The Difference Between Unscented and Fragrance-Free
Here’s the Tea: if you’re suffering from an itchy vag or irritation, your vanilla-bean feminine wipes or wash might be the culprit.
Everyone has their favorite scent. Whether it’s citrus, calming lavender, sweet vanilla, or elegant jasmine, there’s a scent we want in every one of our products: candles, bath bombs, soaps, cleaning products, etc. But having our favorite scents in our health and wellness products can be more damaging than we might realize.
The simple and non-threatening word “fragrance” on the side of your feminine wash bottle could actually mean a mix of over 3000 harsh and questionable chemicals some companies commonly use in their products. These harsh chemicals can cause any number of issues, from acne and rashes, to respiratory problems, headaches, and have been most recently linked to cancer.
Our “girl” is especially at risk because some experts have linked these chemicals to our reproductive system, with studies showing links to hormone disruption, vaginal infections, birth defects, and decreases in fertility. Women are usually the target of fragrance marketing, and while it might feel great to smell like a fresh bouquet of flowers, you could be putting your health at risk.
About 2.5 million individuals suffer from fragrance allergies. Artificial fragrances are reported to be the #1 skin irritant.
So what can we do to avoid this problem?
The answer is easy: switch to fragrance-free products. But not unscented.
What’s the difference?
According to the EPA, unscented products may contain chemicals used to mask odor. Both scented and “unscented” products may contain a chemical called phthalates, or a phthalate-type compound, which has been linked to multiple kinds of cancers.
Fragrance-free means that no artificial fragrances containing harmful chemicals have been added to the product. These products are much safer for your feminine wellness. Fragrance-free products might still have scents, however, because they are missing the additives that mask the odor of the ingredients. But you might smell the product’s natural ingredients, such as our Vadge Hair Bump Serum’s earthy scent.
It’s important to read the ingredients on the product labels that we love in order to make informed purchasing decisions. The good news is not all scented products are bad! Essential oils also have many benefits, and can be incorporated into your daily rituals. There are plenty of products nowadays that use clean ingredients, so it should be fairly simple to avoid those harsh synthetic chemicals.
Like this? Sign up here.
About the Author:
Allison Kindley is a Digital Media Production & Journalism student at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. She loves working with Team Happy Girl because she gets to inform others on feminine wellness, learn every day, write creatively, and empower women.