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How to Go Fragrance-Free/Non-Toxic
On This Page:
How to Pick out Fragrance-Free/Less Toxic Products
Information about Specific Products & Issues
Advice for Employers & Business Owners
If you want to go fragrance-free, you are in the right place! You will be doing your body a favor and also helping the millions of people struggling with Chemical Sensitivities, some you may know and some you may not. You will be making a world of difference.
For those of you who want to go completely fragrance-free, I will give you a lot of detail here. If you feel overwhelmed by it all, here are the four most important changes you can make:
1) Stop using perfume, cologne, body spray, and scented aftershave (see alternatives
below).
2) Use only fragrance free laundry products, including detergent, fabric softener, and
dryer sheets (see specific brands below). Even better, don’t use fabric softener or
dryer sheets at all.
3) Stop using commercial air fresheners in your home or car (see alternatives below).
4) Quit smoking. If you don’t want to stop, switching to a more natural brand such as
American Spirit will help. These have less toxins and a somewhat lighter smell.
Just taking these four steps will make a huge difference for people with Chemical Sensitivities as well as for your own health. You will literally be changing people’s lives. If you want to make even more of a difference, or need to go fragrance-free for a chemically sensitive friend, you will find a lot of helpful information in the next two sections.
How to Pick Out Fragrance-Free/Less Toxic Products
For a product to be fragrance-free, it must not contain any artificial fragrances. It should say “fragrance-free” on the front of the bottle, and the words “fragrance” or "parfum" should not be listed anywhere in the ingredients. Sometimes laundry products will use the terms “free and clear” or “free of perfumes and dyes” instead of fragrance-free, but this means the same thing.
Watch out for products labeled “unscented” – they are not always fragrance-free as they may contain an artificial masking fragrance designed to cover up other smells.
Many chemically sensitive people can use natural scents, such as organic essential oils. However, many cannot. If you are going fragrance-free to support a friend or family member, you will want to ask them about their particular sensitivities.
If you are also trying to eliminate other toxins in your life, you will want to thoroughly review the ingredients of everything you buy, including personal care products, cleaning products, food, etc. If there are words you don’t know or things you’ve never heard of, take the time to look them up. Find out exactly what each ingredient is composed of and what, if any, the potential health risks are. Some stores, such as Whole Foods, have an ingredient book you can look through, or you can find online resources such as the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetics Database. Also check out the Naked Truth Project which references a wide variety of products.
Finally, ALWAYS SMELL THE PRODUCT BEFORE PURCHASING. Many times, I have purchased a "fragrance-free" product and later discovered it still had a very strong, chemically-based smell. I do not fully understand this phenomenon myself, but I have talked with several such companies only to be told that there are definitely no fragrances in the product and that they "never" make mistakes. Since so many different chemicals are used in manufacturing personal products, it is possible that these chemicals themselves have a noticeable smell even though they are not technically fragrance chemicals. When in doubt, stick to products with more natural ingredients.
Information about Specific Products & Issues
Remember that this section is designed to eliminate the fragrances and chemically based products that cause problems for the chemically sensitive people around you. This does not guarantee that these products are safe for you as they may still contain chemicals that only your body will be absorbing. If you are also interested in protecting your own health, or if you are chemically sensitive yourself, you will want to research every ingredient of every product you use and every food you eat. See the above section for online resources for ingredient researching.
Perfume, Cologne, & Body Spray – This one’s easy: just don’t use it. Perfume and cologne are full of toxic chemicals, most of them undisclosed. It is one of the biggest triggers for a chemically sensitive person and a brief exposure can make them sick for the rest of the day if not longer. Also remember that if you use perfume sometimes, expect it to be on your clothes and skin all the time. It is actually absorbed by your skin and then secreted with your sweat. If you want a light natural smell, you can use watered down organic essential oils (not “fragrance oils”) which are available at natural foods stores. If you are going fragrance-free friends, ask if they are sensitive to essential oils. For more information on the ingredients and health risks of perfume, see “Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance,” a report published by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
Soaps – There are many fragrance-free options for hand, body, and face soap, and they all clean just as well. For body soap, try Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Bar Soap (which is actually fragrance-free) or Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash. There are also a number of fragrance-free, less toxic soaps available at natural foods stores - my favorite is True Unscented Body Soap, which contains only five ingredients.
