Jules Organic Living
Insights for the Mind Body and Spirit
The Sneaky Poison!
In my quest to become a more natural person I have noticed a significant difference in how I respond to fake products. One of the biggest offenders to me now is the chemical whiffs I get from perfumes, air fresheners, and household cleaners. I’m not sure why I never noticed it all my life as I came from a family that used all sorts of toxic Glade products and I wore cologne. I guess you just get accustomed to breathing in deadly fumes and do not question it because everyone else is using it and you falsely assume that the products must be safe. They are not!
( Your Choice) 
They are deadly and should be avoided as much as possible. Tall order considering the petroleum industry is involved. About 95% of the products used in “fragrance” are petroleum based chemicals. I love how the marketing downplays this fact by calling it a fragrance which has the illusion of being something that resembles a flower. Not even close, it represents a huge oil company getting rich and many others left to suffer through all that is assoiciated with the production of oil such as the destruction of land and habitat, the control of the oil which leads to war, and the weakening of the human spirit leading to further dependency on oil. Another note on oil, it is also highly used in the food industry, another reason to buy local instead of from the chain grocery stores. So you may be unaware of what exactly are in the products you are using and thats the the way they want it. They of course is BIG Corpa. They do not have to list there ingredients because it may give there secret recipe to competitors. Really! WOW! Not that anyone would even know what any of the ingredients were. Here is a list of the top 20 ingredients found in the top 31 fragrance products; also how harmful they are, where to find them, and some relevant facts about them! After reading this I hope you will be more selective when choosing fragrances! Choose natural and organic products and do your best to keep it “Real”. Thank You!
Top 20 chemicals found in fragrances:
ACETONE (in: cologne, dishwashing liquid and detergent, nail enamel remover) – On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. “Inhalation can cause dryness of the mouth and throat; dizziness, nausea, incoordination, slurred speech, drowsiness, and, in severe exposures, coma.” “Acts primarily as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.”
BENZALDEHYDE (in: perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent) – Narcotic. Sensitizer. “Local anesthetic, CNS depressant”… “irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract, causing nausea and abdominal pain.” “May cause kidney damage.” “Do not use with contact lenses.”
BENZYL ACETATE (in: perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants) – Carcinogenic (linked to pancreatic cancer); “From vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting cough.” “In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs.” “Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects.” “Do not flush to sewer.”
BENZYL ALCOHOL (in: perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener) – “irritating to the upper respiratory tract” …”headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure.”
CAMPHOR (in: perfume, shaving cream, nail enamel, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, nail color, stickup air freshener) – “local irritant and CNS stimulant” …”readily absorbed through body tissues” …”irritation of eyes, nose and throat” …”dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions” “Avoid inhalation of vapors.”
ETHANOL (in: perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover) – On EPA Hazardous Waste list; symptoms: “…fatigue; irritating to eyes and upper respiratory tract even in low concentrations…” “Inhalation of ethanol vapors can have effects similar to those characteristic of ingestion. These include an initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision, ataxia, stupor…” Causes CNS disorder.
ETHYL ACETATE (in: after shave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid) – Narcotic. On EPA Hazardous Waste list; “…irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract” …”may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)” …”defatting effect on skin and may cause drying and cracking” …”may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys” “Wash thoroughly after handling.”
LIMONENE (in: perfume, cologne, disinfectant spray, bar soap, shaving cream, deodorants, nail color and remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, after shave, bleach, paint and varnish remover) – Carcinogenic. “Prevent its contact with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer.” “Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before eating, drinking, …applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor.”
LINALOOL (in: perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant) – Narcotic. …”respiratory disturbances” … “Attracts bees.” “In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity and depression … development of respiratory disturbances leading to death.” …”depressed frog-heart activity.” Causes CNS disorder.
METHYLENE CHLORIDE (in: shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover) – Banned by the FDA in 1988! No enforcement possible due to trade secret laws protecting chemical fragrance industry. On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. “Carcinogenic” …”Absorbed, stored in body fat, it metabolizes to carbon monoxide, reducing oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.” “Headache, giddiness, stupor, irritability, fatigue, tingling in the limbs.” Causes CNS disorder.
a-PINENE (in: bar and liquid soap, cologne, perfume, shaving cream, deodorants, dishwashing liquid, air freshener) – Sensitizer (damaging to the immune system).
g-TERPINENE (in: cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, air freshener) – “Causes asthma and CNS disorders.”
a-TERPINEOL (in: perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, bleach powder, laundry bleach, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, vaseline lotion, cologne, soap, hairspray, after shave, roll-on deodorant) – …”highly irritating to mucous membranes”… “Aspiration into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema.” Can also cause “excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache.” “Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact.”
Unable to secure MSDS for the following chemicals: 1,8-CINEOLE; b-CITRONELLOL; b-MYRCENE; NEROL; OCIMENE; b-PHENETHYL ALCOHOL; a-TERPINOLENE
Relevant Facts:
- 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers – capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, Report by the Committee on Science & Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Sept. 16, 1986. (Report 99-827)
- Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders (brain and spine) include Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
- Chloroform was found in tests of fabric softeners: EPA’s 1991 study.
- A room containing an air freshener had high levels of p-dichlorobenzene (a carcinogen) and ethanol: EPA’s 1991 study.
- An FDA analysis (1968-1972) of 138 compounds used in cosmetics that most frequently involved adverse reactions, identified five chemicals (alpha-terpineol, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, limonene and linalool) that are among the 20 most commonly used in the 31 fragrance products tested by the EPA in 1991!
- Thirty-three million Americans suffer from sinusitis (inflammation or infection of sinus passages).
- Headaches cost $50 billion in lost productivity and medical expenses and 157 million lost work days in 1991. “Focus on Fragrance and Health,” by Louise Kosta, The Human Ecologist, Fall 1992.
Information found at http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/hrfragrance.htm
“Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet”
Jared Repass~ My Body Reboot
Jules Organic Living 
Wow! It’s crazy how you just grow so accustomed to having these types of chemicals around you. How do you feel about scented oils? I’ve seen a bunch of these type things at natural food stores, and I’m wondering if they have these toxins in them as well!
Because of their pureness, I use aromatherapy oils all the time. Unless you have a sensitivity to certain flowers, you should be fine using them as well. Thank you for following our blog Colleen. 🙂
Amazing Post! I have also changed my lifestyle dramatically and I use “Organic Bodycare Recipes” book by Stephanie Tourles to help replace all the products I normally use when I can’t find a good alternative from my local organic store.
Switching over to a more natural diet, cutting out as many chemicals and processed foods, has tremendously improved the quality of my health and of my life!
That’s great to hear! Best to you and to your health and thank you for following our blog. 🙂
Reblogged this on WondreWoman.