Soapbox #4

‘Tis the season for cozy sweaters, simmering stews, crackling fires, and . . . synthetic fragrance?

The holidays tend to bring out the “extra” in us, and sometimes that translates to “extra fragrance”—scented candles, potpourri, room sprays, air fresheners, fragranced pinecones at the grocery store . . . it’s a lot!

The extra scents make sense.  Our sense of smell is unique—it takes a direct path to the emotion and memory centers in our brains.  This is why smells have an immediately palpable impact on our moods, emotions, and memories.

It’s a beautiful and powerful connection to the world around us, when you think about it.

But here’s the rub.  That unique pathway in the brain also presents unique marketing opportunities.  This is where synthetic fragrance enters the picture. 

Companies spend a lot of money developing signature scents and training us to associate those scents with certain activities—clean bathrooms should smell like a “lemon breeze,” and clean laundry should smell like a “spring meadow.”  Those signature scents can be comprised of several thousand different chemicals, all under the umbrella of “fragrance.”

In simple terms, synthetic fragrance is an air pollutant, and its health effects are well documented [1].

Respiratory harms include throat irritation, difficulty breathing, and asthma attacks—even new-onset asthma [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].  These findings are not entirely surprising, because we expect things we inhale to affect our lung health.

What may be more surprising is the effect of synthetic fragrance on the rest of the body.  Certain fragrance chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption, harms to child brain development, and increased risk for learning, attention, and behavior challenges [5, 6, 7, 8].  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding products that list “fragrance” on the label—especially around children and pregnant women [6].

Okay, enough doom and gloom.  Here is the good news.  The mechanics of eliminating fragrance are easy—we just stop.  We toss the scented candles, potpourri, room sprays, air fresheners, and fragranced pinecones.  We switch to a fragrance-free laundry product.  Those two steps, alone, dramatically improve air quality.

Note: I didn’t say the emotions would be easy, but the mechanics are easy.  And the results are worth it.  You can do it!

I am optimistic that within our lifetimes, synthetic fragrance will fall out of fashion.  Secondhand marketplaces may list “fragrance-free home” as commonly as “smoke-free home.”  Our concept of “clean” may not be synonymous with a trademarked fragrance name.  And our noses may enjoy a luxurious reset, allowing us to rediscover the real smells around us—a crisp fall morning, the air just before it rains, and a handful of earthy soil.  And my most favorite smell of all—no contest—the natural, God-given smell of the top of my child’s head (don’t knock it ‘til you try it).

Peace,
Jen

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Sources

[1] Indoor Air Pollutants, American Academy of Pediatrics, https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/environmental-health/promoting-healthy-environments-for-children/indoor-air-pollutants (describing fragrance as an indoor air pollutant; recommending avoidance of air fresheners, scented candles, and products with “fragrance” on the label; and describing health effects, such as upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms).

[2] Steer clear of gifts that will trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, https://acaai.org/news/five-things-your-sweetie-with-allergies-doesnt-want-for-valentines-day (“For those with allergies and asthma, taking a whiff of an overpowering perfume or cologne can set off a chain of symptoms. Some people have a response to strong fragrances. It is generally not a diagnosed allergy, but rather a reaction to odors created by volatile organic compounds. Symptoms can include headaches, sneezing, watery eyes and runny noses.”)

[3] Holiday Scents and Lung Disease Triggers, American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/blog/holiday-scents-asthma-triggers (“Some of the most common causes of asthma and COPD flare-ups have to do with artificial holiday scents. These scents come from things like candles, air fresheners, dried potpourri and scented pinecones. Though these items are very popular, they pose a similar risk to people with lung disease as air fresheners do all year round. In fact, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), suggests that if you or someone you live with has asthma, it’s best to avoid air fresheners, scented candles and pinecones.”)

