Happy Hormones Day 3: Fragrance
Just because it smells good is it actually good for you? So many purchasing decisions that consumers make are based on how a product smells. This is true for candles, lotions, perfumes, soap, cleaning products, feminine products, and so much more. This makes sense because we rely so heavily on our sense of smell that we actually associate smells with ideas. For example, many of us when we walk in a house that has been freshly mopped with pine sol would recognize the scent and associate it with cleanliness of the house usually without deliberate cognitive thought. Through all of these purchasing decisions driven by smell inevitably what ends up happening is that everyday we are constantly exposed to layers upon layers of fragranced products. However, few people think to ask what exactly is covered under the umbrella term ‘fragrance’.
Sadly, there is very little regulation on what is hidden under the term fragrance and usually this is where endocrine disruptors can slip into products without the consumer being aware. According to the FDA fragrance ingredients in cosmetics must meet the same requirement for safety as other cosmetic ingredients (remember from yesterday only 11 are banned). The law does not require FDA approval before they go on the market. In addition, according to the FDA any ingredient that contributes to the smell of the product does not have to be disclosed and can just be labeled as fragrance. This is supposedly to protect trade secret formulations on how scents are made, but it means that it is the responsibility of each company to take an ethical approach to formulating fragrances. One of the most commonly found ingredients in fragrance when tested is diethyl phthalate which falls into a known category of endocrine disruptors.
In addition, the NIH published a study in 2022 that links ingredients such as phthalates, aldehydes, parabens and aluminum-based salts to harmful side effects such as allergies, breast cancer, reproductive disorders, especially in males, skin allergies, nervous system damage and migraine headaches for consumers. This study continues to discuss potential harm of long term cologne and perfumes where they have observed increased rates of skin dermatitis, asthma, decreased fertility, breast cancer, thyroid disorder, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and liver cancer. In addition, there is an observable link between high concentrations of paraben exposure and malignant ovarian and breast tumors. These parabens are typically found in deodorant, perfume, cologne, and candles. It is also worth noting that studies have shown that pregnant women who wear or are exposed to these parabens have been studied and they have found these parabens in breast milk that is passed to the child.
While all of this can be scary and once again…overwhelming it doesn’t mean that the desire to have things smell nice is wrong. It is about sourcing and choosing companies that provide disclosure and transparency so that you can make informed decisions. Most of this means switching to products that derive their scent from essential oils and naturally occurring oils. For example, burning candles with wood wicks that are scented with essential oils instead of bath and body works candles. In addition, instead of using dryer sheets that contain a lot of fragrance opt for wood dryer balls scented with essential oils.
The good news in this is that this exposure can be limited and with this reduces the harmful health issues associated. It also increases awareness of things that are contributing to so many chronic illnesses and hormonal imbalances. It is not simply a single fold issue, but rather the accumulation of all of these daily choices over time.
Recommended Swaps:
Birchwood farms candle https://www.temarketsc.com/shop-qRp21/p/5agu31ezss089fafidqxaq5oj0k0lb
Every Man Jack Men’s Aluminum Free Deodorant https://amzn.to/4h0k4Or
Dime Perfume Sample Set (one of the cleanest I have found and it smells great) https://amzn.to/3BE1w6w
GuruNanda Essential Oil https://amzn.to/47ZHcbM
Womens Goat Milk Soap https://www.temarketsc.com/shop-qRp21/p/goat-milk-soap
Research Links:
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/fragrances-cosmetics