Adverse Effect of Fragrances on Kids

The Adverse Effect of Fragrances on Kids is real. When choosing skincare and haircare products for your family it’s so important to pay attention to the ingredients. Fragrance is in more than 85% of skincare, haircare, and household products on sale today. It may be called fragrance or fragrance oils under an INCI name (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient). Fragrances are synthetic molecules made up of chemicals.

When reading the ingredients there are some important words to be aware of.

Ingredients such as:

fragrance
parfum
fragrance oils
parosan

More and more ingredients under fragrance are disclosed on product labeling because consumers are demanding full disclosure. But there’s no way to know what’s really inside fragrance. So we need to be extra careful when it comes to kids.

Common household products that contain fragrances include:

laundry detergents
fabric softeners
dryer sheets
air fresheners
cleaning supplies
perfumes
lotions
hand soap
shampoo, conditioner
body wash
perfumes
colognes
body care products
scented candles

The fragrance is often made up of hundreds of chemicals, most of which are synthetic fragrance chemicals linked to

asthma
allergies
migraines
neurotoxins
endocrine disruptors
irritate eyes, nose, and throat

When you smell a fragrance, such as those in air fresheners, you are essentially breathing in chemicals, which are easily absorbed by the lungs and reach the bloodstream within a few minutes.

Kids’ bodies are very sensitive.

The fragrance safety factsheet has been developed by Redwatch for Kidsafe to provide up-to-date information about fragrance chemicals.

It summarises key health concerns, where the fragrance chemical is used, and any other relevant safety information. There are also links to other resources with more detailed information about fragrance ingredients. This factsheet provides information to help you make informed choices about fragrance ingredients.

Alternatives to Fragrances

Using essential oils as an alternative to fragrance is a healthy and fragrance-free way to enjoy nature’s smells. Aromatherapy can help calm a child who is anxious or under stress, reduce nausea, discomfort, and pain, and promote healthy sleep.

Aromatherapy can be used as a complementary therapy for such things as calming, relaxation, or treating the common cold.