Shampoo & Conditioner – You can find fragrance-free shampoos and conditioners, but it may take a little extra effort. Look for the brands Earth Science, Jason, Magick Botanicals, Desert Essence, and Burt’s Bees in natural foods stores, or you can buy Unicure, DHS, and many others online. Make sure they say fragrance-free. If your friend is not too sensitive, they might be able to tolerate lightly scented mainstream products, but be sure to ask them first.
Hairspray, Mousse, & Gel – You can find fragrance-free versions of these and other hair styling products in natural foods stores or online, including the brands Free & Clear, Magick Botanicals, Alba, Aveda, and Beauty Without Cruelty. Hair spray should ideally be both fragrance-free and non-aerosol – but watch out for several “unscented” hairsprays that still contain fragrance.
Creams & Lotions – Many lotions contain strong fragrances and are used mainly as a perfume. But fragrance-free versions are available, even at regular grocery and department stores. Look for the brands Lubriderm, Cetaphil, Kiss My Face, Aveeno, Nature’s Gate, Beauty Without Cruelty, and many others. Watch out for fragrances in face creams too which can sometimes be quite strong.
Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant – Look for fragrance-free versions at regular grocery and department stores, including Almay, Mitchum, Dove, Speed Stick, Right Guard, Sure, Ban, and Kiss My Face. Several options are available at natural foods stores as well. To protect your own health as well, avoid using products labeled “anti-perspirant” as these contain aluminum and other harmful chemicals that inhibit sweating, which is a vital, natural detoxification process.
Aftershave – This usually contains strong fragrances and should be avoided unless you can find a fragrance-free version. There are a few, including Gillette Complete Fragrance-Free After Shave Gel and Every Man Jack Fragrance-Free After Shave Lotion (available at Walgreens).
Makeup – Generally the fragrances in make-up are light enough not to bother a chemically sensitive person unless they use it on their own skin. If you are going fragrance-free for a friend, ask them about their particular sensitivities. There are several fragrance-free versions available.
Nail Polish and Remover – These are incredibly toxic and should never be used around a chemically sensitive person. Depending on your friend’s level of sensitivity, you may be able to use these safely when he or she is not around. Check with your friend and ask what will work. (If you know of any truly safe alternatives for these products, please let us know.)
Shaving Cream – Every Man Jack and Kiss My Face both offer fragrance-free shaving cream. You can also just use fragrance-free soap for this.
Sunscreen – Sunscreen tends to be heavily fragranced but there are many safe alternatives. Coppertone, Banana Boat, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Nature’s Gate, and Alba all make fragrance-free sunscreen lotion. (Note that Banana Boat often puts the term “fragrance-free” on the back of their bottle rather than the front.) To protect your own health, check out some of the less toxic alternatives available at natural foods stores.
Insect Repellant/Bug Spray – These products are notoriously stinky, but you can find fragrance-free versions. Look for Cutter Advanced Insect Repellant Spray or Wipes in Fragrance-Free or Buggspray Insect Repellant Fragrance-Free Formula. To protect your own health, also look for DEET-free, or buy one of several less toxic alternatives available at natural foods stores.
Laundry – For many people with Chemical Sensitivities, laundry products are their biggest allergy, yet they are the hardest to avoid and often lead to incredible isolation. Their reactions to these products can be so severe that they are forced to limit contact with friends and family, leave jobs, and even stop walking in their neighborhood. Laundry Detergent – Always use fragrance-free detergents. You can choose from Arm & Hammer Free & Clear, Purex Free & Clear, Cheer Free, All Free & Clear, Tide Free, and others, most of which are available for HE machines as well. Even better, use something like Seventh Generation Free & Clear, BioKleen Free & Clear, or Earth Friendly Products ECOS Free & Clear – these are safer and will protect your own health as well. Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softener – It is most ideal to not use these at all. They are very hazardous and contain several ingredients that are neurotoxics, narcotics, and carcinogens. To keep your clothes soft and static free, add vinegar to your wash or to the rinse cycle only or add fragrance-free hair conditioner to the rinse. Also be sure to line-dry anything made from synthetic fabrics. If you want a little smell to keep the clothes fresh, spray them lightly with watered down organic essential oils (if your friend is not sensitive to these) and be careful of how you store them. If you decide to continue using dryer sheets or fabric softener, absolutely get fragrance-free. Bounce, All, Method, and Seventh Generation make fragrance-free dryer sheets. Downy and Seventh Generation make fragrance-free fabric softener. Bleach – Use non-chlorine bleach which is available at regular grocery and department stores. This is still very effective even without the chlorine. Stain Removers and Laundry Boosters – You can use baking soda or borax as natural laundry boosters. For a fragrance-free stain remover, try OxiClean Free. Using Public Laundromats – If you do not have your own washer and dryer, then going fragrance-free will be a challenge. Even if you switch products, your clothes will still be absorbing the fragrances from other people who use the machines. If you are going fragrance-free for a friend, see if they have any ideas about another place you could do your laundry.
