| Here's the scenario: you are on an elevator. The | | | | soaps, deodorants, lotions, creams and other beauty |
| elevator stops and in walks someone with WAY too | | | | products. Here's the list - it speaks volumes on its |
| much cologne on and the smell overpowers you. | | | | own: |
| Your sinuses start to hurt and you get a bit sick to | | | | ACETONE, BENZALDEHYDE, BENZYL, BENZYL |
| your stomach. The smell of the cologne stays with | | | | ALCOHOL, CAMPHOR, ETHANOL, ETHYL ACETATE, |
| you, in your hair, clothes and nose for quite a while | | | | LIMONENE, LINALOOL, METHYLENE CHLORIDE, |
| after - hence the sick feeling does too. Yuk. It's hard | | | | a-PINENE, g-TERPINENE, a-TERPINEOL, 1,8-CINEOLE, |
| not to think how inconsiderate this person is. | | | | b-CITRONELLOL, b-MYRCENE, NEROL, OCIMENE, |
| It's not just the smell that is inconsiderate. Have you | | | | b-PHENETHYL ALCOHOL, a-TERPINOLENE |
| ever thought about the chemicals that are used in | | | | There are relatively few studies available concerning |
| fragrances? Many of them are not good for you to | | | | the use and exposure to fragranced products. |
| breathe or to put on your body! | | | | Testing by the cosmetics/fragrance industry focuses |
| This week Time Magazine did an article on air | | | | on skin effects without taking into account |
| fresheners and how many brands have been | | | | respiratory, neurological, or systemic effects. There is |
| removed from the market due to high levels of | | | | little regulation of fragrance by regulatory agencies. |
| phthalates. Phthalates are estrogenic in nature, which | | | | Not only is too much perfume often offensive to |
| is believed to contribute to certain cancers. Phthalates | | | | many, more and more people consider it to be an |
| are used to dissolve and carry fragrances and soften | | | | indoor air pollutant. Some are quite vocal about their |
| plastics, sealants and similar compounds. They are | | | | opposition to the use of perfumes. For years, I |
| commonly found in cosmetics, paint, nail polish and | | | | thought I was the only one who got headaches from |
| plastics. | | | | strong perfume! |
| This peaked my interest on fragrances in general - | | | | There is a movement afoot to curtail the use of |
| so, as usual, I did some research. Although fragrances | | | | fragrances in the work place. Many businesses, at the |
| have been used for centuries, they were made from | | | | request of their employees, are creating |
| plant and animal sources. Modern fragrances are | | | | fragrance-free policies. Given that many people are |
| primarily synthetic materials developed since World | | | | highly affected by allergies, this makes sense (pun |
| War II. | | | | intended, get it? ... sense...scents...). |
| Did you know that 600 or more chemicals may be | | | | But seriously, given that we are bombarded by more |
| used in a single fragrance, and 95% of chemicals | | | | and more hazardous chemicals and pollution, having |
| used in them are derived from petroleum? Why? | | | | less on our bodies, homes and in our workplaces |
| Petro-chemicals in perfumes are less expensive and | | | | must be better for ALL of us. Breathe deeply and |
| more easily available than the natural ingredients. | | | | live well! |
| Many chemicals used in fragrances are considered | | | | Sources: |
| hazardous waste disposal chemicals! Synthetic | | | | Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, (Report |
| fragrance compounds accumulate in human tissue and | | | | by the Committee on Science & Technology, U.S. |
| are found in breast milk. | | | | House of Representatives, Sept.16, 1986. (Report |
| An EPA study in 1991 listed the 20 most common | | | | 99-827). |
| chemicals used in "fragrance products" which are | | | | "Living Healthy in a Toxic World," David Steinman |
| used not only in perfumes but to scent shampoos, | | | | 1996. |