The Dark Truth About Fragrances

Fragrances might smell good, but breathing them in may be doing more harm than good. When you go to the store, there are many products that you can purchase with scents. For example, if you want your house to smell like a summer breeze then you might buy a candle with that scent. While nothing sounds harmful about purchasing fragrances, to your health, it might be. 

 Fragrances contain many chemicals that make them toxic to inhale. Some known chemicals are Phthalates, Benzaldehyde, and Camphor. While you are now aware that fragrances are bad for you to use, you might not be willing to give up your scents just yet. Hopefully understanding what these chemicals do to you will convince you further to get rid of them. These fragrance chemicals have been shown to lower IQ points in children, reduce sperm count, and cause kidney damage, dizziness, and lung irritation among many other harmful side effects. There are around 4,000 chemicals that are used to scent items such as candles, perfume, and detergents. Using these chemicals daily is having a bigger impact on your health than you might think. 

Fragrances and Their Chemicals

Candles

Burning synthetic fragrances can trigger those with asthma and allergies. For those people, some symptoms they might experience are a runny nose and sneezing. The fragrances in candles can also cause some people to experience migraines. While there is no definite explanation for what causes people to become sensitive to candles, the chemicals in the fragrance are a leading contender. 

A primary chemical you may find in your candles is phthalates. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that have been shown to disrupt the endocrine system in humans. Pregnant women are advised to stay away from any products containing phthalates due to their ability to damage the baby’s development. This chemical has also been linked to causing hormonal problems. 

If you are still unwilling to part with your candles, be sure to only light candles in a wide and well-ventilated area. If you don’t, you could be inhaling large amounts of chemicals. 

Febreze Room Freshener Sprays 

It has become common practice for many Americans to use Febreze in their home when there is an unpleasant odor. While they do help hide odors, if you are trying to stay away from chemicals, they should not be used. Both phthalates and 1,4-Dichlorobenzene have been traced in Febreze room freshener sprays. 

Phthalates, as mentioned above, are endocrine system disruptors. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene is an organic compound that potentially is a cancer-causing carcinogen. It has been shown to cause cancer in animals but not enough testing has been done to trace it to humans. However, if it is negatively affecting animals, humans should assume it is not benefiting their health in any way either. Some common side effects of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene are eye swelling, coughing, and nausea. 

Perfume 

You might be getting more than you paid for when you buy perfume. Many perfumes contain synthetic chemicals that can affect one’s health. Some chemicals you might find in your favorite scents are camphor, linalool, benzaldehyde, and phthalates. 

Camphor causes nausea and dizziness, linalool causes respiratory disturbances, and benzaldehyde is a narcotic. While household fragrances may be easier to give up than perfume, there are some alternatives to keep you smelling good. Essential oils are a natural and safe oil that you can use as a substitute for perfume. There are many different essential oils on the market so you are sure to find a scent you like without having to sacrifice your health. 

What You Can Do

While this article only touched on candles, Febreze, and perfume, there are many dangerous fragrances in common items people purchase every day. To maintain your health, it is important to avoid these items. Be sure to always look at the ingredient list of the scented products you buy and when in doubt, always go for the unscented products.