An important part of being a minimalist is realizing what you can do without. It’s a continual process of discovering One Less Thing that—despite what peers, advertisements, or societal norms tell you—you just don’t need.
Several years ago, I discovered One Less Thing I could do without: perfume.
As a young girl, I associated those fancy glass bottles of fragrance with glamour, sophistication, and femininity—and was thrilled to receive my first one (the lemon-y Jean Naté—oh, the nostalgia!) as a birthday gift in junior high. I graduated onto the hipper Calvin Klein Eternity in high school, had a brief fling with Le De Givenchy during an Audrey Hepburn phase, and spritzed daily with Chanel Allure as an adult. (Yes, I’m girly like that.)
A perfume bottle was a standard fixture on my bathroom counter—that is, until I started learning more about what was inside.
You see, I’d always assumed perfumes were made of pretty things like flowers, sunshine, and rainbows. ;-) I’d never stopped to question exactly what was in the stuff I was spraying on my body. As naïve as it sounds, it came as a surprise to me that I was dousing myself with synthetic chemicals on a daily basis.
As it turns out, perfumes are full of potential hazards—and current laws don’t require companies to disclose them. Neurotoxins, hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates, and harmful synthetic musks are common ingredients. But because companies can claim fragrance as trade secrets, you won’t find them listed on the label. Worse yet, very few of the thousands of ingredients used in perfumes have been tested for human safety; their effects on the skin, the brain, the respiratory system, and other organs are simply unknown. (To learn more, visit The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.)
Well, that knowledge was enough to make me drop perfume (and other fragranced products, from shower gel to body lotion) from my beauty routine. To me, smelling like a rose was hardly worth the health risks.
Furthermore, I became concerned about the environmental impacts of perfume production and distribution. Ninety-five percent of the chemicals used in fragrances are petroleum-based compounds, and the manufacture of both the perfumes and their bottles consume a great deal of energy. Not to mention shipping them to shops and department stores around the globe!
It may seem a trivial topic, but fragrance is a multi-billion dollar industry. Walk down any high street in Europe, or into any mall in America, and you’ll see shelves piled high with designer potions; open up any magazine, or turn on any TV channel, and you’ll likely see an ad for the latest celebrity-endorsed scent. And it’s not just a female thing; men’s cologne commands a significant share of the market.
Yet, ironically enough, although such perfumes promise to make us more attractive to the opposite sex, research shows that our natural scents are more appealing.
So as a minsumer, I have to question: do we really want to waste our precious resources, our precious dollars—and possibly our precious health—on something we really don’t need?
For me, giving up perfume is a joyful act of consumer disobedience. It’s also an opportunity to have One Less Thing to purchase, to own, to clutter up my countertop, to affect my health, and to poison our environment. I now get my fragrance fix the old-fashioned way: enjoying the smell of rain, grass, fruit, flowers, and freshly-baked sweets, among other (natural) things.
I’d love to know your thoughts on the topic, and plan to share more of my One Less Things with you in the future.
I had no idea that perfume contains such harmful chemicals. I have always liked wearing body spritz’s or certain perfumes that I enjoy. But I cannot used scented body lotions, shower gels…etc. And I always seem to get them as gifts!! I will have to rethink my use of the fragances. I have several of them and they clutter up my bathroom. Besides, the scents fade away after a while anyway.
If there’s anything worse than sitting next to a woman wearing perfume, it’s a guy who’s wearing cologne. Blech! Who decided THAT was attractive? Gives me a headache just thinking about it.
This is an interesting post and caught my attention because, my Grandmother and Cousin are both highly allergic to perfumes. My cousin actually went into anaphylactic shock a few years ago at a party and almost died on the way to the hospital. I think if you do where perfume, just make sure you keep it to a minimum.
It’s actually not an allergy. It’s a chemical injury. Fragrances today are made up of synthetic substances largely from petroleum products. And many are know carcinogens, neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors. There is no regulation of the fragrance industry and they can use and hide thousands of harmful ingredients under the “trade secret” laws.
