Synthetic Fragrance: The Sneaky Little Sh*t in Your Everyday Products.

A lil backstory first:

This was my first Tox I Dropped in my everyday use. The word "fragrance" was popping up all over my feed and really just everywhere I looked, I couldn't escape it..literally. My smart phone knew my algorithm. I had decided to cold-turkey stop using any product on, in and around my body that contained this "fragrance". I threw everything out that had "fragrance" on the label, "fragrance fragrance fragrance"....like I said, couldn't escape it, it's everywhere.

I had always struggled with hormone issues and extreme fatigue and once I had learned about "fragrance" I had wondered if it has anything to do with 28 years of using products on, in and around my body with this broad term "fragrance" on the label...Is the word "fragrance" sticking out to you yet?? I hope so. It's been almost a year and a half of completely eliminating it out of my life, and let me tell you...everything I was using had to be thrown out and/or swapped..literally everything.

Now, I don't get daily headaches like I used to, I can breathe so much more easily, and I don't have this fussy mess clogging up behind my eyes. Im sure my body is thanking me. I've been pregnant and now 4 months postpartum and I feel less tired now then I have felt in the past. I can also truthfully say it's an even cheaper lifestyle now: the entire section of beauty, body care, and cleaning product aisles are completely off limits to me in Target. That's like an entire side of the store! No more strolling around Homegoods smelling candles. No more walking through the perfume parts in the malls, or browsing makeup in Sephora... YES- this was so difficult in the beginning, but it just got easier after knowing what it does to the body. After about a month is when I started to really notice the difference.

Your body actually goes through a detox when eliminating these chemicals out of your everyday products.

GET THIS- It typically takes a few weeks to a few months for your body and mind to reset after eliminating synthetic fragrances. Here’s what happens over time:

• First Few Weeks: Your nose and brain start adjusting to the absence of artificial scents. You might still crave certain smells due to habitual exposure, but you’ll likely start noticing how strong or artificial fragrances smell when reintroduced.

• 1-3 Months: Your sensitivity increases, and you might start reacting to synthetic fragrances with headaches, nausea, or irritation—symptoms you didn’t notice before. Your body has detoxed from constant exposure, making it easier to detect and avoid toxic scents.

• 6+ Months: Many people find that artificial fragrances become overwhelmingly strong or even unbearable. Your sense of smell becomes more attuned to natural scents, and you may start preferring subtle, plant-based fragrances (or no scent at all).

Everyone’s detox timeline varies, but once your body resets, you’ll likely become much more aware of, and reactive to hidden fragrances in products you once used without thinking.

Let's get into it!!

What the Hell is Synthetic Fragrance?

Synthetic fragrance is basically a chemical cocktail made in a lab to smell like vanilla, fresh linen, or whatever the hell "ocean breeze" is supposed to be. Companies can shove hundreds of undisclosed chemicals into one "fragrance" label, and legally they don't have to tell you what's in it. Why?

Because it's a "trade secret" —which is just a fancy way of saying, "We don't want you to know how toxic this sh*t is." THATS LEGAL, can you believe it?...so wild.

Why is It a Problem?

Well, aside from the fact that you're unknowingly huffing petroleum byproducts, synthetic fragrances often contain phthalates, formaldehyde, and hormone-disrupting nasties. These can jack up your endocrine system, trigger allergies, wreck your skin, and mess with fertility for both females and males!

Fun times, right? oh and cause cancer. These companies be out there just willingly putting killer chemicals on all the stores shelves for us to buy and consume multiple times A DAY!

Where is It Hiding?

Oh, just everywhere, like everywhere:

• Personal Care: Shampoo+conditioner, lotion, deodorant, perfume/cologne/body sprays, and even "natural" baby wipes and lotions......oh and those scented tampons...the biggest joke ever like wtf dude. It probably was a dude tbh.

• Cleaning Supplies: Laundry detergent, fabric softener, air fresheners, all purpose cleaners, window cleaners...etc

• Candles & Home Scents: Yep, our favorite "Capri Blue Volcano" candle from Anthropologie? More like "headache in a jar". That was my favorite, I even had that scent in my PURA diffuser and had them in the scented stick things in like all my rooms.

