Perfume … Parfum … Eau de toilet … the right scent can calm frazzled nerves, inflame passion or make you feel fresh and flirty … but what is a charm for some can be a poison for others.
 

Why do you care?

• Perfume literally means "through smoke" as the first perfumes were burned incense. Later perfumes were made by combining the essence of flowers and plant resins to create a harmonious blend of aromas … naturally!1
• When aroma chemicals were introduced over a 100 years ago, it changed the way perfumes were made. Synthetic materials were cheaper and available year round to develop thousands of different scents, with little consideration for the health impacts.2
  
• Today a single perfume may have 10 to 200 ingredients made from synthetic and petroleum-based, ingredients; including toxic chemicals like ethanol, acetone, formaldehyde, limonene, benzene derivatives, methylene chloride and phthalates. See Ingredients to Avoid for descriptions.
• Not Too Pretty, a report by Environmental Working Group that focuses on phthalates in beauty products, discovered that women have much higher levels of phthalates in their bodies due to use of beauty products, including perfumes. Female and male reproductive systems are impacted by this chemical.
• Musk, an essential ingredient used to make perfume scents last longer, have turned up in water, sewage sludge, and aquatic species. The pollutants eventually make their way into the human food chain.3
• Perfumes are amongst the most frequent allergens - see the other negative effects on our bodies and the environment.4
• 84% of the ingredients contained in synthetic fragrances have never been tested for safety.5
• Minimal government regulations do not require the chemical profiles of perfumes and others scents to be disclosed. It's called a trade secret and they are closely guarded.
  

The Know How

• Consider trying a natural perfume or scented water - the selection is growing out there in consumer land - find them at health food stores, specialty shops or on-line sites.
• Look for fragrances created using naturated alcohol, carrier oils such as jojoba or almond and essential oils distilled from flowers, fruit, leaves, needles, roots, wood spices and other plants.
• Try natural scents on your skin and sniff periodically as they develop and change according to your individual body chemistry.
• GO EASY on perfume, cologne and other strongly scented products; many are sensitive to scents and develop headaches, sinus problems, and can even trigger asthma from exposure.
  
  

Know and Tell

• Tamey has never been a strong fan of heavy scents as too much of a good thing is not a good thing.
• Patti's nose is not "fragrant friendly" - either natural or synthetic - but Lily of the Valley scents evoke a smile and fond memories of Great Grandma Winnie
• Both have tried a few natural scents based on essential oil scents; see what they have to say.
• Recap - mainstream perfumes are mainly synthetic with many ingredients known to cause impact health immediately or in longer term. Without solid labeling regulations - you'll never really nose what's in your perfume?
  

Pure Blog

• Ever ride an early morning bus sitting next to someone with too much perfume on? Read about Tamey's nosehair-raising experience on PureBlog. While you're there, fill out the poll on how scents affect you.
  

1 A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients By: Ruth Winter, 2005
2 Written Communication with Bonita Barth, October 2007
3 Erickson, Kim. Drop-Dead Gorgeous, 2002.
4 A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients By: Ruth Winter, 2005
5 Erickson, Kim. Drop-Dead Gorgeous, 2002.