Perfume…most women in the Western world use it regularly but did you know that the majority of commercially produced perfumes (and men’s colognes) contain a chemical cocktail of toxic ingredients that are harmful to your health and the health of anyone else who inhales them? I see many people who are actively striving to live a naturally healthy life and to minimise toxins from their households but are still using commercial perfumes or colognes. Often it’s because of a lack of knowledge of the health implications of using these scents but there’s also a powerful emotional connection to our favourite fragrances, so let’s take a look at why we should PUT DOWN THE PERFUME and some deliciously divine, natural “pure-fume” alternatives.
The perfumes of today are a far cry from the traditional perfumes first made centuries ago that were blended using pure essential oils. Nearly all store-bought perfumes these days contain “fragrance” or “parfum”. When you see these on an ingredient list, it actually represents a trade secret fragrance recipe that could be made up of not just one or two chemicals, but hundreds of synthetic chemicals. Read more about the dangers of these chemicals here. These chemicals are selected from a reservoir of 5,000 ingredients and of this large number of ingredients, none of them actually have to be disclosed or tested for safety.
According to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) study, 72% of products with the ingredient “fragrance” contained endocrine (hormonal system) disruptors called phthalates. Phthalates have been linked to diabetes, obesity, liver and breast cancer, hormone disruption affecting fertility and development as well as linked to ADHD and Autism in first and third trimester prenatal exposure. Everything we put onto our skin and everything we inhale enters our bloodstream and travels throughout our entire bodies, so it’s not wonder that an increasing amount of research is now showing that many of the chemical-laden personal care products we now use are harming our health. Not only do artificial fragrances have the potential to cause negative health effects for the person wearing them, they can also impact those unfortunate enough to inhale them and it is for this reason that artificial fragrances are being referred to as “the new secondhand smoke“.
“But I just can’t part with my favourite perfumes!” I hear some of you exclaim. Well that’s understandable – you have a very powerful emotional connection to your favourite scents. When you smell an aroma, receptors in your nasal cavity send messages along your olfactory nerve to your olfactory bulb (a major structure in your limbic system in your brain). The limbic system mediates and controls all aspects of your emotions, memories and even your very survival! That’s why when you smell certain aromas they immediately take you back to a time and a place from your past, and you will likely experience the emotions you experienced in that particular situation. Learn more about the role of the limbic system and how smell can directly impact this area of the brain here.
The good news is that if you want to commit to avoiding perfumes to minimise the toxic load on your body and improve your overall health, there is a safe and natural alternative that will positively impact your moods and emotions as well as your physical health. doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) essential oils are the most pure and potent essential oils on the planet, and your options for using these incredible gifts of the earth as natural “pure-fumes” are almost endless. When wearing these essential oils on our skin, we also benefit on a physical level from the therapeutic properties of these ethically and indigenously sourced oils.
I’ve compiled a list of my favourite essential oil blends to wear as gorgeous “pure-fumes” and I’ve included some lovely natural scents for the guys too. Be sure to read on for some exciting gifts on offer for those of you wanting to get started on your toxin-free journey to better health! You can learn more about how doTERRA’s essential oils can support your health and wellness, as well as how to order your oils here.
#1: WHISPER Blend for Women
This divine blend created by doTERRA is so popular with women (and men who love to smell it on women) and for good reason! I would go so far as to say that over the last 18 months, 90% of the women I have witnessed experiencing this blend for the first time have swooned over its unique aroma! It’s a complex and diverse blend that entices the senses and combines with each individual’s chemistry to create a uniquely personal fragrance. Each essential oil in the blend provides an inviting aroma of its own, but when combined, these oils offer a distinct scent that intrigues the mind and senses to both the wearer and those passing by. Regarded as the most precious flowers in the perfume and aromatherapy industries, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang’s euphoric aromas combine with the warm and spicy scents of Patchouli, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Cocoa to make this blend like no other you have ever experienced. It’s also known to be a powerful aphrodisiac, try applying as a perfume or diffuse a couple of drops in an ultrasonic diffuser. Whisper can be used topically (i.e. applied to the skin) without dilution in a carrier oil as it already contains Fractionated Coconut Oil.
#2: BALANCE Grounding Blend
I love wearing Balance as a natural pure-fume for it’s wonderful calming effects on the nervous system. It provides great support for anxious feelings and nerves. It’s gorgeous aroma is loved by both women and men, as it’s fresh and earthy rather than floral. This gorgeous oil blend does a whole lot more than just grounding though…it also promotes circulation and supports cellular health and overall well-being.
Balance contains fractionated coconut oil, Canadian Spruce leaf oil, Ho wood oil, Frankincense oil, Tanacetum oil, and Chamomilla Recutita Flower oil. This one can be used topically without dilution in a carrier oil as it already contains Fractionated Coconut Oil.
#3: PASSION Inspiring Blend
This amazing blend is one of the new Emotional Aromatherapy blends recently created by doTERRA. Spicy, sexy, gorgeous and inspiring, it is definitely one for the ladies rather than the men. It ignites feelings of excitement, passion and joy and counteracts negative feelings of boredom and disinterest. Diluted in Fractionated Coconut Oil it is a stunning combination of Cardamom Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Ginger Rhizome, Clove Bud, Sandalwood Wood, Jasmine Flower, Vanilla Bean & Damiana Leaf.
#4: GRACE Blend (created by Vanessa Jean from Food Alchemy)
This is a beautiful blend for you to create yourself as a natural pure-fume by mixing the essential oils with a carrier oil (like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil) in a roller bottle. I buy my roller bottles here. I have to admit to being a bit obsessed with this blend since I discovered it recently! It is absolutely divine diffused in an ultrasonic diffuser and I’ve been loving diffusing it at bedtime. You can get lots more aromatic blend inspiration from Vanessa Jean on her Facebook page.
#5: MEN’S COLOGNES
It’s one thing for women to make the leap to natural and non-toxic perfumes, however, if the men in their life are still using chemical-laden scents then the health of the household will continue to be negatively impacted. Here’s a fantastic compilation of natural cologne blends for men using doTERRA’s essential oils. You can mix these up in 10ml roller bottles or try these press pump dropper bottles here.
The negative health effects of artificial fragrances extend well beyond perfumes and colognes. Most household products contain artificial fragrances (as well as many other harmful chemicals). You’ll find more toxin-free household tips here and here.
A FREE GIFT when you start your toxin-free journey with me!
Now for the exciting part! I am SO passionate about empowering people to live toxin-free lives using doTERRA’s essential oils that I would like to offer some FREE GIFTS to anyone wanting to get started on their toxin-free journey with me. Simply purchase a Home Essentials Kit (containing 10 of the most popular and commonly used essential oils as well as an ultrasonic diffuser) or a customised order of equivalent value and I will give you a bottle of doTERRA’s divine Whisper blend (RRP $55.34) for FREE! That’s a total saving of over $175! As a part of my doTERRA team, you’ll also have access to a private members-only Facebook group for support in getting the most out of your essential oils. This offer is valid for the next five people to open their doTERRA wholesale account before 30 April 2016 and is available to Australian and New Zealand residents only.
You can learn more about how doTERRA’s essential oils can support your health and wellness, as well as how to order your oils here. If you’d like some help to decide which option would best suit your needs to get started on your oily journey then please feel free to email me at info@purelythriving.com.au and I will happily work with you to set you up!
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