The first question you should be asking is “what the heck is fragrance?”
When we hear the word ‘fragrance’ we think freshly cut grass, the smell of brightly-coloured flowers, the scent of deliciously sweet fruits and our favourite herbs…rosemary, lavender and lemon balm.
BUT! Not all fragrance is so virtuous.
In the world of beauty and skincare, "fragrance" (or "perfume") gets a free pass. It’s a term that can be used freely without manufacturers having to divulge what ingredients they have used to create the fragrance.
We don't like secrets when it comes to labels
In an ideal world where love and transparency reign supreme, fragrance is made from skin-loving essential oils and natural ingredient. But in reality many fragrances are nothing more than a creative concoction of toxins — many of which are linked to hazardous health effects. Scary eh?!
Now scare-mongering is definitely not our style, but what *is* our style is complete transparency in skincare product labelling. And what we DON'T like about "fragrance" and "perfume" is that there is no transparency at all.
Fragrances are proprietary, which means they're protected by a law that says the manufacturer doesn't need to disclose what's in them. Some manufacturers might disclose their ingredients, and kudos to them, but many don't.
Sensitive skin? Watch your fragrances
Fragrances are the most common cause of skin irritation due to the fact that so often they contain chemicals that are known allergens and have a really high potential for skin irritation. Plus many of these chemicals haven't been assessed for safety in terms of their long term effects on your health. And this is currently completely legal.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re not urging you to throw your prized bottle of Chanel No.5 in the garbage (we like the odd spritz of our favourite perfume too now and again), we’re just encouraging you to check the ingredient list.
If your product labels have something labelled as "perfume" or "fragrance" and you're experiencing a flare-up of sensitivity, there's a very good chance you've found the culprit.
When a product simply says “perfume” or “fragrance” and doesn’t disclose the source of the scent or that it’s from natural origins, you might want to consider an alternative.
The fragrance free deodorant alternative
Talking about alternatives, at Woohoo we like to go all-out to find new ways of doing things and our‘Mellow’ all natural deodorant does just that.
Not only is Mellow bicarb free (because bicarb can irritate some skins)—it contains NO fragrance. Not even an incy wincy drop. Nada.
It’s totally free from essential oils too, because even though essential oils can smellreally, really good, they can aggravate sensitive skin. What’s more, pregnant ladies and breastfeeding mummies often like to steer clear of these types of oils.
So you see,Woohoo Mellow All Natural Deodorant Paste is an awesome choice for anyone who’s eager to reduce their exposure to unnecessary perfumes, toxins and endocrine-disrupting chemicals—while also keeping BO at bay.
Hurrah!
