| Here's the scenario: you are on an elevator. | | | | which are used not only in perfumes but to |
| The elevator stops and in walks someone with | | | | scent shampoos, soaps, deodorants, lotions, |
| WAY too much cologne on and the smell | | | | creams and other beauty products. Here's the |
| overpowers you. Your sinuses start to hurt | | | | list - it speaks volumes on its own: |
| and you get a bit sick to your stomach. The | | | | |
| smell of the cologne stays with you, in your | | | | ACETONE, BENZALDEHYDE, BENZYL, BENZYL |
| hair, clothes and nose for quite a while | | | | ALCOHOL, CAMPHOR, ETHANOL, ETHYL ACETATE, |
| after - hence the sick feeling does too. Yuk. | | | | LIMONENE, LINALOOL, METHYLENE CHLORIDE, |
| It's hard not to think how inconsiderate | | | | a-PINENE, g-TERPINENE, a-TERPINEOL, |
| this person is. | | | | 1,8-CINEOLE, b-CITRONELLOL, b-MYRCENE, NEROL, |
| | | | OCIMENE, b-PHENETHYL ALCOHOL, a-TERPINOLENE |
| It's not just the smell that is | | | | |
| inconsiderate. Have you ever thought about | | | | There are relatively few studies available |
| the chemicals that are used in fragrances? | | | | concerning the use and exposure to fragranced |
| Many of them are not good for you to breathe | | | | products. Testing by the cosmetics/fragrance |
| or to put on your body! | | | | industry focuses on skin effects without |
| | | | taking into account respiratory, |
| This week Time Magazine did an article on air | | | | neurological, or systemic effects. There is |
| fresheners and how many brands have been | | | | little regulation of fragrance by regulatory |
| removed from the market due to high levels of | | | | agencies. Not only is too much perfume often |
| phthalates. Phthalates are estrogenic in | | | | offensive to many, more and more people |
| nature, which is believed to contribute to | | | | consider it to be an indoor air pollutant. |
| certain cancers. Phthalates are used to | | | | Some are quite vocal about their opposition |
| dissolve and carry fragrances and soften | | | | to the use of perfumes. For years, I thought |
| plastics, sealants and similar compounds. | | | | I was the only one who got headaches from |
| They are commonly found in cosmetics, paint, | | | | strong perfume! |
| nail polish and plastics. | | | | |
| | | | There is a movement afoot to curtail the use |
| This peaked my interest on fragrances in | | | | of fragrances in the work place. Many |
| general - so, as usual, I did some research. | | | | businesses, at the request of their |
| Although fragrances have been used for | | | | employees, are creating fragrance-free |
| centuries, they were made from plant and | | | | policies. Given that many people are highly |
| animal sources. Modern fragrances are | | | | affected by allergies, this makes sense (pun |
| primarily synthetic materials developed since | | | | intended, get it? ... sense...scents...). |
| World War II. | | | | |
| | | | But seriously, given that we are bombarded by |
| Did you know that 600 or more chemicals may | | | | more and more hazardous chemicals and |
| be used in a single fragrance, and 95% of | | | | pollution, having less on our bodies, homes |
| chemicals used in them are derived from | | | | and in our workplaces must be better for ALL |
| petroleum? Why? Petro-chemicals in perfumes | | | | of us. Breathe deeply and live well! |
| are less expensive and more easily available | | | | |
| than the natural ingredients. | | | | Sources: |
| | | | |
| Many chemicals used in fragrances are | | | | Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, |
| considered hazardous waste disposal | | | | (Report by the Committee on Science & |
| chemicals! Synthetic fragrance compounds | | | | Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, |
| accumulate in human tissue and are found in | | | | Sept.16, 1986. (Report 99-827). |
| breast milk. | | | | |
| | | | "Living Healthy in a Toxic World," David |
| An EPA study in 1991 listed the 20 most | | | | Steinman 1996. |
| common chemicals used in "fragrance products" | | | | |