In a recent e-newsletter I shared that I have become really sensitive to scents, sounds, and foods. As my sensitivities have grown, so has my need to eliminate some of the factors causing my discomfort.
One of the areas of discomfort that I have addressed is fragrances in my home. Wow do we like to add scent to EVERYTHING! Just think about your morning routine. When you shower, you may reach for the soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and shaving gel—all of which probably have a scent of some kind. Then you get out of the shower and put on deodorant, use hair care products, body lotion, moisturizer/face cream, and possibly put on some aftershave or dab some perfume on your person. Think about how many different olfactory opportunities you have each morning related to your personal hygiene before you sit down to breakfast! I used to be able to go thru these rituals without any negative effect. I enjoyed the different smells of my daily routine—layering on the different scents as I went through my beautification process. Not anymore. For better or worse, my body has provided some pretty strong reactions to my scent-filled world, which I couldn’t ignore. Waves of nausea and prolonged headaches can be pretty strong motivators to changing one’s behavior.
So….I began exploring the world of fragrance free.
Of course, this also means that the sale items are probably no longer on my buy-list. Instead of paying $1 for deodorant on sale, I have found alternatives for $5+, which on the positive side (in addition to being fragrance free) do not include heavy metals such as aluminum or harsh chemicals that chafe my underarms, but on the negative side also aren’t as effective at blocking body odor as cheaper, smellier, alternatives.
I’ve found scent-free shampoo and conditioner that actually works great, but is also 3 times the price of the brand I used to buy. However, I also find that I use less, so maybe it will last longer.
I’ve found some wonderful fragrance free lotion that is made by a company called Softwater Soapworks. The company is based in Tampa, Florida and is run by a husband and wife team. Although, again, this product is more expensive than lotions I have purchased in the past, this product is great and blissfully scent free, making it worth the price to me. Additionally, it’s gratifying to support a small business run by a husband/wife team, not unlike Eclectic Horizons.
What is your experience? Are you sensitive to scents?