Reading ingredient labels when you’re getting started in your toxin free journey can be a headache. So I’ll give you one simple tip– If fragrance is listed, avoid it like the plague. 🚩

You see it everywhere—on perfumes, lotions, shampoos, candles, cleaning products, baby wipes, and even so-called “natural” products. But what most people don’t realize is that fragrance (or parfum) is an umbrella term that can hide a cocktail of hundreds or even thousands of undisclosed chemicals, many of which are known to be harmful to our health.

Why Is Fragrance a Problem?

Unlike food labels, where ingredients must be listed in full, the personal care and household product industries have a loophole that allows companies to list “fragrance” as a single ingredient—without disclosing what’s actually in it.

This lack of transparency means that a single fragrance ingredient could contain things like phthalates, parabens, benzophenone, formaldehyde-releasing agents, allergens & irritants and more. These ingredients have been linked to be endocrine disrupters which lead to hormone imbalances, reproductive issues, and even developmental problems in children, or are known carcinogens which mean they cause cancer or can trigger headaches, asthma and skin irritations.

Yet, because fragrance is considered a “trade secret,” companies don’t have to tell us what’s inside.

The Ultimate Red Flag Ingredient

Once I learned all of this, fragrance became my #1 ingredient to avoid. If I see it on a label, it’s an immediate no from me. Because if a company isn’t willing to disclose what’s inside, why should I trust it on my skin, in my home, or around my family?

But How Do You Know What’s Actually Safe?

I get it—reading labels and decoding ingredients can feel overwhelming. There’s so much greenwashing out there! Brands slap on words like natural, clean, and organic, but that doesn’t always mean a product is safe. And it is so frustrating as a consumer to feel like companies are trying to trick you. 

If you’re ready to ditch the toxins and make confident, informed choices about what you bring into your home and put on your body, stick around. I’m in the works of creating more comprehensive guides that will help you cut through the noise and crap of the beauty world and help you make confident decisions in which brands to buy from and which brands to avoid!

Want to get started today?

Check out my Essential Non-Tox Swaps. It is your guide to the first essential non-toxic swaps I recommend. The key is to start small with a few simple swaps & work your way up. Download to learn what I recommend! 

Because you—and your health—are worth it.