So what are you smelling with these common store bought fragrances “Hawaiian Breeze”, “Ocean Mist”, or “Summer Rain”? Who knows??!! Companies that manufacture personal care products ARE required by law to list the ingredients they use in their products. But fragrances are deemed “trade secrets” and are exempt from any lists to consumers. This means that when you purchase a product with fragrance, it could contain any number of 3,000 plus stock chemical ingredients used by the fragrance industry. And none of the toxic chemicals that are used can remain a secret to consumers. This includes fragrances in detergents, candles, car air fresheners, fragrance plug ins, fragrance sprays/powders, and yes, cleaning products. Fragrance chemicals have been found to be highly toxic with repeated exposure and can cause numerous health problems. These chemicals have been linked to ADHD, ASD, obesity, hormone disruption, sperm count reduction, cancer, diabetes, and reproductive issues. A common chemical ingredient in fragrances are “phthalates” and have been linked to major health risks and problems. Exposure to “phthalates” has been linked to cancer, reproduction damage, birth defects, and respiratory problems. Next time you reach for those harmful products to mask or cover up smells, think “healthy” and do away with cover up chemicals.
