Comments on: Unscented Products — Why and How http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html Musings, tips and hard information on green living Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:49:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: fiona jacobson http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-407 fiona jacobson Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:57:16 +0000 Good to realise that unscented doesn't mean natural. This is exploding one of the big myths in this business. Nice post. Good to realise that unscented doesn’t mean natural. This is exploding one of the big myths in this business. Nice post.

]]> By: Anonymous http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-201 Anonymous Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:38:28 +0000 Finally, it seems like the marketplace is catching up to those of us who want to live in a truly clean and scent-free environment. Brands like Method, Seventh Generation, Magick Botanicals, and even Cheer and Tide are now selling products without scent or dye. Hooray! Finally, it seems like the marketplace is catching up to those of us who want to live in a truly clean and scent-free environment. Brands like Method, Seventh Generation, Magick Botanicals, and even Cheer and Tide are now selling products without scent or dye. Hooray!

]]> By: Lynn from Chemical Soup.net http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-202 Lynn from Chemical Soup.net Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:25:16 +0000 I enjoyed your article, Sheryl. And good luck with your son. I applaud how you handled things. We do need to challenge the marketing messages that harm.<br /><br />I've spent the morning reading about the brain and fragrance. Makes me wonder how ethical scent marketing is in light of their sometimes drug-like effects.<br /><br />Anyway, I go scent-free after learning even the organic, natural air fresheners contain voc's. In short, I want to give my brain clean air. I enjoyed your article, Sheryl. And good luck with your son. I applaud how you handled things. We do need to challenge the marketing messages that harm.

I've spent the morning reading about the brain and fragrance. Makes me wonder how ethical scent marketing is in light of their sometimes drug-like effects.

Anyway, I go scent-free after learning even the organic, natural air fresheners contain voc's. In short, I want to give my brain clean air.

]]> By: Regina http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-203 Regina Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:54:37 +0000 I truly hope that this important issue gets more attention. I lost my job because of perfumed products. I worked for an environmental non-profit, in a building that was LEED certified, not using anything toxic in the building. But that didn't prevent people from bringing/wearing toxic perfumes. My asthma was so bad, I had three fans at my desk to try to keep the scented stuff out of my cubicle. They moved me to a desk that had a window, and still with the three fans blowing fresh air toward the perfumed stuff was not enough to help me. My boss would then say that maybe what was bothering me was the pollen from outside. I told her that I know my body, and it was not the pollen. My eyes, nose, and throat were not bothered as if it was pollen, the only effect was the extreme difficulty in breathing. I had been going to an allergist for years, and my pollen allergy is well under control. But this sensitivity to perfumed products isn't helped by my allergy medicine or shots. I was treated horribly at work, because they felt that they couldn't ask someone to stop using whatever they were using. They didn't even want to acknowledge that there was anything there that could possibly be causing my asthma. I know there was something there, because I would start to wheeze even before I saw the person wearing the stuff. If I'm sitting in my cubicle, I couldn't see when she was near, but I would feel it in my lungs, and I'd look, and there she was. I tried to be nice, and understanding, but she just insisted that she wasn't using anything that could possibly cause my asthma. I wound up having an emotional breakdown because I just was treated so badly. It was even suggested that it was "all in my head" -- I had suffered depression, so the just insinuated that this was psychological as well. I kept insisting that it wasn't all in my head, until one day, I just couldn't take it any more. I absolutely loved that job, but I couldn't take the hostile environment any more, and I just had to go back to the hospital because I was becoming more and more upset about the breathing issue and their refusal to acknowledge that there was anything there that could possibly be causing me to wheeze.<br /><br />I have for years been unable to go in the laundry and airfreshener aisle of the large grocery stores, so I buy my laundry soap at Trader Joe's because it's not some big aisle with a gazillion chemicals in it to overpower me.<br /><br />I can always tell when someone in my neighborhood is doing laundry, because I feel in my lungs the dryer sheets that they use. My lungs have a very specific reaction to different things, and I can always tell when someone is using dryer sheets, as opposed to just detergent.<br /><br />anyway, I guess I just needed to vent. I absolutely loved my job, but because I stayed there so long, trying to put up with the scented products or have someone try to work with me on the issue, it seems that my asthmatic reaction to perfumed products is now worse than ever.<br /><br />Thank you so much for this article. I just wish there was more of this type of thing in the "mainstream media"<br /><br />Peace, I truly hope that this important issue gets more attention. I lost my job because of perfumed products. I worked for an environmental non-profit, in a building that was LEED certified, not using anything toxic in the building. But that didn't prevent people from bringing/wearing toxic perfumes. My asthma was so bad, I had three fans at my desk to try to keep the scented stuff out of my cubicle. They moved me to a desk that had a window, and still with the three fans blowing fresh air toward the perfumed stuff was not enough to help me. My boss would then say that maybe what was bothering me was the pollen from outside. I told her that I know my body, and it was not the pollen. My eyes, nose, and throat were not bothered as if it was pollen, the only effect was the extreme difficulty in breathing. I had been going to an allergist for years, and my pollen allergy is well under control. But this sensitivity to perfumed products isn't helped by my allergy medicine or shots. I was treated horribly at work, because they felt that they couldn't ask someone to stop using whatever they were using. They didn't even want to acknowledge that there was anything there that could possibly be causing my asthma. I know there was something there, because I would start to wheeze even before I saw the person wearing the stuff. If I'm sitting in my cubicle, I couldn't see when she was near, but I would feel it in my lungs, and I'd look, and there she was. I tried to be nice, and understanding, but she just insisted that she wasn't using anything that could possibly cause my asthma. I wound up having an emotional breakdown because I just was treated so badly. It was even suggested that it was "all in my head" — I had suffered depression, so the just insinuated that this was psychological as well. I kept insisting that it wasn't all in my head, until one day, I just couldn't take it any more. I absolutely loved that job, but I couldn't take the hostile environment any more, and I just had to go back to the hospital because I was becoming more and more upset about the breathing issue and their refusal to acknowledge that there was anything there that could possibly be causing me to wheeze.

