Natural Fragrance versus Synthetic Fragrances

Today's Absolutely Natural quiz:

Question one: What is the largest organ in your body?

A)    Your heart

B)    Your lungs

C)    Your kidneys

D)    Your skin

Question two: What happens to the topicals (lotion, cream, shampoos, conditioners, butters) when  you put them  on your skin?

a)    You smell nice

b)    They get absorbed into your blood stream

c)     They come off when you towel dry

d)    None of the above

Question three: What percentage of chemicals from fragrances enter the blood stream?

a)    80%

b)    90%

c)     100%

d)    All of the above

Question four: What organ in your body filters out chemicals absorbed through the skin?

a)    Liver

b)    Kidneys

c)     Pancreas

d)    None of the above

Answers to this tricky quiz: 1 (D); 2 (B and okay, maybe A especially if you are using Absolutely Natural); 3 (D… again tricky but depending on the product and chemical all the answers may be correct); 4 (D unlike the kidney and liver that acts as filters for what you intake, your skin is on its own with no filters)

How did you do?

Most people don’t realize the importance of choosing a fragrance that is natural and easy on  the skin.

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A tutorial:

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES

While more than 60% of what you put on your skin can get absorbed into the blood stream, the percentage is higher for chemical fragrances. On average, 80% of fragrance formulations are comprised of these chemicals and in some cases, 100% of a formula can be synthetic. 95% of the chemicals in most commercial fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum and natural gas, known as petrochemicals.

To protect trade secrets, companies are permitted by the FDA to withhold fragrance ingredients, so consumers can’t rely on labels to know what hazards may lurk inside their bottle of perfume. That gives companies the freedom to load some fragrances with secret chemicals, sensitizers, potential hormone disruptors and chemicals not assessed for safety. Some of the most talked about ingredients of concern in fragrances are:

·         Parabens- a commonly used synthetic preservatives in many fragrances, they can interfere with the production and release of hormones. Absolutely Natural does not use parabens in any of our fragrances.

·         Formaldehyde-  In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen. Since that time, some studies of humans have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with certain types of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen and In 2011, the National Toxicology Program named formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.

·         Phthalates- this popular fragrance preservative is usually highly concentrated in most commercial perfumes. A known carcinogen, health effects may include damage to liver/kidneys, birth defects, decreased sperm counts and early breast development in girls and boys. Absolutely Natural does not use phthalates.

NATURALS

Consumers are becoming more educated and cautious about chemicals in our personal care products and are seeking safer alternatives. Using natural fragrances is much healthier.

Natural fragrances are essential oils and essences derived from botanical ingredients that are harvested from the earth such as: flowers, fruits, sap, seeds or skin of the plant, as well as the bark, leaves, roots, resins or wood of certain trees and not from a lab.  Absolutely Natural fragrances are derived from natural raw materials by either steam or water distillation, a technique that has been around for centuries.

Without harsh chemicals, natural fragrances are also more eco-friendly than synthetics whose chemicals can be an environmental problem. You are getting nature’s gifts in its purest form. People with chemical sensitivities and asthma won’t be as bothered like they are with synthetics.  Our own Todd Anderson suffers from Atopic Dermatitis and was once told he could never use any fragranced product. Todd has no problem with any of our products.

Did you ace your quiz?  Hopefully you did and you should reward yourself with lots of wonderful Absolutely Natural products.

Best regards

Charley