I find it uplifting that so many people that have posted here have given up their toxic fragrances for one reason or another. Perhaps there is hope yet to be free of these toxic assaulters.
http://www.ifraorg.org/en-us/Ingredients_2
Oh and just a note for those who only use “small amounts”. Many of these chemicals are harmful even the the level of one molecule. So you are still harming yourself and those around you if you use them at all.
I thoroughly agree with you about the chemicals in perfumes. I gave them all up in favor of a few essential oils several years ago. I work with the elderly, and so I am accosted on a daily basis by all the old lady perfumes. Where do they come up with that crap?? Thank you for bringing my attention to the bath washes I use. Must eliminate them too, and slowly have over the years. (Sorry for the nonsensical meandering note): I recently started doing the baking soda shampoo and using grapeseed oil for hair and skin. A fabulous decision. Thank you for pointing me back in that direction.
I’ve never been much of a perfume user – occasionally, I use that for a night out but not on a regular basis. I think I learned this from home: while I’ve been bombarded since childhood with the image of perfume == glamour, the women in my everyday life never wore one. Except for those special occasions. I only got to know fragrances through mostly negative experiences: those ladies (and occasional gentlemen) who did not know their limits and smelled so strongly I felt nauseous close to them. In fact, I noticed that I got even some weird breathing symptoms when around those people.
Not being used to any scent, I in fact would feel weird sensing it around me on a regular day – just somehow wrong. And because of hating it when people “overdose”, I’m quite careful never to use too much.
I only learned about the perfume chemicals a few years back. I still spritz it on sometimes – I think we should always remember moderation in these things – but in a smug way, I’m happy to have avoided the problems from day one.
What a wonderful read! I have always plagued myself with thoughts of how much LESS of a woman I am for not wearing perfume, entirely believing, albeit subconsciously, that what Coco Chanel said was right: “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”
And today, I see it differently – that not wearing perfume means I, and the planet, HAVE a future. I’ve been going through a process of getting more and more uncomfortable with putting synthetic creams, potions and lotions on my body – I can literally smell the chemicals that go into them. Now, I can confidently add perfume to the list, too.
Thank you!
I thought I was the only one who didn’t like perfume! I used to wear it as a young girl but in college, I found that the strong scents irritated my nose terribly, so I stopped. Ditto for scented candles, soaps, laundry detergent and lotions. Now I’m vegan & into making my own cosmetics & beauty products because I want to know exactly what I’m putting into and on my body. I personally find perfume to be a turnoff; most people either wear too much of it or it’s just too darn strong! If you’re clean you don’t need perfume!
Hello all! I just have to pipe up here and mention the renaissance of natural perfumery that’s been going on here in the US and abroad over the past decade or so. Artisan perfumers such as Mandy Aftel (Aftelier) and Anya McCoy (Anya’s Garden) are two of the perfumers spearheading a return to all-natural perfumery, utilizing only natural ingredients (plant, earth and animal) to create their perfumes. They are works of art! The website of the Guild of Natural Perfumers (naturalperfumers{dot}com) lists all it’s members: perfumers and suppliers who use only natural ingredients in their creations. No synthetic ingredients are allowed, whatsoever. It’s a happy medium for people who love the artistry of perfume without the commerical BS or the unhealthy chemicals!
And as several commenters mentioned, it’s easy to create a scent for yourself with essential oils and absolutes, which should not be used on skin at full strength, but should instead be diluted to about 30% with jojoba oil (for a perfume oil) or 180 proof alcohol (like Everclear, or organic grain) for a spritzable perfume. Mandy Aftel has written a wonderful book about creating natural pefumes, called “Essence and Alchemy.” She guides you through all the steps of choosing notes, blending, etc. toward creating a scent. You can create something truly distinctive for yourself, and natural perfumes stay closer to the skin, so it can be a secret treat for just you and whomever you choose to share it with. I get my essential oils and absolutes from Liberty Natural Products (libertynatural[dot]com), out of Oregon.
