Fight Perfume Pollution

As public awareness grows about the health problems caused by artificial fragrance, more companies are providing safer products. What can you do to help? Ask questions, do research, share information, and remember not to trust all labels. Most people would never knowingly douse their kids in benzene or dispense narcotics into their neighborhoods from their dryer vents. With full ingredient disclosure, educated consumers will be able to decide what they want to use on their bodies.

Hundreds of businesses and some towns have already implemented fragrance-free policies in response to the growing number of scent-related health problems. In September 2006, for example, New York state passed a law requiring schools to use cleaning products free of carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or scents that could aggravate asthma. They based their criteria for the products on standards certified by Green Seal, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Aylin M.

12:28PM PST on Jan 10, 2011

thanks

send a green star

Ecodiva G.

4:38PM PDT on Sep 26, 2009

Harsh chemicals are poison and for me they were a cause of migraines; I finally found a company that uses tea tree oil, citric acid and thyme oil in their household cleaning products.

I also received $120 in free products when I became their customer. If you don't always have the time to make your own cleaning products or cosmetics for that matter then email me for more info at nicolemillercosmetics@gmail.com

Cheers ;)

Past Member .

7:08PM PDT on Jul 24, 2009

I have to put ditto and bravo on all the comments about how hard it is to go out in public when I get very sick from peoples' chemicals wafting into my air space. I am one of those people adversely affected by these chemicals to the point of having Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and must wear a filtration mask when I leave my home to limit my exposure to other peoples' chemicals affecting me. I do have to ride public transportation with this condition, too. There are grocery store chains that I avoid because of the detergent aisles. I don't go out to movies (not that there are many worth going to these days) or other places, because of peoples' chemicals they're wearing. They don't realize that they're actually creating an accessibility barrier for people adversely affected by their perfumes and scented personal care products (their chemicals). I don't use commercial cleaning chemicals either. I'm very grateful to Annie Bond and others for the natural cleaning recipes posted on this site. They've been a godsend. I use these recipes exclusively, because they don't make me or the environment so sick like the stuff with the deadly chemicals. I really like the science info for why these recipes work, too. Very few ingredients are actually needed for nearly all daily housework. Fragrances and scented commercial personal care products are just as deadly as the chemical cleaners people have been brainwashed to keep buying and using.

10:45AM PDT on Jun 14, 2009

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

Sarah A.

1:20PM PDT on May 7, 2009

Last week, my husband and I were given a "loaner vehicle" by a large Chevrolet dealer in Texas to use while our nice truck was in the repair facility. I hadn't been in the loaner until my husband took me with him to exchange vehicles. Dangling from the rear-view mirror were six, yes, SIX tree-shaped air fresheners. Even though we rolled down both windows, as an asthmatic, I was in serious trouble by the time we arrived. When I complained about the horrible, overwhelming stench, the dealer's excuse was that as a "work truck", it really smelled bad; hence, my complaint fell on deaf ears. This should be illegal!

Jessica B.

12:50PM PDT on May 7, 2009

In recent years, I've lost my tolerance for almost all scents. I often have to be around children whose parents use extremely strong scented laundry detergent, and I get awful headaches and am often lightheaded when I'm around them. Last year, I had to stay in a hotel for work, and this hotel (Crown Plaza- Seacaucus) sprayed a scent in all areas of the hotel, including the rooms. I was nauseated and had an awful headache during the 3 days I was there. It made it extremely difficult to do my job. I really hope more awareness causes companies to lighten up on the scents (both the companies making the products and the companies that use them, like the hotels).

Terrie D.

7:36AM PDT on May 7, 2009

For years I suffered (mostly in silence) from scent-related migraines. I figured out pretty quick and tried to avoid problem areas - mainly department perfume counters - but several times became ill in waiting/reception rooms due to someone's perfume. Even an early morning walk on the beach was spoiled by a woman who passed me leaving a 100 ft trail of heavy perfume - on the beach!

I no longer go places where there are likely to be crowds, so I've had to almost completely give up the pleasure of car shows, fairs and festivals, even farmers markets. Now that these issues are becoming more widely know, and I know I'm not alone in suffering, I still have hope that people will realize, at the very least, that these aren't the proper venues for dousing oneself with perfune,

Bonnie C.

9:17PM PDT on May 6, 2009

I'm so glad you put this article up. My son, who has always had an extremely sensitive nose, at the age of three, began crying in a crowd that we were trying to get out of because someone had on too much perfume. As a heavily scented person went by in a cloud of perfume, he yelled, "Ewwwy! What is that smell!? Get me out of here, get me out of here!!" and burst into tears, covering his poor nose, when we couldn't move fast enough because there were just too many people.

It really is a definite issue for our family. My husband gets headaches at work every day because a man with heavy cologne sits 3 cubicles away.

And have you ever used a phone after someone with perfume has been on it? (ugh!)

People can smell good without perfume, for sure.

Edith B.

8:47PM PDT on May 6, 2009

How about a public service announcement to those people who drown themselves in cologne when they know they will be in confined spaces. I had to go out in the hallway at my doctor's office because a woman had on so much scent my eyes were burning.

Dorothy V.

5:41PM PDT on May 6, 2009

Ever-present fragances have severely restricted my life. They make me very, very sick. I wish everything and everyone didn't stink.