You are looking at posts that were written in the month of February in the year 2008.
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I see a lot of talk on the web about this. As well as hear a lot of different comments. Some comments are about the fact that a product has an odor of any kind.
So, what do I mean by Fragrance Free?
It’s the addition of artificial fragrance that I mean when I talk about fragrance added to anything. You can call it “fragrance”, “masking fragrance”, “perfume” or even “parfum” (for that French feel). They are all the same. A bunch of chemicals that likely haven’t been tested on humans. Probably some have, but the fragrance industry doesn’t what to tell you about that. So they hide behind their “trade secret” claim.
You have to be careful when shopping. It isn’t enough that the front of the label says “Unscented” or “Fragrance Free”. There’s no FDA regulation about this. Or any regulation anywhere. If it’s a personal care product (shampoo, lotion, makeup, etc), then turn it over and read the ingredients. I know it’s more work, but if you’re sensitive, it’s necessary. Read the whole list. Fragrances are usually listed near the end, but don’t rely on that. I even read the ingredients when the front says “No Added Fragrance”. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, you can’t be too careful.
And if it’s a household product, it’s trickier. There’s no regulation that requires them to even list their ingredients. Sometimes it can be trial and error. Here are some clues: If it says “Fresh Clean Scent” or “Ocean Fresh Scent” or anything else that implies a certain scent, then don’t buy it. It has fragrance of some sort in it. Some products say “No Added Fragrance”. I trust these cautiously. Your best bet (although nearly impossible to follow 100%) is to only buy household products that list their ingredients.
And yes, a fragrance free product is likely to still have a ‘odor’ to it. Some chemicals have an odor. So you’ll still be able to smell something. Some people find the chemical odors objectionable. Which is why you often see “masking fragrance” in your ingredient list. To me, a masking fragrance is as bad (or even worse) than other added fragrances. I say worse because it can fool you without that fragrancy smell to it.
If you still want a product with a nice smell, consider purchasing a bit of an essential oil and adding it to your products. Don’t add a lot, a little goes a long way. And some of your ‘greener’ products have essential oils added. I’ve become so sensitive to odors that I stay away from these too. But you might want to give them a try.
MCS causes a lot of problems include chronic pain, fibromyalgia and migraines. If you suffer from any of these, you’ve probably found that your brain doesn’t seem to work quite as good as it used to. You very easily forget things, can’t concentrate, have difficulty with anything requiring thought. Your friends and family are likely to say it’s just part of getting older. But deep down, you know that it is more than that in your case.
Sound familiar? Well, you’re right. Researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago have found that chronic pain disrupts brain function and causes many problems. These include difficulty making even simple decisions, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. The scary part is that the damage can be permanent. You can read an article on it here.
by Catherine Dicker et al. Originally appeared in The Advocate: The newsletter of the Massachusetts Nurses Association Labor Relations Committee.
You have to get him in it! Not really a problem with my cat!
My Time: 3:05
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