General Cleaning – To make your house safe for a chemically sensitive person to visit, avoid cleaning products that contain fragrance, bleach/chlorine, ammonia, harsh detergents, surfactants, and other chemicals. Check with your friend about their particular sensitivities as they vary by person. You may also want to research specific chemical ingredients that should be avoided to protect your own health. Some of the worst cleaning products for a chemically sensitive person include: Comet, Febreeze, Lysol, PineSol, Windex, carpet deodorizers, as well as scented laundry products (see above) and air fresheners (see below). Better options include products made by Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly Products, Planet, Ecover, BioKleen, Meyers, Sun & Earth, CitraSolv, and many others that you can find at natural foods stores, online, and often at regular grocery stores as well. You can also use baking soda, vinegar, castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, washing soda, borax, chlorine-free bleach, and other natural alternatives. Look for recipes and unique, natural cleaning solutions at EcoCycle and other sites.
Air fresheners – Air fresheners are stinky and very, very toxic (read more here: http://www.naturalnews.com/022067.html). They make your house inaccessible for people with chemical sensitivities and asthma, and the chemical fragrances may stick on your clothes even when you leave your house. (See related article from Natural News.) Stay away from any mainstream spray, plug-in, gel, or potpourri air fresheners. This includes Febreeze! The best way to freshen air is to create a clean air system that includes air purifiers, dehumidifiers and other methods of moisture control, and increased air circulation through fans and windows. Keeping the room as clean as possible, with safe cleaning products, will also help. If you really want to create a pleasant, safe aroma in your house (or even your car), try using more natural products such as Orange Mate Mist, Pure Citrus, or Citrus Magic. These are essential oil based products and may bother some people with Chemical Sensitivities, so check with the person you are trying to help first. You can also place an open box of baking soda or a bowl of white vinegar in the room, or fill a dish with freshly cut lemon slices, bunches of cloves, or other spices.
Candles – Most candles contain strong fragrance chemicals and can make a person with CS very, very sick, even if they are not lit. Use unscented candles or, if your friend can tolerate it, there are many candles available that use natural, essential oil based scents. If your friend is sensitive to petroleum, which is what most candles are made from, try 100% beeswax candles. Chemically sensitive people at a very extreme stage of the illness may not be able to tolerate the smoke even from a natural candle, so be sure to ask them what would work best. If you really want to help, you may decide to eliminate candles altogether.
OTHER HOUSEHOLD & BUILDING ISSUES
Building Materials – Most materials used in building and maintaining homes diffuse a variety of very strong chemicals into the air, sometimes for many months or even years after construction. Plywood, particle board, pressure treated wood, and insulation. Carpet, linoleum, paint, glue, and varnish. All of these and practically every other piece of your home was made from or processed with some type of chemical. You may not be able to change how your house was built but you can consider the chemically sensitive when renovating and maintaining your home. For example, be sure to use VOC-free paints such as those made by Fresh Aire, AFM, Benjamin Moore, or Glidden. Spend some time researching the materials you need, the toxins they contain, and safer alternatives that are available.
Mold & Mildew – Use a dehumidifier and other moisture control techniques to prevent mold and mildew. If you already have a mold problem, consult a professional about how to remedy the situation. You will want to do this as soon as possible even if you don’t have any chemically sensitive friends or family members. Mold is a very potent toxin to the human body and can create a lot of health issues. It also causes a lot of damage to the building itself.
Furniture – Most mainstream furniture has to off-gas before a chemically sensitive person can use it. The fabric on couches and upholstered chairs contains formaldehyde and other chemicals, similar to new carpets. The wood used to build desks, tables, dressers, and other furniture, has been exposed to many chemicals during its processing and then painted. Mattresses have many issues, one of which is that they are coated with chemical flame retardants. In short, talk with your chemically sensitive friend or family member before you buy any new furniture and look around for alternative sources that use more natural materials.
