Matthew 26:7 "a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil" NKJ
Perfumes have changed
Did you know that perfume is made of toxic chemicals that can injure your health? Many of the chemicals in perfume are the same chemicals in cigarette smoke, and yet there is no regulation of the fragrance industry. Many people are "bothered" by perfumes - developing headaches, sinus problems, and even asthma from exposures. Many have gotten sick or even disabled from wearing (or being exposed to) fragrances and using other scented products. And fragrances are now used in almost every cleaning, laundry, and personal-care product on the market! These chemicals go directly into the bloodstream when applied to our skin and are also absorbed into the skin from our clothing. We also inhale the chemical fumes, which then go straight to our brains where they can do major harm. Many even have a "narcotic" effect, which is why some people seem "addicted" to their perfumes. Educate yourself about the health risks to you and your family from perfumes.
More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances. Of these, 95% are made from petroleum.
No agency regulates the fragrance industry, yet perfume chemicals are as damaging to health as tobacco smoke.
NOTE: Ask friends with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome which products are safe for them. The products each of us can tolerate vary from person to person.
Some toxic chemicals found in fragrances: Toluene, ethanol, acetone, formaldehyde, limonene, benzene derivatives, methylene chloride, and many others known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, nervous system damage, or other injuries. The EPA found chloroform as well in fabric softeners. Toluene was found in every fragrance sample collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a 1991 report. "Toluene was most abundant in the auto parts store as well as the fragrance section of the department store." Toluene has been proven to cause cancer and nervous system damage and is designated as hazardous waste. Chemical fragrances are also present in most laundry detergents, fabric softeners, anti-cling products, dish-washing liquids, disinfectants, soaps, shampoos and other hair products, deodorants, cosmetics, suntan/sunscreen lotions, aftershaves, colognes, incense, analgesic creams, and lip balms. Even products marked "unscented" often are falsely labelled and actually contain toxic fragrances. Using environmentally-safe products is as important as recycling. If everyone stopped buying unsafe, chemically-scented products, companies would stop making them, ending a lot of unnecessary pollution.
More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances. Of these, 95% are made from petroleum.
No agency regulates the fragrance industry, yet perfume chemicals are as damaging to health as tobacco smoke.
NOTE: Ask friends with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome which products are safe for them. The products each of us can tolerate vary from person to person.
Some toxic chemicals found in fragrances: Toluene, ethanol, acetone, formaldehyde, limonene, benzene derivatives, methylene chloride, and many others known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, nervous system damage, or other injuries. The EPA found chloroform as well in fabric softeners. Toluene was found in every fragrance sample collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a 1991 report. "Toluene was most abundant in the auto parts store as well as the fragrance section of the department store." Toluene has been proven to cause cancer and nervous system damage and is designated as hazardous waste. Chemical fragrances are also present in most laundry detergents, fabric softeners, anti-cling products, dish-washing liquids, disinfectants, soaps, shampoos and other hair products, deodorants, cosmetics, suntan/sunscreen lotions, aftershaves, colognes, incense, analgesic creams, and lip balms. Even products marked "unscented" often are falsely labelled and actually contain toxic fragrances. Using environmentally-safe products is as important as recycling. If everyone stopped buying unsafe, chemically-scented products, companies would stop making them, ending a lot of unnecessary pollution.
General Recommendations
1. Avoid ALL scented products ("fragrance" as an ingredient) - including all perfumes, colognes, after-shaves, personal-care products, air fresheners, pot-pourri, etc. Be careful about certain "unscented" products that use "masking fragrance" to cover up the original fragrance - these are doubly toxic!
2. Avoid ALL fabric softeners, dryer sheets, Clorox, scented detergents, etc. These products are VERY toxic and very harmful to the environment as well.
3. Avoid ALL pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Pesticides are neuro-toxins (affect the central nervous system), and they don't know the difference between the BUGS and YOU! For fleas, roaches, ants, etc., use diatomacious earth, boric acid, and nematodes. You can get these from health food stores and pet supply stores.
4. Use only non-toxic cleaning products and personal-care products.
5. Drink and bathe in filtered water. Taking a shower in chlorinated water causes the chlorine to go right into your blood stream. You can purchase shower filters that easily attach to your shower nozzle from water-supply stores. Also avoid swimming in chlorinated pools.
6. Eat organic food (food grown without pesticides or fertilizers) as often as possible. Avoid processed foods, foods with colors and dyes, preservatives, etc. NEVER consume products containing "NutraSweet" (aspartame). It breaks down into formic acid ("ant-sting poison") and methanol (wood alcohol) in your body!
