Why Go Fragrance Free?

People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (also called Environmental Illness) experience serious and debilitating physical and neurological symptoms when exposed to the chemicals used in most scented products. These same chemicals can also cause problems for people with asthma, allergies, and other immune problems such as cancer and HIV.  Often, the health damage from these chemicals causese an individual to react to other intensely volatile substances, such as essential oils, tobacco smoke, and “natural” fragrances.  The last several decades have seen a huge increase in the number of harmful chemicals added to household and personal care products because no government agency regulates the ingredients.  Man of these chemicals are banned in industrial settings because of their known effect.  95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic derivatives known to be capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and allergic reactions.  Symptoms of chemical exposure include dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, drowsieness, irritation to the mouth, throat, skin, eyes, and lungs, headache, convulsions, fatigue, confusion, and liver and kidney damage.  Promoting scent-free environments is very much like adding ramps and curb-cuts for wheelchair access in terms of the profound difference in accessibility it can produce.  If you are not accustomed to going “scent-free” it is important to think carefully about all the products you use in your day.  Scented products can include shampoo, soap, hair gel, hair spray, perfume/cologne/scented oils, skin lotion, shaving cream, makeup, laundry soap, fabric softeners, etc.  When evaluating products, please be aware that the label “unscented” is not a guarantee that a product is fragrance-free.  Many unscented products contain masking fragrances or other ingredients that can cause reactions in people with MCS, so avoid products with ingredient lists that include the word fragrance (including botanical fragrance and natural fragrance), or essential oils (e.g. oil of primrose, or sandlewood oil).  Essential oils (and their use) are not bad, per se, but most essential oils available in the US are produced using toxic solvents that can cause ill affects. Always check the lable before assuming a product is safe.

Fragrance Free Product Suggestions:

Soap: 

Tom’s of Maine unscented, Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil, Neutrogena unscented, Simple, Kiss My Face Moisture Soap fragrance-free, Clearly Natural unscented, Nature’s Gate Organics fragrance-free, California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash

Shampoo and Conditioner:

Earth Science fragrance-free, Nature’s Gate Organics Soy fragrance-free, Tom’s of Main Natural Moisturizing unscented, Simple, California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash, Free & Clear (available in Snyder’s drug stores), Neutrogena unscented.

Hair Gel:

Desert Essence Pomade Silk, Magick Botanicals, Alba Ultimate Strong Hold, make your own with unflavored gelatin, or simply use a little aloe vera gel.

Hair Spray: 

Aloe Vera 80 Styling Spray (alcohol & fragrance-free), Magick Botanicals, Almay

Deodorant:

Almay fragrance-free, Tom’s of Main’s unscented, Simple, Kiss My Face fragrance-free, Herbal Magic unscented, Deodorant Stone, Nature’s Gate Crystal, Crystal Stick.

Shaving Cream: 

Ray Ban Hypoallergenic, Kiss My Face Moisture Shave fragrance-free, Nature’s Gate Organics Soy Milk Fragrance-Free Creamy Shave Gel, Simple.  Or simply use aloe vera gel.

Makeup:

Almay (in drugstores), Clinique (in department store cosmetic sections and online)

Lotion:

Aubry Organics Ultimate Moist unscented, Kiss My Face fragrance-free Olive & Aloe, Alba Botanicals Original unscented, Ecco Bella Holistic Remedies unscented, Nature’s Gate fragrance free Moisturizing Lotion, Nature’s Gate Organics Soy Milk fragrance free.

Laundry Detergent:

Arm & Hammer FabriCare Free, Planet, 7th Generation Free & Clear, Bio-Pac (liquid and powder), Natural Value, Restore, EnviroRite.  To brighten whites and colors, add 20 Mule Team Borax (borax also helps kill germs).  To remove odors and reduce static, add one to two cups of distilled white vinegar to the wash water.