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The term ‘fragrance free’ is often thrown around but why is it beneficial to use products that are fragrance free? Are products with fragrance bad for you and why?
Many people don’t often recognise that fragrance is contained in many items we use every day. In fact, our sense of smell is inundated with fragrance so frequently that we begin to ignore the poisonous chemicals that linger in even our household items. From cosmetics to garbage bags, just because you can’t smell it, doesn’t mean it isn’t causing you and the people around you harm.
Many people are chemical sensitive meaning that exposure to chemicals can be harmful to their body and pose serious health risks. It is reported that over 3000 chemicals and compounds are used in the production of fragrances and approximately 20% of those chemicals are toxic or can cause allergic reactions.
Chemicals contained in fragrance are classified as allergens, hormone disruptors, asthma triggers, neurotoxins and carcinogens. All of those properties are extremely harmful to the human body and can spark extreme sickness.
The most common chemical contained in fragrances is phthalates which is a chemical that makes the scent last longer. Phthalates are carcinogens which have been banned in many countries such as (EU, Japan, South Korea, Canada and China). A carcinogen is a substance that promotes the formation of cancer cells in living tissue and disrupts hormones. Phthalates additionally are linked to health conditions such as reduced sperm count, reproductive issues and diabetes. Like many other toxic chemicals, fragrance can pass from the skin into the blood stream. This can lead to many side effects and health risks as a result of using fragranced products. These include but are not limited to:
When listed on a bottle or package, the term fragrance doesn’t mean just one chemical. It’s a mixture of many toxic chemicals mixed together to create the ‘fragrance’. This is why people struggle to identify what triggered an allergic reaction if they’re using a product that contains fragrance. This is a result of so many chemicals being used to make up the fragrance, it is hard to identify what your body is reactive to. The crazy reality is that The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require manufacturers to disclose all the ingredients included in the fragrance. This means that manufacturers can get away with using often only one word ‘fragrance’ to hide that the product contains many toxic ingredients.
So whether you have sensitive skin or not, choosing a fragrance-free product is often safer than a fragranced product.
There is a human perception that “clean” has a smell. That is why many products we use have fragrance to appear clean and as though they perform better although that is not the case. To avoid purchasing items that contain fragrance, always look for labels that state ‘fragrance-free’. Many companies will use the word ‘unscented’ to entice you to believe that their product does not contain fragrance, although it often does.
Happy Little Camper thrives on being better for your baby and better for the planet. Our diapers are fragrance-free and contain no harmful chemicals, VOC’s or toxic adhesives. Made without nasties including chlorine, silicone, phthalates, triclosan, sulfates or lead. We use lightweight, ultra-thin, super-absorbent, non-bulky materials and TDI-free elastics that contain no harmful dyes or parabens which make our diapers hypoallergenic. They contain soothing natural ingredients such as GMO-Free Natural Cotton, Organic Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, while also guaranteeing a latex-free product. We source only the purest, sustainably sourced pulp and natural cotton which are all approved by Mother Nature and FSC certified. You can feel comfortable using Happy Little Camper on your little one knowing our nappies are safe, reliable and ethically sourced.
Medical Disclaimer: Articles are intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as the basis of patient treatment. Ask a medical professional if you have any health-related questions or concerns.
Additional Resources
Cleure. (2020). Guide to fragrance fere products for sensitive skin. https://www.cleure.com/blogs/blog/guide-to-fragrance-free-products-for-sensitive-skin
Huff, R. (2020). Why is fragrance bad for everyone? https://www.thatorganicmom.com/why-fragrance-is-bad/
Meghan, J. (n.d.). Ingredient safety: The truth about fragrance safety that manufacturers don’t want you to know. https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/truth-about-toxic-fragrances/
Schrock, M. (2017). WTF is in fragrance and is it harmful? https://www.nontoxicrevolution.org/blog/wtf-fragrance
Rodale, M. (2017). Five ‘must knows’ on the dangers of synthetic fragrance. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/five-mustknows-on-the-dan_b_4737654
