FRAGRANCE: IT'S A DIRTY WORD

Article by Heather Jadus
Photo Credit: Hailley Howard
Featuring: Siobhan Barrett
Magazine: Issue #39

Scent is one of the strongest senses we have as humans (and animals too). Can you remember the smell of a new box of crayons? A new book? Grandmas sauce simmering on the stove?

A certain smell can stimulate a memory, make you feel comfortable or uncomfortable, and even make your stomach rumble.

When I cook bacon my stomach speaks up! Ha Ha Ha!
And then there’s “STINK”. None of us want to stink so we use products to help us smell good. Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, body wash, deodorant, etc. Hygiene is important, of course, but what we are cleaning ourselves with is most likely a mix of toxic synthetic chemicals. Eeeeeew!

Before I continue let’s take one quick step back. Most of these products are applied to our skin. Our skin is our largest organ and it absorbs what we are putting on it. Here’s the kicker, clean eaters! When you eat or drink something toxic, it goes through a detoxification through the liver. When applied to the skin, however, there is no liver detoxification; the chemicals go straight to your blood stream. Some absorb quicker than others, but there they are...

Do me a favor, go grab your five favorite cleansing, beauty, or makeup products and look at their ingredient list... Ready?
Is the word Fragrance or Parfum on the ingredient list of any of your products? If so, THROW THEM OUT!
Here’s why:
The word FRAGRANCE or PARFUM is considered “trade secret” so it can contain as many ingredients as needed to create that SCENT and they don’t have to tell you what they are. Those ingredients can be parabens, phthalates and any of the other ingredients you are trying to avoid. They are hidden within that word. And it’s legally ok to do that. Crazy, right?
This does not mean that you have to go unscented. It just means that you have to choose products that actually list the ingredients that make up that scent. Simple, simple shit my friends.