Electronics – Computers, televisions, and other electronics contain many heavy metals and other hazardous chemicals in both the internal components and the plastics on the outside. Often the internal components are more toxic but in many cases these are emitted through fans and vents. New electronics are difficult for people with CS, so ask your friend about his or her particular sensitivities. For more information, you can look at the GreenPeace Campaign for Greener Electronics.
Lawn Care – Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are dangerous to you and everyone in your neighborhood. This includes those for basic lawn care as well as agriculture and gardening. Choose natural alternatives whenever possible, such as diatomaceous earth, boric acid, organic fertilizers, compost, insect repelling plants, barriers, and other physical controls. Spend some time researching safe products and practices for your lawn and garden.
Smoke – If you can quit smoking, this will preserve your health and that of everyone around you. If you can’t or don’t want to quit, try switching to a more natural cigarette such as American Spirit. These have less toxins and a lighter smell. Other kinds of smoke can be difficult for a person with CS, especially woodstove smoke. Ask your friend about their particular sensitivities.
Advice for Employers & Business Owners
If you are an employer or business owner, you have a unique opportunity to be a positive influence, but you also have many challenges. This section should give you some basic pointers, but we would happy to consult with you if you need more recommendations. Also check out the article "Understanding & Accommodating People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Independent Living" by Pamela Reed Gibson, Ph.D.
You will also want to conduct a thorough review of the products you use in and around your building. Look through the information under “Cleaning Products” and “Household/Building Issues” in the above section to determine what your toxic load is right now and how to reduce it. You will probably find many areas that could use improvement, including carpeting, recent renovations, air freshener, cleaning products, etc. Do the best you can and make a commitment to review the issue on a regular basis and make as many changes as possible.
You may also want to use an air purification system to improve the indoor air quality. Air purifiers are a big help and can be a very effective, low-maintenance tool to support the health of all of your employees and customers. Air circulation through the use of fans and windows can also help, as can the use of dehumidifiers and other moisture control techniques.
If you suspect that there may be mold, radon, asbestos, carbon monoxide, or other contaminants in your building, you will want to get this tested or confirmed as soon as possible and obtain professional recommendations as to how to remedy the situation. You should also ensure that your heating and cooling systems are working correctly and not leaking any pollutants into the air.
If you are selling any products, you will want to research their health risks and any alternative choices you could provide that are less toxic. Because of the widespread use of chemicals in manufacturing, production, agriculture, and other fields, almost any product you sell could be more toxic than you think. This includes food, clothing, computers and electronics, paper products, building materials, and almost anything else.
If you work in an industry that is by nature chemically based, you have some tough choices ahead of you. Examples of this include construction, manufacturing, carpentry, agriculture, transportation, automotive repair, cosmetology, and many more. Another less obvious example is working in an office full of printers, photocopiers, and chemically processed paper. You will want to do some research and find as many safe alternatives as possible. But because of the nature of the job, you may not be able to make your workplace suitable for someone with Chemical Sensitivities. Do the best you can to make a difference, but know that you can’t change everything.
If
you are a landlord, building developer, or architect, there are a lot
of very specific things you will want to consider in building and
maintaining homes or apartments. Safe housing for people with CS is
incredibly hard to find - almost all building materials are made of or
processed with some kind of toxic chemical and these chemicals can take
months or even longer to fully outgas and be safe. Make a commitment to
use the safest products possible in construction, maintenance, and
lawn-care. Implement policies that will keep your air and land clean,
such as no smoking on the property. You can even require tenants to use
fragrance-free laundry products in the shared laundry facilities. Please check out the non-profit Re-Shelter
for more specific information as well as Chapter 4 of the article by
Dr. Gibson mentioned in the first paragraph of this section. Again, feel free to contact us if you need more specific advice.
If you are working to support a specific person with Chemical Sensitivities, the most important thing you can do is to maintain regular communication about how they are feeling in this environment. They may have other ideas and needs that I have not listed here and it will be an incredible blessing if you are able to help them stay in the workforce or in an independent living situation. Unfortunately, if they cannot find a way to minimize their exposures, the condition may continue to worsen to the point of disability.
It is a good idea for any employer or business owner to take the actions mentioned above. Even if you don’t have an employee or a customer with Chemical Sensitivities, the fragrances and chemicals you use are still affecting people and the environment. If you choose to go fragrance-free and non-toxic, you will be making your business a safer place for all people and creating opportunities for people with Chemical Sensitivities to be involved in their community. You will also be ensuring that your business and your actions on this earth are creating as little harm and creating as much good as possible. This, in itself, could be a measure of your success in life.
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