The Low-Tox Fragrance Swaps I Actually Recommend

Fragrance season is here. Pumpkin spice this, apple pie that, and then December rolls in with balsam, cinnamon, and sugar cookie everything. Since I never post something without wanting to explain why, here's the reasoning behind the swaps I make.

What "fragrance" on a label actually means

When you see "fragrance" or "parfum" on an ingredient label, that isn't necessarily one ingredient. It can represent a mixture of fragrance chemicals that aren't individually listed. I'm not saying everything that smells good is toxic. There are products scented with ingredients that are actually disclosed, and there's a real difference between that and a mystery fragrance blend on a label.

What I'm most interested in is the exposure you don't think twice about, because it's around you all day: plug-ins, candles, wax melts, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, room sprays, car air fresheners, and body products. It adds up especially when several of them are running at the same time.

Where to start

The good news is that fragrance is one of the easiest low-tox changes to make gradually. You don't need to go through your house tonight and throw everything away. Start with one category. Use up what you already have if you're comfortable doing that, and when it's time to replace it, choose a better option. I'd start with whatever you're exposed to most often, which for a lot of people is laundry or a plug-in that's running for hours a day.