Don't use scented products with synthetic fragrance or perfumes.
Healthy HouseTM CleanAir Tip
Many people think fragrance is a good thing. Most of us don’t stop and think that there are two kinds of fragrances, natural and synthetic. Synthetic scents are man-made and are a complex concoction of chemicals.
Fragrance chemicals are organic compounds that volatilize into the air, which is why we can smell them. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by fragrances are big offenders of polluted air.
There is an onslaught of fragrance products that have appeared on the market. They are wreaking havoc for the chemically sensitive and effecting the health of the non-sensitive. Laundry detergent, fabric softener, “air fresheners”, dryer sheets, scented plugins, candles, perfumes, colognes and body sprays are just some of the commonly scented products.
Many laundry detergents are scented themselves. Now there are more long-lasting scents that are applied to the laundry in granular form. These will pollute the indoor air, outdoor air through the dryer vent, your clothing and water.
Now nearly every manufacturer of garbage bags has scented versions.
Exposure to fragrance chemicals can cause a wide-variety of health effects including headaches, eye, nose, throat irritation, respiratory stress, nausea, forgetfulness, anger, depression and other neurotoxic symptoms.
Be sure to avoid any products that have perfume or fragrance listed in the ingredient list. If you are looking for a replacement to toxic fragrances, consider using a high-grade essential oil with a naturally occurring scent like rose or peppermint that are found in nature!