Artificial Fragrances Are Poison: 99 Reasons To Stop Wearing Perfume

By: Jill Ettinger | Organic Authority -

We have a body odor problem in this country. But it’s not what you probably think. Yes, some of us stink pretty badly (thanks, Standard American Diet), but that’s not the problem. The issue is our relentless pursuit to cover up our body odor with artificial fragrances and perfumes.

Somewhere down the line we decided that detergents and chemicals smell more pleasant than our armpits. We traded in natural botanicals for hazardous materials. We let celebrities sell us perfumes because we think that’s what they must smell like all the time, and if we use their perfume, we’ll smell like a celebrity too.

While we’re now protected in most every public place from cigarette smoke’s hazardous effects, we have no protection against toxic fragrances. If you asked a flight attendant to reseat you because the person seated next to you reeked like Hannah Montana perfume, they’d smile apologetically. Yet fragrances pose serious health risks on par with cigarette smoke.

Think your Axe Body Spray is doing us all a favor? Think again. Here are 99 reasons to stop wearing artificial fragrances and perfumes.

1. A single perfumed product can contain thousands of fragrances.
2. And none of them have to come from a natural botanical source.
3. So can: laundry detergent
4. Antiperspirant
5. Deodorant
6. Shampoo
7. Conditioner
8. Lotion
9. Soap
10. Candles
11. Skin care products
12. Cleaning products
13. Makeup
14. And feminine hygiene products
15. A self-regulated industry, manufacturers do not need to disclose these ingredients (they’re “trade secrets”).
16. Fragrances contain phthalates.
17. Phthalates have been linked to reproductive issues
18. Early puberty in girls
19. Organ damage
20. Birth defects
21. Immune response issues
22. Endocrine disruption.
23. Fragrances can cause headaches
24. Mood swings
25. Depression
26. Anxiety
27. Hyperactivity
28. Brain fog
29. Allergies
30. Sore throat
31. Watery eyes
32. Eczema
33. Rashes
34. Coughing
35. Asthma
36. Erratic blood pressure
37. Nausea
38. Vomiting
39. Abdominal pain
40. And cancer.
41. According to Dr. Mercola, synthetic musk, which is widely used in fragrances, can contain several harmful chemicals including:
42. Xylene
43. Ketone
44. HHCB
45. HHCB-lactone (the oxidation product of HHCB)
46. AHTN
47. Tonalide
48. And galaxolide.
49. Fragrances contain benzene.
50. The American Cancer Society considers it a cancer risk.
51. According to safe cosmetics, “one in every 50 people may suffer immune system damage from fragrance.”
52. And “once sensitized to an ingredient, a person can remain so for a lifetime, enduring allergic reactions with every subsequent exposure.”
53. Many fragrance ingredients are considered neurotoxins (damaging to the brain).
54. Where there’s artificial fragrance, there are also parabens.
55. Parabens can interfere with hormonal functions.
56. They’re linked to cancer.
57. And they may actually make your skin look older, faster.
58. Dioxane is a common ingredient in detergents.
59. Tests done on the popular Tide brand of detergent, showed that it contained 55 parts per million of dioxane.
60. Levels as low as 5 to 10 parts per million have been shown to pose health risks.
61. Dioxane even appears in some products labeled as “organic” or “natural.”
62. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), short for sodium lauryl ether sulfate, are common in fragranced products.
63. More than 16,000 studies show that SLS in any form causes eye and skin irritation.
64. And organ toxicity
65. And neurotoxicity
66. And developmental toxicity
67. And reproductive issues
68. And endocrine disruption
69. And mutations
70. …And cancer.
71. NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate) found in fragranced products has been linked to kidney damage.
72. And liver damage
73. And growth issues
74. And metabolic issues
75. And underdeveloped testicles
76. And low sperm count.
77. Fragrance-containing products are often tested on rabbits.
78. And mice
79. And rats
80. And monkeys
81. And cats.
82. Our love for fragrances has an impact on the environment as well.
83. Synthetic musk is accumulating in wild animals in toxic levels.
84. Water filtration systems can’t remove some of the more toxic fragrance ingredients from our water supply.
85. Some fragrances come from animals, taken in harmful ways.
86. Amebergris comes from sperm whales.
87. African Stone or Hyraceum comes from the hyrax (a very small, cute cousin to the elephant).
88. Deer musk and civet cats are also exploited for their fragrance.
89. Castoreum comes from the anal gland of a beaver.
90. Fragrances don’t actually relieve your body odor problems anyway.
91. They just mask it.
92. Temporarily.
93. Sometimes they just co-mingle with your body odor, making for very strange smells.
94. Fragranced products cost you more money,
95. While putting your health at risk.
96. Fragranced products are often used to attract people, but the toxins can have the opposite effect…
97. Repelling love interests.
98. Making them feel sick. Literally.
99. Even if they truly want to feel otherwise.

 Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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