Welcome

Experience a gentle detox that is guided by your senses and your body's innate wisdom. Sign up for Sophia's free monthly email newsletter.

Fragrance detox for your stuffy nose, runny nose, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and asthma

Jan 15, 2019

by Sophia Ruan Gushée

If you're not sick or suffering from known allergies, what might a stuffy nose or runny nose be trying to tell us?

The nose can communicate many important things to our brain and body. It can signal alarm from the smell of fire or something burning; stimulate our appetite and taste buds from the smell of a delicious meal or baked goodies; and it can trigger symptoms to get us to avoid toxic chemicals or toxic food.

Symptoms from scents vary, but they can include stuffy nose, runny nose, headaches, dizziness, nausea, respiratory issues, and skin reactions, like itchy skin or rashes. These symptoms can also result from a variety of things (like illness or seasonal allergies). And sometimes these symptoms can be the body's way of telling us to stay away from toxic ingredients in fragrance.

In fact, only 20% of the perfume industry's income comes from making perfumes to wear; the other 80% comes from perfuming the objects in our lives.

—A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman (1990)

Is Fragrance Harmful?

Fragrance can contain hundreds of chemicals, of which some have been linked to disruption or toxicity to the endocrine system, eyes, immune system, brain and nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, and skin (A to Z of D-Toxing 2015).

A 2009 study that was published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that a meaningful portion of the U.S. population is negatively affected by fragranced products. Among those with asthma and chemical sensitivity, an even greater portion of that population is bothered. This 2009 study found the following:

30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating
19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners
10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products

In the January 2018 journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, a study found that asthmatics were more likely to experience adverse health effects from fragranced products than non-asthmatics. Overall, the following was found among asthmatics:

41.0% of asthmatics report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers
28.9% from scented laundry products coming from a dryer vent
42.3% from being in a room cleaned with scented products
46.2% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product.

"Of these effects, 62.8% would be considered disabling under the definition of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Yet 99.3% of asthmatics are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week."

Unique Vulnerabilities

Pregnant women and children should be especially conservative about their fragrance exposures for several reasons. Fragrance formulas can contain hormone disruptors, which is risky for developing young life because it can influence development. Synthetic fragrance has been linked to the feminization of male babies (Swan et al. 2005), birth defects, and lifelong reproductive damage (Fisher et al. 2003).

Tips for a Fragrance Detox

If you suffer from any of the symptoms above and you don't know why (for example, if it's not from illness or another allergy), then experiment with a fragrance detox. It'll also reduce your risk to various health issues.

Below are products that often contain fragrance. Start reading labels to eliminate fragrance in the products you are exposed to. A great way to start is to eliminate the sources that don't bring you great joy. If you're feeling very attached to certain exposures, then hold on to them for now and see if you notice improvements from detoxing the products you don't mind avoiding.

Cosmetics
Lotions
Shampoos
Conditioners
Cleaning products
Laundry detergent
Garbage bags (please contact me if you find garbage bags that are fragrance free!)
Powders
Dry shampoo
Shaving cream
Deodorant / antiperspirant
Perfume/cologne (100% pure essential oils are good replacement; I use doTERRA)
Children's products and toys (stickers, dolls, stuffed animals, markers, etc)
Candles
Air fresheners
Incense

Let me Know!

If you start your fragrance detox, then I want to hear about it! Let me know through any of the following ways:

email at [email protected]
Instagram @ruanliving and please use hashtag #ruanliving
Facebook @ruanliving and please use hashtag #ruanliving

In Summary

Approximately one-third of the population experiences adverse health effects from synthetic fragrance. And young developing life (the unborn in pregnant women and children) are most vulnerable since the exposures from fragrance can participate in their development.

Detoxing your products of fragrance can be easy. Start reading labels and avoid fragrance in products you don't love. See if you feel better.

When you are ready for more change, then consider looking for healthier products to replace your beloved products that contain synthetic fragrance. Eventually, you may start to become more attached to how much better you feel on a fragrance detox.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ruan Living (@ruanliving) on Jan 15, 2019 at 5:43am PST

Jumpstart your home detox

Welcome

Fragrance detox for your stuffy nose, runny nose, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and asthma

Is Fragrance Harmful?

Unique Vulnerabilities

Tips for a Fragrance Detox

Let me Know!

In Summary

Other related articles

Jumpstart your home detox

Detox Your Inbox

EXPLORE

STAY IN TOUCH

VISIT OUR SISTER SITE

Want to see Sophia's shopping list of household staples?

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!