For me (a burgeoning minimalist, thanks to your help, Francine!) minimalism isn’t just about cutting things out, but about creating things yourself instead of accepting something corporate (and paying for the priviledge). Especially if it’s something that you could love, in a different iteration–like artisan perfume rather than commercial. It has been exhilirating to create my own perfumes, and aromatherapeutic as well!
i clicked the comments specifically hoping there would be a post listing some natural perfumeries i hadn’t yet heard of. :) yay!
I must admit going without perfume when other girls my age are smelling of flowers and musk etc made me feel a bit less feminine. So instead of using perfumes, I select organic aromatherapy oil. These carry far less health risks than synthetic smells and in some cases can be therapeutic (lavender for example can relax you, orange can stimulate etc). Sometimes when I’m going out somewhere special I will spritz a bit of perfume on my clothes just for a hint of scent. This way it’s less likely to absorb into my skin. But for everyday, it’s not necessary to smell like flowers. I’ve actually noticed a lot of guys don’t even like the smell of perfume, but instead prefer nice, fresh smelling hair or the natural scent. It’s not for everyone, but if you feel comfortable and people don’t seem to mind, then one less thing to buy.
Just to add, back when I used to marinate in perfume I used to have a lot of panic attacks. Since I’ve switched to more natural products that doesn’t happen half as much. I feel bad for asthmatics and those with allergies that are assaulted daily with people that don’t know less is more.
I guess I am in the minority here as I love my parfum and scents. And I use an expensive brand from Italy (Bvlgari) which I am sure is highly full of stuff I do not want. I love the scent, my hubby loves it and I get compliments from others. Oh how I need to think about this more…..
Kellie……it’s not about “liking” them. It’s that they are toxic and harmful. To you and anyone who is around you.
Too much perfume or cologne bothers my asthma, and that’s no good.
I have allergies too, and perfumes and scented candles bother me the most. I’m also a singer, and every choral director I’ve ever known has always reminded everyone (men and women) to leave off perfumes for rehearsals and performances, since they bother so many people. (We’re always asked to wear deoderant, though, as a long choral performance can be physically taxing and sweaty!). I always think the “scent of cleanliness” is plenty, and I much prefer to smell the real world of flowers, grass, rain, etc. Thanks for the “minsumer” reminder!
Just some food for thought, but I’m not sure when we decided that “natural” = good and “synthetic” = evil, but it’s just not that simple. Arsenic is natural, yet toxic to ingest. Bacillus anthracis is a naturally occurring bacterium in soil that causes lethal Anthrax disease in humans.
While responsible producers should list included ingredients and avoid potentially harmful ones, we shouldn’t be so hasty to demonize man-made, or synthetic ones. Synthetic fluoride added to drinking water helps the majority of the first world prevent suffering tooth decay. And the addition of chlorine dioxide to that same water helps to keep it free of microorganisms and hence potable. Synthetic medications help to lower blood pressure, manage pain and treat disease.
It’s not as simple as “natural this” or “synthetic that” but more importantly what “this” and “that” are and how they interact with your body.
Thanks for this. I agree–man-made doesn’t equal TEH EVIL and natural doesn’t equal OMG TOTALLY HEALTHY. I mean, I still prefer it when I can readily identify all of the ingredients on a list, but at the same time, a lot of this man-made stuff (however unrecognizable) helps us to stay sanitary and healthy.
Not entirely true Drew. Not all natural substances are safe and not all synthetics are not. But most synthetic chemicals/substances have not been tested and some have already been tested and proven to be harmful.
Fluoride is a poison. It should never have been added to drinking water or other products. Chlorine the same. There are less or non-toxic ways.
You need to do more research!
What Drew says is absolutely correct. For example, sandlewood is becoming extinct. Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean you should use it and add to the strain of it’s extinction.
BTW- I make most of my own beauty products. I find it cheaper and I use less products which means the products I do use I can research to see if it is a better choice.
On the other hand I’m all for not using perfumes. The smell can be overbearing.