I have for years been unable to go in the laundry and airfreshener aisle of the large grocery stores, so I buy my laundry soap at Trader Joe's because it's not some big aisle with a gazillion chemicals in it to overpower me.

I can always tell when someone in my neighborhood is doing laundry, because I feel in my lungs the dryer sheets that they use. My lungs have a very specific reaction to different things, and I can always tell when someone is using dryer sheets, as opposed to just detergent.

anyway, I guess I just needed to vent. I absolutely loved my job, but because I stayed there so long, trying to put up with the scented products or have someone try to work with me on the issue, it seems that my asthmatic reaction to perfumed products is now worse than ever.

Thank you so much for this article. I just wish there was more of this type of thing in the "mainstream media"

Peace,

]]> By: Davina http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-204 Davina Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:04:24 +0000 Brava! The scent of clean air is far better than any pretender. And there are lots of things that can be used to deodorize bodies without poisoning them at the same time.<br /><br />Thanks for this article Brava! The scent of clean air is far better than any pretender. And there are lots of things that can be used to deodorize bodies without poisoning them at the same time.

Thanks for this article

]]> By: lc http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-205 lc Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:48:12 +0000 not to mention asthma - i was once in a class at kaiser with a woman who had asthma. the first day, she left because there was a plug-in air freshener in the bathroom, and it set off her asthma badly. <br /> <br />for me it was sickening and irritating but for her, it was a crisis. eventually our class persuaded kaiser doctors to remove it.<br /> <br />thanks for the column. not to mention asthma – i was once in a class at kaiser with a woman who had asthma. the first day, she left because there was a plug-in air freshener in the bathroom, and it set off her asthma badly.

for me it was sickening and irritating but for her, it was a crisis. eventually our class persuaded kaiser doctors to remove it.

thanks for the column.

