Why be Fragrance Free

Many people in our community become ill when exposed to fragrances such as those contained in personal care and laundry products. Many of these products contain unlisted toxins, and while almost everyone may have some reaction to strong fragrances, some of us have much more immediate reactions even to “lighter” fragrances – including migraines, blurred vision, muscle and joint pain, difficulty breathing, and even seizures. If participants wear fragrances to this training, the facilitator may become ill. If you arrive wearing a fragrance that makes someone ill, you will be asked to wash it off, and if that’s not possible, you may be asked to leave the training.

How to be Fragrance Free

Being fragrance-free means arriving to the workshop with no fragrance on your body, hair, or clothes. Some products that contain fragrance may not smell strongly to you. Check the label for ingredients such as “fragrance,” “natural fragrance,” or “parfum.”

Keep in mind:

• Products that may contain fragrances include perfume, cologne, shampoo and other hair items, soap, lotion, aftershave, sunscreen, insect repellent, deodorant, makeup, laundry detergent and dryer sheets. Almost all of these products are available in fragrance-free varieties, including deodorant (but not perfume or cologne, obviously).

• Laundry products are especially problematic because the fragrance chemicals are designed to stick to fabric for weeks or more. Even some “fragrance free” dryer sheets contain harmful chemicals that affect people in the same ways as fragrances. Wool felt dryer balls are a safer substitute.

• Some natural fragrances are less harmful than manufactured fragrances, but can still cause illness for some people and should be used sparingly or not at all.

For a short, one-time event, you can be relatively fragrance-free without purchasing new products:

• Leave off optional products (such as perfume, cologne, aftershave, lotion, hair styling product), especially products that stay on you all day (as opposed to those you use and then rinse off).

• Deodorant – Did you know that the scent is not what makes deodorant work? It’s true! It works because it’s mildly antibacterial. There are many fragrance-free deodorants available on the market. Another easy alternative is coconut oil – the same kind you cook with. Just rub about 1/2 a teaspoon into each armpit. It works all day and does not stain.

• Choose your outfit in advance. Wash it in plain water, or with white vinegar in place of detergent, and then dry it without dryer sheets. Ideally, hang it up to dry and air out for a day or two.

• Shampoo and conditioner do come in fragrance-free varieties, but it can be hard to find one on short notice that will work well for your hair. In that case, consider showering the night before instead of the morning of a session, so that fragrance will have worn off a little.

• If you smoke, avoid doing so during the training or immediately before it starts, and/or wear an outer layer when you go out to smoke that you can take off and leave outside the training room.

FAQs

Is coconut oil a fragrance?

No. Coconut oil is food. It has one ingredient. It smells like what it is, and is totally different from something that is “coconut scented” and has many ingredients that could include fragrance.

What about food smells?

Food smells are not fragrances. You are welcome to bring and eat any food you want to our training sessions (unless there’s a specific allergy concern, in which case we’ll let you know).

What about natural fragrances?

Fragrances that are truly natural are usually less harmful than manufactured fragrances, but can still make some people ill and should be used sparingly. More importantly, when you see “natural” on a label or ingredient list, it doesn’t mean anything in particular. There’s often no way to tell how actually natural a product is.

What about essential oils (EOs)?

EOs are manufactured from some “natural” ingredients (mostly plants) and some other ingredients and processes that are not natural. They are highly concentrated and can make anyone sick if they’re not diluted properly. Many people with chemical sensitivities are made ill by EOs, even in concentrations that would be okay for other people. As a general guideline, an EO product that is safe to eat (such as diluted peppermint oil) is less likely to cause a severe reaction than an EO product that would only ever be used in other ways (such as sandalwood or patchouli).

Further resources

Another useful explanation of why and how to be fragrance-free can be found here, along with lists of safe products. Some brilliant and useful thoughts about race, class, gender, disability and fragrance-free policies can be found here. A University of Washington study documenting the toxins found in common products can be found here.