The Hazards of Synthetic Fragrances

If you’re anything like us, you enjoy opening your front door to a clean-smelling home. There is nothing quite like lavender in the spring or pumpkin and cinnamon in the fall. Big name brands on the market offer multi-packs of their sprays and scents that they claim are committed to freshening up your home. Other than preference, why choose one brand of fragrance over the other? Is one better or worse?

Natural Versus Synthetic Fragrances

Sure, they’ll change the way your home smells, but it will be at your expense. We aren’t just talking about your monetary expense either! There are two derivatives of scents and those are natural and synthetic. Natural fragrances are scents created from nature, including the trees, plants, and extracted from animals. Synthetic fragrances are developed in laboratories. There are three types of man-made, synthetic fragrances.

• Full synthetics: Nearly the entire fragrance is derived from petroleum by-products
• Semi-synthetics: As the name suggests, the fragrance is only semi-synthetic; it can be created from some synthetic, natural, or artificially modified notes. Sometimes, it’s derived from all three
• Natural isolates: A fragrance developed from synthetic and natural byproducts

The Dangers of Synthetic Fragrances

According to the Children’s Environmental Health Network, many synthetic chemicals in fragrances are petroleum-based and can be harmful to human health. Chemicals found in fragrances include phthalates (which are endocrine disruptors), carcinogens, benzophenone and styrene. Another danger of synthetic fragrances is the inhalation of volatile organic compounds. The United States Environmental Protection Agency describes VOCs as being components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. They also note that VOCs are common ground-water contaminants. Can you imagine breathing those in?

Scented with Essential Oils

If you’re not sensitive to scented items, and you’re craving a lavender deodorant, or an orange hand soap, you need a brand that uses natural scents made from essential oils. Why are essential oils the better answer to refreshing the parts of your home that can’t easily be washed like curtains, rugs, and work boots? Essential oils extract the “essence” from plants. These oils are used in aromatherapy, inhaled like a fragrance, or as an added bonus, applied directly to the skin.

Cleaner Product Choices

Don’t worry, if you’re cutting out scents all together, you can still use our products! We have a number of everyday essentials that are scent-free. We offer restorative lotions, laundry detergents, hand-soaps, and more. When you grab an ordinary bottle off the shelf and the ingredients list includes “fragrance” or “parfum,” run the other way. Most everyday brands use the word “fragrance” or “parfum” as an umbrella term for toxic ingredients.??

Alternatively, you can just switch to our brand- we value transparency. Our products made with fragrance or perfumes are not catch all terms that secretly stand for thousands of harmful chemicals. Every single product abides by the strictest of standards. Make better choices and live better lives! We can help you today, just send us a message asking for shopping links or a guided store tour.