]]> By: Sandra http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-206 Sandra Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:45:15 +0000 Sheryl, The deodorant problem can be solved by baking soda , too. Just dust a bit between your palms and apply underarms (or whereever). The effect lasts longer than any deodorant I have ever tried. Sandra Sheryl, The deodorant problem can be solved by baking soda , too. Just dust a bit between your palms and apply underarms (or whereever). The effect lasts longer than any deodorant I have ever tried. Sandra

]]> By: Linda Ashman http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-207 Linda Ashman Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:41:45 +0000 Hi, Sheryl. We avoid perfumes and scented products as much as possible in our house, and rely on vinegar, baking soda and borax for much of our cleaning. But there's plenty more we can do. The Guide to Less Toxic Products is really informative and helpful--I'm looking forward to trying some of their homemade alternatives. <br /><br />I subscribe to This Green Life, and always find it thought-provoking. Thanks so much for another great entry. Hi, Sheryl. We avoid perfumes and scented products as much as possible in our house, and rely on vinegar, baking soda and borax for much of our cleaning. But there's plenty more we can do. The Guide to Less Toxic Products is really informative and helpful–I'm looking forward to trying some of their homemade alternatives.

I subscribe to This Green Life, and always find it thought-provoking. Thanks so much for another great entry.

]]> By: Julie H http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-208 Julie H Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:32:33 +0000 Great tips! I stopped using commercial cleaners all together about a year ago. Vinegar and a microfiber rag work wonders on just about everything. We also use castile soap both as a cleaner, a body wash, and in our hand soap dispensers. Sometimes I use incense to cover a strong odor when it's not possible to open windows (say if we've cooked fish on a winter day and it still smells the next day). My husband is Native American so we burn dried white sage leaves. There's also a company called Juniper Ridge that makes natural incense sticks from sage, sweetgrass, and a variety tree needles (ie cedar, juniper, pine, etc). It's a great alternative to chemically scented candles and doesn't seem to bother members of the family who are sensitive to harsh scents. Great tips! I stopped using commercial cleaners all together about a year ago. Vinegar and a microfiber rag work wonders on just about everything. We also use castile soap both as a cleaner, a body wash, and in our hand soap dispensers. Sometimes I use incense to cover a strong odor when it's not possible to open windows (say if we've cooked fish on a winter day and it still smells the next day). My husband is Native American so we burn dried white sage leaves. There's also a company called Juniper Ridge that makes natural incense sticks from sage, sweetgrass, and a variety tree needles (ie cedar, juniper, pine, etc). It's a great alternative to chemically scented candles and doesn't seem to bother members of the family who are sensitive to harsh scents.

]]> By: Marny Turvill, M.D. http://thisgreenblog.com/2010/01/unscented-products-why-and-how.html#comment-209 Marny Turvill, M.D. Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:24:11 +0000 This article hits the nail on the head! It covers the critical issues of lack of industry regulation, ignoring personal rights, unconscious conditioning, marketing ploys, our obsession with what is fashionable at all costs (and specifically at the cost of our health), lack of safety testing requirements, lack of labeling requirements and more while being very easy and pleasant to read, bringing awareness of some common but little-known illnesses and giving practical examples and resources. Amazingly well done!!<br /><br />A few replies to other comments:<br />1) Yes, this applies to the majority of scented candles because they use synthetic fragrance.<br />2) Essential oils were touched on with the comment that they, too, can cause problems. People can be senstive even to natural things, which is a different topic. It is important to be aware that many products labels as "pure essential oil" to have pure essential oil in them but also contain synthetic fragrance or phthalates or other chemicals aimed at boosting or prolonging the scent - another example of inadequate labeling laws.<br /><br />Marny Turvill, M.D.<br />Pediatrician and MCS sufferer This article hits the nail on the head! It covers the critical issues of lack of industry regulation, ignoring personal rights, unconscious conditioning, marketing ploys, our obsession with what is fashionable at all costs (and specifically at the cost of our health), lack of safety testing requirements, lack of labeling requirements and more while being very easy and pleasant to read, bringing awareness of some common but little-known illnesses and giving practical examples and resources. Amazingly well done!!

A few replies to other comments:
1) Yes, this applies to the majority of scented candles because they use synthetic fragrance.
2) Essential oils were touched on with the comment that they, too, can cause problems. People can be senstive even to natural things, which is a different topic. It is important to be aware that many products labels as "pure essential oil" to have pure essential oil in them but also contain synthetic fragrance or phthalates or other chemicals aimed at boosting or prolonging the scent – another example of inadequate labeling laws.

Marny Turvill, M.D.
Pediatrician and MCS sufferer

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