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. 

Respiratory harms include throat irritation, difficulty breathing, and asthma attacks—even new-onset asthma.  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.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding products that list “fragrance” on the label—especially around children and pregnant women.

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