[4] Fragrances & Work-Related Asthma, California Department of Public Health, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/WRAPP/Pages/Fragrances.aspx (“The Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program (WRAPP) has tracked hundreds of asthma cases associated with fragrances at work. These worker illnesses occurred in many indoor work settings like schools, hospitals, offices, and manufacturing. WRAPP found that perfume was the ninth most common exposure reported by people with asthma related to their work. Nearly a quarter of the cases associated with fragrances were new-onset asthma, meaning the workers reported no prior history of asthma.”)

[5] Air Quality Affects Early Childhood Development and Health, Harvard University, https://developingchild.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HCDC_ECSCEE-Air-V4-1.pdf

(“When it comes to air quality, our indoor air environment itself has changed significantly in the last 50 years. As composite-wood furniture, synthetic carpets, polymeric flooring, flameretardant fabrics and additives, foam cushions, “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, and scented cleaners (e.g., personal care products, cleaning agents, laundry soap, and dryer sheets) have become nearly ubiquitous indoors, so has an array of airborne chemicals known as ‘volatile organic compounds’ (VOCs).
. . . .
As one example of the known harms of VOCs, studies associate frequent use of cleaning products during infancy and pregnancy— particularly scented spray products—with a higher risk of wheezing in early childhood and the development of asthma and lower respiratory tract infections in childhood. Additionally, evidence suggests that exposure to VOCs in cleaning products preconception and during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of asthma in children, and occupational exposure to these compounds has been associated with higher rates of lung cancer and cardiovascular mortality.
. . . .
Exposure to certain chemicals in the air can impact the body’s endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating hormones. Chemicals found in air fresheners, personal care products, and building materials can mimic thyroid activity, impact the start of puberty, and potentially disrupt developmental pathways during pregnancy and early childhood. One study found that the mix of chemicals within indoor dust mimicked testosterone and estrogen, meaning even everyday dust can be hormonally active.
. . . .
VOCs are released into the air from many common household products and construction materials. VOCs can accumulate in the placenta and fetus, disrupt gene expression and organ development at the cellular level, and trigger inflammation and oxidative stress. They are associated with an increased risk of asthma, skin and throat irritations, and several forms of cancer.
. . . .
‘Air freshener’ sprays, plug-ins, and hangers do not clean the air; they add fragrances to it—and fragranced products have been associated with a range of adverse health effects, such as migraine headaches, asthma attacks, respiratory difficulties, neurological problems, mucosal symptoms, and contact dermatitis.”)

[6] Chemical Exposure from Personal Care Products, American Academy of Pediatrics, https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/environmental-health/promoting-healthy-environments-for-children/personal-care-products (“Check labels and choose products that do not contain phthalates, parabens, triclosan or synthetic fragrances. If unsure, choose ‘fragrance-free’ products or those without strong scents. . . . Several compounds in personal care products, including phthalates and parabens, are known to interfere with the endocrine system. Reducing exposures in children and pregnant persons is particularly important.”) See also [1] (“Avoid chemical air fresheners and scented candles, as they do not improve air quality and may release many chemicals into the air. To avoid potential exposure to phthalates, do not purchase products with ‘fragrance’ on the label as these may contain phthalates.”)

[7] Phthalates, Project TENDR, https://projecttendr.org/chemicals-and-pollutants/phthalates (“Human studies have linked prenatal exposure to some phthalates with altered neurodevelopment in children. Effects seen include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-like behaviors, problems with conduct and aggression, as well depression and other internalizing behaviors. In addition, prenatal exposure has been associated with deficits in child IQ, working memory and executive functioning, as well as with problems in emotional regulation. In a large Swedish population-based study the presence of PVC flooring in the parents’ bedroom, which is a known source of phthalate exposure, was associated with autism.”)

[8] Experts report that phthalates impair children’s brain development, call for immediate action, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/experts-report-that-phthalates-impair-childrens-brain-development-call-for-immediate-action (“In a peer-reviewed article published in the American Journal of Public Health, leading scientists and health professionals of Project TENDR identify ortho-phthalates as neurotoxic chemicals that increase children’s risks for learning, attention and behavioral disorders. In particular, prenatal exposures to phthalates can contribute to attention problems in children.”)