I’m allergic to perfume. Once two students were sitting in my library and just the perfume that was in their hand lotion gave me such a coughing fit that I had to leave the room. Since it’s impossible to avoid people who wear perfume or use perfumed products, I tend to avoid those people when I’m at work and avoid venues where perfume is likely to be worn. An un-perfumed world would be ideal for me.
I sometimes get one small bottle of natural perfume from the health food store. All pure essential oils with filler oils and water as the base. Healthy, not harmful to the environment, and cheap (typically under ten bucks). I get whatever smells good to me at the time, so no brand recommendations!
I don’t wear it all the time, but I do put a little on for special occasions. I haven’t done the typical perfume route since I found out how toxic the stuff is.
Cheers,
Tanja
I stopped wearing perfume a long time ago–initially due to animal rights concerns, and there are other benefits to not wearing it.
I just looked this up. Chanel No. 5 is now $260.00 per ounce.
the parfum, yes, but the eau de parfum (which i think is the more common purchase) is $80 for almost 2 oz. (obviously that’s still a lot and no, i don’t wear it. just saying.)
Be sure you don’t confuse unscented (contains fragrance to neutralize the odor of the ingredients) with fragrance-free (no explanation required.) I never thought about what harmful ingredients my fragrance had, since I’ve never seen an ingredient panel. I’m now contemplating giving up my perfume when the bottle’s empty!
I am pretty sure the air I breathe in my state is far worse than my perfume. I like to smell nice. I guess I will have to die slowly but at least I smell good :)
The problem is that you are killing the people around you too. I’m all for letting you kill yourself if that is your desire. But you have no right to take the rest of us with you on that road.
Drew R I think when people are referring to synthetic they mean the things that are proven to be harmful. I’m a diabetic and the insulin I take is man-made, without it I wouldn’t be here. You bring up a good point though- you can’t just label all things natural as safe and vice versa. I have a book called ‘the chemical maze’ (http://www.possibility.com.au/) which I use as a guide. It explains the possible consequences involved with each additive and preservative(including natural ones). It also gives less common names for some substances such as silicons etc so that you can identify these in the ingredients list of cosmetics. I do personally believe that most synthetically-derived perfumes are more harmful than good and for the most part unnecessary.
Actually, skip that last sentence. Some natural products can be harmful as well, I guess it’s all about researching what’s in the products you buy and not just trusting whatever says ‘organic’ or ‘natural’. I suppose if perfume is something that you like and want to buy, then by all means do so. I think MM was just trying to highlight that from a minimalist approach perfume isn’t exactly a necessity to living. Some people might be confused in thinking that perfume is a part of good hygiene, so they wouldn’t even dare to go without it everyday. I prefer good quality aromatherapy oils because they usually have a simple ingredients list, which means less research involved. But there is the odd occasion where I would like to use perfume, and I’m sure once in a while won’t hurt. Anyway, I’m rambling on :P
My name is Heather and I LOVE Perfume…or body spray…scrubs…lotions..I have to smell nice and I like what I like. : ) I have given up several pieces of makeup, does that count? : )
I dont mind perfume wearers,but I do object to the 5am walkers and runners in my area bathing in the stuff before they set out to exercise.When I walk past them I end up with a mouthful of acid.Not Happy NOT HEALTHY.
loved reading this. its a good idea to drop perfume. i have one question: what about shampoo as there are tons of chemicals in that too? what do you use to clean your hair? i am curious to know.
I know this question was probably addressed to Francine, so I hope it’s okay if I chime in. I use straight baking soda, blended with just enough water to make a paste. I follow this with a rinse of apple cider vinegar. And because my hair is susceptible to frizzing, I then distribute a little vegetable oil from roots to ends, using a wide toothed comb, while my hair is still damp.
Sounds crazy, I know. I was too skeptical to even try it for a year or two after I first heard of it. But it totally works for me. My hair is healthy and shiny, and I have to wash it only about twice per week in the summer and sometimes just once per week in the winter.
I no longer wear perfume.