7. Wear only natural-fiber clothing (100% cotton, linen, wool, or silk). Make sure the clothes are NOT "permanent press" or "wrinkle resistant" - these clothes have been treated with formaldehyde that does NOT wash out!
8. Use only 100% cotton, wool, or pure silk bed linens and blankets. Avoid "no-iron" or "wrinkle-resistant". A good brand is "Simply Cotton", marketed by "Martex" and available at department stores like Dillards. Wal-mart also now carries 100% cotton "T-shirt" sheets!
9. As much as possible, avoid plastics (store food in glass jars), particle-board, plywood, glues, inks, paints (use Glidden 2000 - least toxic), foam rubber, vinyl, carpet, synthetic rugs, varnishes, solvents, etc.
10. Open your windows as often as possible! Even in the most polluted cities, the outdoor air has been found to be less toxic than the indoor air! Amazing, isn't it?!
11. Certain houseplants are beneficial to remove toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene etc. The best plants for removing these and other toxins are philodendrons, spider plants, aloe vera, English ivy, golden pothos, and boston fern. To learn more about this, there is a really good book available called: How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home of Office by B. C. Wolverton. (NOTE: Many thanks to Karen Snyder for this information!)
http://www.perfume-allergy.co.uk/
If you must wear scents, there are some pleasant ones with less toxic ingredients: Enfusia Perfumes, Pacifica Perfumes (Hawaian Ruby Guava, Spanish Amber, Tuscan Blood Orange, Lotus Garden), Kuumba Perfumes (Persian Garden, Water Goddess, White Ginger, Zen Rain).
2. Avoid ALL fabric softeners, dryer sheets, Clorox, scented detergents, etc. These products are VERY toxic and very harmful to the environment as well.
3. Avoid ALL pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Pesticides are neuro-toxins (affect the central nervous system), and they don't know the difference between the BUGS and YOU! For fleas, roaches, ants, etc., use diatomacious earth, boric acid, and nematodes. You can get these from health food stores and pet supply stores.
4. Use only non-toxic cleaning products and personal-care products.
5. Drink and bathe in filtered water. Taking a shower in chlorinated water causes the chlorine to go right into your blood stream. You can purchase shower filters that easily attach to your shower nozzle from water-supply stores. Also avoid swimming in chlorinated pools.
6. Eat organic food (food grown without pesticides or fertilizers) as often as possible. Avoid processed foods, foods with colors and dyes, preservatives, etc. NEVER consume products containing "NutraSweet" (aspartame). It breaks down into formic acid ("ant-sting poison") and methanol (wood alcohol) in your body!
7. Wear only natural-fiber clothing (100% cotton, linen, wool, or silk). Make sure the clothes are NOT "permanent press" or "wrinkle resistant" - these clothes have been treated with formaldehyde that does NOT wash out!
8. Use only 100% cotton, wool, or pure silk bed linens and blankets. Avoid "no-iron" or "wrinkle-resistant". A good brand is "Simply Cotton", marketed by "Martex" and available at department stores like Dillards. Wal-mart also now carries 100% cotton "T-shirt" sheets!
9. As much as possible, avoid plastics (store food in glass jars), particle-board, plywood, glues, inks, paints (use Glidden 2000 - least toxic), foam rubber, vinyl, carpet, synthetic rugs, varnishes, solvents, etc.
10. Open your windows as often as possible! Even in the most polluted cities, the outdoor air has been found to be less toxic than the indoor air! Amazing, isn't it?!
11. Certain houseplants are beneficial to remove toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene etc. The best plants for removing these and other toxins are philodendrons, spider plants, aloe vera, English ivy, golden pothos, and boston fern. To learn more about this, there is a really good book available called: How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home of Office by B. C. Wolverton. (NOTE: Many thanks to Karen Snyder for this information!)
http://www.perfume-allergy.co.uk/
If you must wear scents, there are some pleasant ones with less toxic ingredients: Enfusia Perfumes, Pacifica Perfumes (Hawaian Ruby Guava, Spanish Amber, Tuscan Blood Orange, Lotus Garden), Kuumba Perfumes (Persian Garden, Water Goddess, White Ginger, Zen Rain).
Personal Care Products
NOTE: Use nothing on your skin that you'd be afraid to eat! Health Food Store = HFS
1. SHAMPOO:
2. SOAP:
3. DEODORANT:
4. TOOTHPASTE: (Avoid fluoride - it's toxic and doesn't help cavities anyway!)
5. FACE CREAMS AND BODY LOTIONS:
(Avoid "Quaternium-15", which releases formaldehyde!)
