and healthiest selves, we must curate routines to meet our needs. There is a possibility, however, that some of the personal care products we’re using could have the opposite effect and may actually be putting our health at risk. In this case, we’re talking about fragranced products.
The term “fragranced product” represents a broad scope of items. It refers to anything with an artificial scent: deodorizers, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products, personal care items (i.e., soaps, lotions, perfumes), household products (i.e., scented candles, baby products, trash bags). You might recall the Febreze commercials during which the participants are blindfolded and presented with no idea in front of mounds of trash. When their blindfolds are removed, they are astounded to find the trash odor has been fully masked by Febreze spray! The truth is that a “miracle” odor removal spray does not exist. It is only the work of toxic chemicals covering the smell of the trash. And like that Febreze spray, fragranced products make us and the things in our home smell unforgettable, but there will always be a dark truth behind their ingredients.
Fragranced products are linked to a range of unfavorable health effects, including but not limited to migraine headaches, respiratory issues, asthma attacks, and contact dermatitis. More seriously, many of the chemicals used in these products are known carcinogens or substances that can cause cancer. The International Fragrance Association lists a reported 3,059 materials used in fragrance compounds. Under the ingredients list, hundreds of chemicals can hide under the one word “fragrance.” Despite numerous laws protecting human health and the environment, no law requires full disclosure of the ingredients used in any fragranced products. Because of that, we never have a complete idea of the chemicals used to make some of our favorite products, and we may never get total clarity on it. A study conducted by Anne Steinemann for the National Library of Medicine concluded that emissions from fragranced products affect not only indoor air quality but also outdoor air quality. The study reveals that over one-third of Americans suffer from the health effects mentioned above from exposure to fragranced products, such as migraine headaches. Half of the individuals even described the symptoms as “disabling.” Despite that, 99% of Americans are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week. Compelling evidence has found that everyday fragranced products can seriously harm human health and environmental quality.
Given the almost non-existent FDA rules and regulations, it can be tough to completely cut out the use of toxic products in your everyday life. There are a few suggestions to help you in lessening your use. The first thing to remember is that companies can brand themselves any way they’d like to, and at the end of the day, they are not required to show credible proof of these claims. There are five buzzwords that all consumers should look out for, as they are not necessarily advertising the truth:
Organic: For a product to be part of the National Organic Program, 70% of its ingredients must be organic. That means a whopping 30% of its components can be anything. The USDA does not have control over personal care or household cleaning products, so when you see the word organic, do not assume there is anything safer about the product.
Clean: This word is meant to appeal to our senses and does not provide truth regarding the product’s safety. Investigate the ingredients list; if there is anything like parabens or phthalates, it is toxic. Many companies will use this to appeal to those seeking a non-toxic product…
Natural: The FDA has not set criteria for products advertised as natural; therefore, they can still contain toxins like parabens or phthalates. This is a meaningless label.
Hypoallergenic: This is defined by the FDA as “whatever a particular company wants it to mean.” No Federal standards or definitions govern the term “hypoallergenic—another meaningless label.
Phosphate-free: Phosphates were used in laundry and dishwashing detergents to suspend food or grease. They are now banned for use as their presence in wastewater causes harmful algae known to bloom in our oceans and rivers. Manufacturers are not allowed to use this ingredient even if they want to, so a package advertising itself as phosphate-free has made no sacrifice, and their packaging claims are likely meaningless.
Overall, the best advice is to ignore these buzzwords meant to persuade the audience and to skip directly to the ingredients list.
– Parabens
– Phthalates
– Acetaldehyde
– Benzophenone
= Synthetic Musks (Tonalide, Galaxolide, Musk Ketone, Musk Xylene)
The list is quite extensive… Especially if you pose any risk for severe respiratory issues, allergies, or even cancer, you must rethink your products. Knowing what to look for on a label could just save your life!
Abigail Darling