This sounds interesting…
I am a perfume lover, but gave it up last year because I read about all the unlabeled chemicals in it! The skindeep database is fantastic for looking up products and finding alternatives. Since last July I’ve been doing a ‘beauty detox’ where I try to make all of my beauty products by hand … and I’ve had really good luck (except for shampoo!). If you want to see my recipes etc, check out my blog at link above. Love your blog!
i am so happy to see this post here! :) as a disability justice activist i have come to see how much fragrance (“natural” essential oils OR synthetic perfumes and beauty products) is seriously harmful to a lot of people, especially those suffering from multiple chemical sensitivities, and have been working to create scent-free safe spaces and educate people about this as a part of accessibility and inclusion for everyone. i am happy to see this topic approached from a minimalist point of view :)
I wear cologne, but do so with moderation and never put too much on. With respect those who don’t wear it, it’s simply something I enjoy doing and not my intention to offend anyone.
Deodorant, too, is said to be carcinogenic and supposedly responsible for breast cancer. If you read about all the chemicals in deodorant, you’ll think twice about putting it under your arms.
I quit wearing most perfumes a while back because of migraines. Now I make my own with essential oils and distilled water or alcohol. I can customize my scent and know exactly what I’m putting on my body.
This was an interesting discussion.
When I was young (high school/college), I always enjoyed “layering” my scents–soap, powder, lotion, perfume.
But the older I get, and especially over the last ten or so years, as Meg mentioned, I find that the perfumes and body sprays, etc., just don’t smell the same as they used to.
I don’t know why, whether they have changed, or I have changed, but it’s very hard for me to find a perfume I’d actually wear now, so most of the time, I don’t.
Yes, perfumes and fragrances are horrible :P Those chemicals give me headaches, and aren’t they partly responsible for asthma and allergies? I love http://www.paulaschoice.com – all fragrance free stuff with excellent research to back it up. However, I have one fragrance exception (and I don’t even wear actual deodorant – I just put straight baking soda on my armpits – only thing that works for me), and that’s 4711. It doesn’t contain those chemicals that make it last and are so bad for us. It’s light, lemony fresh, you could bathe in it and it still wouldn’t last more than an hour or 2. It’s an old, basic eau de cologne that’s unisex. I hate when you can smell someone’s fragrance when you’re more than a foot away from them, but this would never happen with 4711. Any and all perfumes smell horrible with my own scent, but 4711 just smells like itself and never overpowers. I could probably do without it, but I love it.
Well, now I kind of wish I hadn’t read this! I love cologne and have a small collection, it’s my weakness. I’ve been able to give up the iPhone and so many other things without a second thought. But thinking about what goes into the process of making cologne and perfume changes things. Thanks for a very insightful and informative post!
This is a timely post. My husband’s company recently assigned a college intern to shadow him. He came home the other day with a ghastly headache saying the boy’s cologne is making him sick. It is so bad a co-worker complained DH’s office smelled like paint. DH is going to tell him he has to stop wearing it because he is allergic, but I gotta wonder if he sits in class wearing this stuff.
I used to wear perfume to special occasions only, but have recently stopped doing that as well. The perfume I usually wear is quite old and I am afraid it stinks.
Last year my niece who is a senior in H.S. received perfume as a gift from her mom. In confidence she told me she wished her mom would stop buying her perfume; she doesn’t wear it and neither do her friends. They see perfume as being for old people.
Ever since they started promoting scent-free policies at school, I’ve veered away from perfumes. It boggles the mind that celebrities keep coming out with new scents, as I don’t know anyone who wears perfume anymore. Even aside from the chemicals, it causes migraine symptoms in so many people that it’s just polite IMHO
Historically perfumes were made from oils (infused, or essential oils). The Arabs called them attar perfume.
much much later, alcohol was used because of its evaporative nature.
all that aside, we’re much much cleaner creatures now and hardly need perfume to mask body odors.
Didn’t the use of perfumes originate because people didn’t bathe??? I have been slowly eliminating scents and chemicals from our lives and our home. We’ve fallen for advertising hype that clean has an smell when in truth clean is the LACK of a smell. I recently read that the average person uses a MINIMUM of 130 chemicals just getting ready for the day to begin. Can you imagine the assault on our bodies by the end of the day???
