You know how you can recognize someone by their smell? We often have memories brought back to our conscious by certain smells; our brains are very powerful and our bodies are amazingly woven together emotionally and physically. In my journey of learning to use less toxins in my home I am learning so much and becoming empowered.
I am amazed at what I didn’t know and just went about doing, applying all types of toxins to my skin, washing my hair with toxic shampoos, moisturizing my body with lotions full of chemicals, and using chemical ladened hand sanitizer. And the big one for me, which I ditched about a year ago, synthetic perfume.
Fragrance is now considered among the top five allergens in North America and European countries and is associated with a wide range of skin, eye, and respiratory reactions.
YIKES! This really shouldn’t amaze me, but it does.
For over 15 years I was known by my smell (at least it was a good smell!!). I could come into a room and everyone would know I was there because of my Donna Karan Cashmere Mist perfume I wore. I loved that perfume.
As I met my health challenges “head on” with new approaches to dealing with my symptoms, I decided to examine all things, and synthetic perfume was one that hit me upside the head. Why on earth was I intentionally spraying myself with chemicals that I really had no idea how they could be affecting my body? There are major health risks of those chemicals in fragrances.
According the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a few popular perfumes tested for safety contained an average of ten unlisted chemicals each that are associated with allergic reactions like asthma, wheezing, headache, and contact dermatitis. Additionally, perfumes tested contain an average of four chemicals known to be endocrine disruptors, which impair normal hormone development and have been linked to a range of health issues including sperm damage, thyroid disruption, and cancer.
So I decided to take a look at my fragrance, Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Lotion, and its ingredients:
ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE—is a synoym of Octinoxate which has moderate health concerns per EWG’s website. It says:
Other HIGH concerns: Biochemical or cellular level changes, Endocrine disruption; Other MODERATE concerns: Persistence and bioaccumulation; Other LOW concerns: Enhanced skin absorption, Ecotoxicology, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive).
DIMETHICONE—Moderate concern with Organ System Toxicity. SOURCE
METHYLPARABEN—Other HIGH concerns: Endocrine disruption; Other MODERATE concerns: Biochemical or cellular level changes. SOURCE
That is just the lotion. That was enough for me. So it was ditched, thrown out, and never used again. This has been ten months ago. If you are curious about other forms of toxins in your personal items, I would examine your toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and more.
What I Use Instead (and Why I’m so Excited!)
This post was originally written over ten years ago, and now I’m thrilled to update it with something I never thought I’d find—a perfume that aligns with my wellness values and smells incredible.
For the past decade, I’ve been wearing pure essential oils as my fragrance of choice—and getting more compliments than ever. I love that they support my health and smell amazing.
One day I even had a store employee stop me and say, “You smelled so good yesterday—I didn’t ask then, but I had to today!” I told her it was oils, and she was shocked. People often expect you to smell like a dusty health food store (ha!), but these oils are truly dreamy.
Introducing WYLD NOTES Natural Perfume
And now, after all these years, I finally have a real perfume that is clean, stunning, and so me: Wyld Notes Natural Perfume.
- Crafted with plant intelligence and integrity
- No hormone disruptors
- No synthetics
- No secrets
Just pure essential oil blends that smell incredible and protect your health.
Let’s Talk About Something Most of Us Were Never Told…
That one little word on a label—“fragrance”—can legally hide over 3,000 chemicals. And those chemicals don’t just sit on your skin when you spray them. They absorb, circulate, and can disrupt:
- your hormones
- your mood
- your fertility
- your brain
The good news? There’s a better way. And it smells divine.
My current favorite combo is Timeless Floral layered with Smokey Ember—it’s soft, beautiful, and sophisticated. I also highly recommend the Discovery Set so you can try them all and see which blends speak to you.
Use code CONFIDENTMOM at checkout to save 10%!
I’m so thankful to have found a clean perfume that smells amazing, feels indulgent, and supports my wellness journey. If you’re still using conventional fragrance, I encourage you to take a closer look.
You deserve to feel beautiful and safe in your own skin.
Let me know if you try it—I’d love to hear what scent you choose!
