Smell. One of the five senses and arguably the most powerful. Why? Smell is closely connected to emotions because it shares the same space in the brain. Smells influence your decisions, the way your feel, the way you learn, and your memory. So, it’s no surprise that we are drawn to certain fragrances.
An average woman uses about 20 products a day, and most of these products contain fragrances, but what exactly is fragrance? Fragrance often appears on labels as a single ingredient. However, there is a loop hole in the law and companies can list a multitude of undisclosed ingredients under "fragrance." While we want to believe that our favorite citrus body spray or lotion is made from plants and flowers, more often than not they are made from a multitude of synthetic ingredients. Fragrance is made from one of two things; petroleum or plants. The reason companies will opt to use chemicals made from petroleum is because they are cheaper than natural plant made chemicals.
The issue with fragrances made from petroleum is that they contain Phthalates. Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl. Phthalates are used in many cosmetic and household products to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity.
Phthalates are not only carcinogenic, but also pose the risk of a causing a number of different health problems from asthma to obesity, diabetes, and learning disabilities. But perhaps the most alarming is the fact that phthalates are also Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC’S). EDC’S mimic naturally occurring hormones in our body and are linked to numerous health issues such as alterations in sperm, infertility, birth defects, abnormalities in sex organs, endometriosis, early puberty and many more.
EDC’s are rarely listed on product labels but are found in almost anything. Although fragrances are not regulated by the FDA, we firmly believe that it is absolutely crucial to our health to safety that we avoid these chemicals. We are proud to say that our products are fragrance free. Clean beauty is better beauty.
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Chloe McCormack
Author