A few thoughts:
After bringing in my clothes rack from my back porch, the fragrance of clean permeates the house… nothing like clothes dried outside. (and it’s free!)
I have no allergies, but if seated anywhere near perfumed air in a restaurant, I ask to be moved. NO perfume mixes well with the enjoyment of good food.
As far as the problems with ingredients, I have found Paula Begoun’s book and website to be a wealth of well researched information. She is particularly adamant about the avoidance of fragrance in the products she reviews…sort of a Consumer’s Report of the cosmetics industry. (I hope it’s ok to plug an author I’ve read…)There’s no substitute for being well informed about the products we use.
O NO!!!! I love perfume so much and feel like I’m not fully dressed without it. Can anyone suggest a healthy fragrance alternative? I generally wear rose scents. Should I use pure rose oil?
oh, man, i never knew this about fragrance. thanks for the info. i guess once the few bottles i have are gone, i won’t replenish.
As a person with severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, chemically scented products make me sick. For the many people who find them to be disability barriers including but not limited to people with MCS, COPD, and Asthma, they may be glad to know there is a petition they can sign which asks the Olympic Committee and it’s affiliated organizations to go scent free. This is a significant step forward to learnable classrooms and facilities. You may view SPECT scans of the brain before and after perfume exposure through the links in the preamble as well as see a list of the toxic chemicals known as “Trade Secrets,” that are in many of these products. The consumer is unaware of these as they are not listed on the packaging.
To view, sign and pass on the petiton to others, go to:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-scented-products-in-the-olypmics-and-affiliated-org.html
I’m happy enough with a small wardrobe, but I can’t give up scent. Scent memories are the most powerful of all, and there are too many things I do not want to forget. Anyway, if your perfume is giving anyone a headache, you are wearing too much. Someone should have to get really really close to you to smell it.
I’m happy to give up my perfume, however I do agree with Gina about scent memories being very powerful. (I’m going to find other ways to capture those, that don’t involve wearing perfume). Sometimes a person will go past and I will instantly be reminded of my Grandmother, and wonder what perfume they are wearing, because it must be the same one she wore.
I worked doing sales in a perfumery briefly, and I would leave there at the end of each day feeling light-headed, shaky and nauseated. Finally, I quit as the allergies were getting worse. Even now, certain perfumes make me feel ill to the point I will hold me breath and try to get away as fast as I can.
I always felt I was up on all of the chemicals in our everyday products, but it didn’t even occur to me that my perfume is a culprit as well. Thanks so much for this post and keep ’em coming!
I must say my mind is a bit slow to really adapt to this “no perfume” concept. But I am very glad to know that there are tons of chemicals in my “oh-don’t-want-to-give-them-up” perfumes. I will still wear scents, but will now go to my natural food store for suggestions. Thanks. I so enjoy your blog and your ebook!
How true. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been told I smell especially nice today (by both men and women) when I’ve gone au naturel. Sometimes, I haven’t even showered yet! I think perfume, deoderant, etc. is just a way to play off insecurites. How many times have you really noticed someone else’s scent anyway?
I’ve been doing this for years. I used to douse myself with gallons of the stuff, and I loved collecting the different bottle designs that I liked. Then I had a boyfriend who could not bear to share a room with anything articificially-scented. I persisted for a while but gradually got fed up spending money on it, and also found that A LOT of men really don’t like perfume, and love women to smell natural.
Perfume still has the ability to capture my imagination and emotions though, as it has such a power to bring back memories. I had several very strongly scented lip balms (was anyone else a teenager in the 90s who remembers this craze??)that I kept for years just to occasionally open them amd be transported back with the most incredible vividness to a particular time at school that I had obviously subconsciously associated that smell with. It was phenomenal – I’d be right back there, seeing it, feeling everything as if I was back in that time.
I never wear perfume. We use only scent-free clothes detergent(or homemade) and fragrance-free lotions.