| Synthetic perfumes - what is the concern? | | | | will not see phthalates listed on a perfume bottle |
| Many perfumes on the shelves in regular chemists, | | | | label. In terms of public health problems cosmetics are |
| duty free and department stores are made with | | | | not really on the radar but yet many have a chemical |
| synthetic chemicals and are, rarely, just | | | | sensitivity to perfume and judging by what is in many |
| aromatherapy oils, despite what the label says. Labels | | | | perfumes, unsurprising. |
| can make claims that are not backed up in the | | | | The perfume industry is worth millions of dollars |
| contents of the perfume. 'Natural' is a widely abused | | | | annually and thousands of tons of synthetic |
| term in the personal care industry, as is 'nature' | | | | fragrance are produced, each year, with relatively |
| frequently used where there is precious little natural | | | | few legislative checks, or restrictions. Environmental |
| about the contents. These claims can be nothing | | | | scientists and health researchers are becoming |
| more than a marketing tool and hide a myriad of | | | | increasingly concerned about their affects on our |
| synthetic fragrances. Thus it appears the consumer is | | | | health as well as their persistence in the environment. |
| not as protected as they might assume. Cosmetics | | | | There are increasing reports of clinical studies |
| and perfumes are often regulated by industry rather | | | | showing highly fragranced products causing and |
| than a safety governing body; it is rather like the fox | | | | adding to health conditions like as allergies and |
| guarding the hen house. | | | | asthma. One other concern that troubles me the |
| Why is regular perfume best avoided? | | | | most is the bio-accumulation of synthetic fragrance |
| Have you ever been walking on a busy street only | | | | chemicals in human tissue and the long-term impact |
| to walk past someone wearing perfume and notice | | | | of suspected hormone disruptors. Synthetic |
| that your eyes are itchy and you feel overwhelmed | | | | fragrances can add to both indoor and outdoor air |
| by the over-powering scent of their perfume? Or | | | | pollution, this is especially noticed in winter, when |
| have you sat on a plane seat only to find you can | | | | windows and doors are opened less frequently. |
| smell women's perfume on your clothes long after | | | | What alternatives are there? |
| the flight has landed? | | | | There are alternatives to synthetic chemicals |
| Modern fragrances, perfumes and scents are very | | | | perfumes, which are certified organic perfumes that |
| powerful, they contain many synthetic chemicals | | | | use certified organic essential oils in a base of jojoba |
| designed to make the aroma stay around for a long | | | | oil. Natural perfumery, with a 4000 year history is |
| time, they are persistent in our environment. They | | | | linked to nature, beauty and nurturing ritual. Not only |
| persist on our clothes, furnishings and in the air. Sadly | | | | are real perfumes aromatically pleasing, but they |
| phthalates actually provide the perfume with sticking | | | | impart therapeutic benefits, formulated with rare and |
| power to stay on the skin and increase the time the | | | | expensive raw materials including essential oils and |
| smell lingers. Phthalates are now known to be harmful | | | | absolutes. Smelling a rose growing in the garden is an |
| to our hormones and endocrine system, and a | | | | exquisite scent and that is what I feel real perfumery |
| documentary recently aired, in Canada, called | | | | is, the distilled oils from plants rather than |
| "Disappearing Males" highlighted this very serious issue. | | | | synthetically man-made synthetic chemicals. Perfume |
| What is fragrance? | | | | is precious, and a treat for anointing on our body, |
| Fragrance when listed on a label can be a blend of | | | | perhaps a return to real perfumery is wiser and |
| some two hundred different ingredients, none of | | | | healthier? |
| which, by law, has to be listed on the label, thus you | | | | |