Aroma is something we live with in our daily lives, and it has become very much part of it – from the cologne we use to deodorants we use indoors. The truth is, often the scents we think are pleasant come from risky chemicals. The chemicals used in making of these scents can harm one's health, some of which are not well-known. Throughout the duration of this article, we will discuss the possible dangers of synthetic fragrances and give you some advice on how you can reduce your exposure to them.
What Are Synthetic Fragrances?
Synthetic scents are the products of a chemical laboratory and are made by mixing different chemicals. The scents are built on the usage of several similar products like perfumes, lotions, shampoos, deodorants, ammonia solutions, and situationally mainstream laundry detergents. Manufacturers disguise the real nature of the chemicals involved in the mix by naming them simply; fragrance or parfum, on the ingredient lists.
Health Risks Associated with Synthetic Fragrances
Allergic Reactions: The main outbreak in the use of synthetic fragrances is the allergic reactions. Side effects can vary from minor skin irritation to hard dermatitis, breathing problems, and headaches. Some of the maltides, for instance, that are used to delay the scent are labeled as allergens taking the part of the end of them.
Hormone Disruption: Some synthetic scents contain endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates and parabens, affecting hormone functioning. These chemicals are knock-off versions of hormones like estrogen and may bring fertility disorders, growth disorders, and many more cancer types related to the hormone path.
Respiratory Issues: The smell of synthetic chemicals automatically triggers respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. Substances such as formaldehyde and toluene, which are mostly present in fragrances, are the chemicals you should worry about that carry the risk of damaging the respiratory tract.
Neurotoxicity: A few of the fragrance chemicals involve neurotoxicity which eventually affects the nervous system. Prolonged exposure to many chemicals such as benzene derivatives can impose negative impacts on the development of the brain, resulting in neurological disorders and cognitive weakening.
Environmental Impact: In the case of the manufacturing and discarding of synthetic fragrances, the environment is also damaged. Hardly any of these chemicals are actually capable of being destroyed by biological agents and instead they find their ways to the environment leaving the wildlife and eco-systems prone to any harmful end results.
Tips to Minimize Exposure
Choose Fragrance-Free Products: Select the actual soaps with the tags "without any fragrance" or "odorless." Although it has a risk of phthalates (deemed in animal studies to be potentially harmful to organ development), it is safer than fragranced.
Use Natural Alternatives: Go for the natural oils that are under-processed instead of using these artificial flavors. There is almost no disadvantage to the use of essential oils but there are several benefits to it.
Read Labels Carefully: Familiarize yourself with the names of all kinds of synthetic fragrant additives and avoid those brands that are using the terms "fragrance" or "parfum" with source not specified.
Improve Indoor Air Quality: Decrease the use of air fresheners and scented candles. Instead, try such things as plants that clean the air or even opening the windows for some time.