The best guide on spiritual healing


Is It Perfume Or Poison?

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 withscent shampoos, soaps, deodorants, lotions,
WAY too much cologne on and the smellcreams and other beauty products. Here's the
overpowers you. Your sinuses start to hurtlist  -  it  speaks  volumes  on  its  own:
and you get a bit sick to your stomach. The
smell of the cologne stays with you, in yourACETONE, BENZALDEHYDE, BENZYL, BENZYL
hair, clothes and nose for quite a whileALCOHOL, CAMPHOR, ETHANOL, ETHYL ACETATE,
after - hence the sick feeling does too. Yuk.LIMONENE, LINALOOL, METHYLENE CHLORIDE,
It's hard not to think how inconsideratea-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 aboutThere 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 breatheproducts. 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 airneurological, or systemic effects. There is
fresheners and how many brands have beenlittle regulation of fragrance by regulatory
removed from the market due to high levels ofagencies. Not only is too much perfume often
phthalates. Phthalates are estrogenic inoffensive to many, more and more people
nature, which is believed to contribute toconsider it to be an indoor air pollutant.
certain cancers. Phthalates are used toSome are quite vocal about their opposition
dissolve and carry fragrances and softento 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 inof 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 foremployees, are creating fragrance-free
centuries, they were made from plant andpolicies. Given that many people are highly
animal sources. Modern fragrances areaffected by allergies, this makes sense (pun
primarily synthetic materials developed sinceintended,  get  it?  ...  sense...scents...).
World  War  II.
But seriously, given that we are bombarded by
Did you know that 600 or more chemicals maymore and more hazardous chemicals and
be used in a single fragrance, and 95% ofpollution, having less on our bodies, homes
chemicals used in them are derived fromand in our workplaces must be better for ALL
petroleum? Why? Petro-chemicals in perfumesof  us.  Breathe  deeply  and  live  well!
are less expensive and more easily available
than  the  natural  ingredients.Sources:
Many chemicals used in fragrances areNeurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace,
considered hazardous waste disposal(Report by the Committee on Science &
chemicals! Synthetic fragrance compoundsTechnology, U.S. House of Representatives,
accumulate in human tissue and are found inSept.16,  1986.  (Report  99-827).
breast  milk.
"Living Healthy in a Toxic World," David
An EPA study in 1991 listed the 20 mostSteinman 1996.
common chemicals used in "fragrance products"



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