One of my biggest pet peeves with personal care products, especially ones that claim to be “natural” is the use of artificial fragrances and perfumes. 

Besides the fact that they do not smell very good, they can cause and contribute to chemical sensitivities in many individuals. Migraines, asthma attacks and skin reactions (breakouts, rashes, itching, etc) are on the rise due to the fact the many products contains more synthetic chemicals than they have previously.

 At Harvard Medical School, experts such as Dr. Michael Segal, an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, state “Perfumes can be very potent in triggering asthma.  A typical perfume contains tens to hundreds of volatile organic compounds.  Such compounds were originally discovered in natural products such as flowers or fruits, but now most perfumes are manufactured from synthetic chemicals.  Both naturally-produced and synthetically-produced perfumes release many volatile organic compounds, some of which can trigger asthma.”

Fortunately there are many alternatives currently available.  Unscented products (great for the workplace) and products scented with essential oils are a wonderful alternative to artificial fragrances.  I will offer alternatives for adults and children at greenandchic.com.  In the meantime, let me know if you need product recommendations.