This was SUCH a buzz kill for me. I am one sucker for candles in my home. Obsessing over how I want my house to always smell good/cozy. Now, I can sniff out synthetic fragrances a mile a way and let me tell you something....it doesn't make your house smell good! It makes it smell like TOXINS. See I told you, once you take off your rose-colored glasses, all you see (smell) is synthetic fragrances. Bath and Body Works? Yeah right, I hold my breath now when walking pass it. Ulta? Will never walk in there again. Anyone wearing perfume or body spray, it will give me a headache and tbh I do not want you to hold my baby. Once you smell it, you can never go back. To be honest though, it does suck when you go over to someones house and they are burning candles or have air fresheners going or even have scented hand soap...like should I just bring my own soap, ask to blow out their candles? Is that weird? Thats weird right? Don't even get me started on your laundry detergent. Bottom line once you learn about "fragrance" and how toxic it is to our bodies, you'll want to TOX DROP it for sure, and it is the GATEWAY toxic chemical that will open your eyes into my world, and everyone else who is in this world too!....so welcome.

How Do You Avoid This Sneaky B*tch?

• Look for "fragrance-free" (not "unscented" because that can be a scam too! They can still hide chemicals in that broad term, unless its labeled no synthetic fragrances somewhere on the product as well)

• Check labels— if it just says "fragrance" or "parfum/perfume" put it the f*ck back...Yes this means ACTUAL perfume and body sprays. All the good-smelly things.

• Choose essential oil-based products instead of mystery chemicals.

• Use essential oil diffusers around your house instead of candles!

• Make the switch to natural alternatives (vinegar+baking soda for cleaning products, high quality essential oils and diffusers and beeswax candles that won't gaslight your hormones).

I know this is a shock--and sucks! But it does get easier and cheaper!

Like I said, ALL my products I was using day to day had "fragrance" in it! To list my products I had thrown out and replaced (and some I even will never use again!)

-shampoo+conditioner+body wash (I now use Shampoo bars I find handmade at markets and Castile soap for body wash!)

-lotion (I will use a body oil or coconut oil)

-I loved to wear body spray to smell like a vanilla sun bum (Now i just mix my favorite high quality essential oils with a carrier oil and will rub that on my body or in my hair)

-deodorant (My favorite brand is Primally Pure!)

-candles (Dont use anymore! Just essentail oil diffusers)

-room sprays and air fresheners

-scented hand sanitizer

-my f*cking BRONZER for my face..my makeup

-some of my skin products

-hair spray+products

-laundry detergent and dryer sheets

-dish soap+dishwasher pods

-basically all my household cleaning products.

Your nose (and your hormones) deserve better. Ditch the chemical sh*tstorm and go for the real stuff!

Now I know that's a lot of products, what I don't want is for you to freak out and get overwhelmed, Thats not my goal, my goal is to make you aware and get used to reading LABELS and hopefully now the word "FRAGRANCE" will forever pop out to you. Start with just one swap at a time! Thats the easiest, less stressful and most affordable way to make low-tox choices.

MY SWAPS that I made in my household!

How I navigated this: I First chose products that I used everyday like Deodorant, candles, laundry soap and makeup! With my makeup I slowly swapped out each product as it ran out to lessen the overload. I knew laundry soap was a big one because all our clothes being washed in this and then on our skin ALL DAY was a big deal and same with my deodorant. Out with the old and in with the NEW!

I will attach links below to some easy/affordable low-tox swaps you can start tomorrow!

And be sure to follow my blog for more daily low-tox swaps.

Cleaning products:

Molly Suds laundry sheets- https://amzn.to/4ilGIBi

Molly Suds dishwasher pods- https://amzn.to/4iAHGcy

Molly Suds Dish soap- https://amzn.to/4hsqYLA

Deodorant:

Each & Every- https://amzn.to/4irJ9Cq

Now this one right here is my HOLY GRAIL. I always have a jug of it under my sink. I mix it with water and make all my hand soap around my house. I use it for body wash and face wash. My go to soap for about anything. Both brands are staples in my home.

Pure Castile soap- https://amzn.to/4hsrpFI

Dr.Bronners Pure Castile Soap- https://amzn.to/4iuCXJJ

Here are some sites and articles that are definitely worth your read as well!

-https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/certain-chemicals-may-trigger-early-puberty-girls

-This one is a must! https://www.ewg.org/research/not-so-sexy

-Has many more articles on their site! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34601394/

-Talks about VOC's https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/care-your-air-guide-indoor-air-quality

-Talks about Phthalates Toxicity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587442/

Stay tuned for the next TOX DROP-- something tells me its going to be Phthalates. That something is me. I'm saying its going to be Phthalates!