Why should you avoid using perfumes?

Writing this article isn’t easy for me because there was a phase in my life where I was obsessed with perfumes. I would use different scents every day depending on my mood.

But, there were a few times, where I would get a headache or a sneeze when I would come in contact with a strong perfume. I would excuse myself thinking I am sensitive to a few scents.

But, I got to know that a lot of people are allergic to perfumes in general. Some are more severely allergic than others and can even get asthma attacks. Here are some things that I found which made me stop using perfumes:

• Trade secret: did you know that perfume companies are not required to list their ingredients? Even if they do list the ingredients, it’s only a few out of 3000 chemicals. Fragrance formulation is considered a trade secret that is also protected from the manufacturer.

• No authority to regulate the formation of perfumes: when I told it is a trade secret I meant there is no state, federal or global authority that regulates the safety of the chemicals used in fragrances.

• Health problems: inhaling the 3000 chemicals will come at a cost. They cause health problems like asthma, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, coughing, burning of the skin, and many more. The chemicals also mess with our hormones. You might be someone who does not suffer from these but, do you really want to inhale a product with harmful chemicals that cause health issues.

• Second-hand smoking: using perfumes in the long term can affect our health just as negatively as second-hand smoking does. The toxins used in fragrances are as harmful as that of second-hand smoking.

This article mainly focuses on how perfumes are harmful. But, it’s the entire fragrance industry that is harmful. We buy scented products on a daily basis. Our shampoos, body washes, hair sprays, detergents all have fragrance added to it. Even products for female hygiene sometimes contain fragrance. We don’t know the number of chemicals the word “fragrance” holds in  products. So, it is best to avoid scented products in general.

If you are devastated knowing how bad fragrance is. There are some alternatives you can use:

• Using essence oils: these oils are extracted from plants and are completely natural. You can add them to your products or use them separately in the form of a roll-on. But, make sure to get 100% pure essence oils.

• DIY: you can DIY soaps and perfumes by using natural homemade products that won’t harm your body. You can easily get these ingredients in your nearby store. You can also DIY your essence oils.

• Fragrance-free products: Buying products that are free of fragrance or chemicals are a great alternative.

• Non-toxic perfumes: Some brands make sustainable or eco-friendly perfumes so you can try using them. These perfumes are made of essential oils or organic ingredients. But, don’t forget to make sure they only natural ingredients.

 These alternatives may seem like a lot of work. But it is way better than exposing yourself to chemicals and toxins daily. The chemicals used by the fragrance industry not just harm us but are also bad for the environment.