You might not realize that your perfume has numerous chemicals in it, many of which might bear upon your health. Those who have chemical sensitivities and/or allergic reactions frequently find that perfume will bring on symptoms.

Following is a list of a few of the common chemicals found in perfumes and the health concerns associated with them.

* Benzaldehyde is utilized in numerous cleaning products and cosmetics like deodorant, lotion, shaving cream, and shampoo.  It’s said to depress the central nervous system and induce irritation in the respiratory and digestive tracts. It may even lead to kidney damage.

* Acetone, the chemical found in nail enamel remover, is likewise in perfumes. The United States Environmental Agency (EPA) lists acetone as a hazardous waste. Breathing acetone may have a profound effect on the nervous system, leading to dizziness, sleepiness, slurred speech, and perhaps coma.

* Benzyl alcohol is found in perfume, air freshener, deodorant, and fabric softener (to name several). It may bear upon the respiratory tract and the central nervous system, leading to headache, nausea, and respiratory irritation and even failure.

* Methylene chloride is a perfume ingredient that was banned by the Food and Drug Administration in the late eighties, but many claim the law is impossible to enforce. The trouble with this chemical is that it’s stored in body fat (many chemicals are fat soluble) where it’s metabolized by the body into carbon monoxide gas. This can cause symptoms of oxygen deprivation, like headache, fatigue, and tingling in the extremities.

* Limonene is found in numerous cleaning products in addition to perfumes. It’s considered carcinogenic, and is a skin and eye irritant. Inhaling the vapor of limonene is believed dangerous.

* Ethanol is likewise found in perfumes, in addition to as a host of other products. Ethanol is in so many products that it is difficult to believe it is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous waste list. Whether ingested or breathed in, ethanol can lead to blurry vision, drowsiness, and disorders of the central nervous system.

These are only a couple of the toxic chemicals found in perfumes. If you’re worried about the potential health effects of perfume but still would like to apply some sort of fragrance, consider making your own perfumed spritzer or oil, or purchase a commercially-prepared, nonpoisonous aroma.

Mix a couple of drops of the essential oil of your selection with an oz. of rubbing alcohol and two ounces of H2O. Put in a small spray bottle and use as a spray-on fragrance. You are able to likewise blend essential oils in a neutral carrier oil that may be rubbed on the skin.