6. SUNSCREENS:
7. HAIRSPRAY:
8. FEMININE HYGIENE:
9. SHAVING CREAM:
MISCELLANEOUS TIP: Plant mint around the house to keep mosquitos away. Rub some mint leaves on you to keep them from biting you.
http://www.ourlittleplace.com/nontoxic.html
http://www.evansgarden.com/Perfume
www.origins.com
1. SHAMPOO:
- Pure Essentials Fragrance-Free Shampoo (HFS) - also make a conditioner
- Giovanni's Tea Tree Shampoo (contains no sodium laurel sulfate or propylene glycol!)
- Granny's Old-Fashioned Shampoo (HFS) - also make a conditioner
- Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Castile Liquid Soap
2. SOAP:
- Sirena Pure Coconut Oil Soap
- Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Soap
- Dr. Bronner's Baby Supermild Soap
- Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Castile Liquid Soap
3. DEODORANT:
- Mineral crystal stones (or spray) - least toxic choice (HFS)
- Queen Helene, Unscented Deodorant (HFS) - does contain propylene glycol, a petrochemical, but at least it's unscented!
- le Stick French Green Clay Deodorant (Unscented)
- Baking soda
- French clay powder (HFS)
- Corn Starch (great for powder!) - in the baking section of your grocery store (do not use if you have a problem with yeast infections since corn can "feed" the yeast!)
4. TOOTHPASTE: (Avoid fluoride - it's toxic and doesn't help cavities anyway!)
- Tom's of Maine (HFS)
- Weleda (HFS)
- Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - various brands (HFS)
- Jason's (contains no sodium laurel sulfate or propylene glycol!)
- Baking Soda
5. FACE CREAMS AND BODY LOTIONS:
(Avoid "Quaternium-15", which releases formaldehyde!)
- Plain almond oil or olive oil
- Kiss My Face Fragrance-free Olive and Aloe moisture lotion
- Granny's Old Fashioned Moisture Guard
- Nature's Plus Vitamin E Cream
- Cocoa butter, plain or with almond oil only
- Any fragrance-free moisturizer from regular stores would be better than scented moisturizers.
6. SUNSCREENS:
- Aubrey Organics Ultra 15 Natural Herbal Sunblock
(NOTE: Be sure to check the label carefully. There is another sunblock made by Aubrey Organics that contains apple essential oils and it does have a scent that can bother people with MCS!) - Mountain Ocean Sun Screen
- Kiss My Face Sun Screen
- Physician's Formula
7. HAIRSPRAY:
- For the most part - AVOID!! Most hair sprays contain nerve gas and propane or butane (yes, the stuff that goes into your gas heater and lighters!) and are VERY toxic. Cut hair in style that does not require sprays. You can also make a home-made gel by dissolving 1 package of unflavored gelatin (not "Jello"!) in 2 cups of hot water. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
- Plain Aloe Vera gel!
- There is a hairspray made by Naturade (HFS) called "Aloe Vera 80" that is tolerable to some MCS patients - be sure to get the kind without alcohol!
8. FEMININE HYGIENE:
- Glad Rags - organic cotton menstrual pads, tampons, and other non-toxic products.
(NOTE: FDA studies have shown commercially-bought pads and tampons to contain harmful substances. The traditional cotton used in these products has been grown using as many as 35 different pesticides and chemicals and is then chlorine bleached creating dioxin in the process.) - Natural and re-useable tampons: Use a couple of fine-holed sea-sponges (about as big as a palm - you can always cut them if too big). Clean and boil very carefully (they shrink a bit when boiled) and then thread a string through. Once wet, they turn very soft and are effective absorbers. (Many thanks to Inger for this tip!)
9. SHAVING CREAM:
- Kiss My Face
- Plain aloe vera gel can be used for after-shave - works great!
- Homemade Recipe: 1/4 Cup Pure Aloe Vera Gel, 1/4 Cup Pure Coconut Oil, 1/4 Cup Vegetable Glycerin, 1/8 Cup Pure Castille Soap, Liquid. Stir gently together and either put in a spray bottle or apply by hand. Apply a nice coating and then shave away!
MISCELLANEOUS TIP: Plant mint around the house to keep mosquitos away. Rub some mint leaves on you to keep them from biting you.
http://www.ourlittleplace.com/nontoxic.html
http://www.evansgarden.com/Perfume
www.origins.com
