It's allergy season when all sorts of people are experiencing respiratory system symptoms. Sure the pollen is bad and sooner or later the humid conditions will aid mold and mildew growth. All that being said, there is a potentially powerful action that anyone can take to help one's respiratory health. Do a simple fragrance assessment and once that is done plan to reduce your fragrance exposure. What has fragrance got to do with it?
The olfactory system has been around a long time. Unlike our brain function that has become more sophisticated over the millennia we tend to use this sense in a diminished capacity. We no longer rely on smell to warn us of dangerous food or to find food or to give us climatic and environmental information to help us keep safe. Our sense of smell is still working giving us a vast array of information but on a subtle level most of us ignore. Today's world bombards the average consumer with scents from a variety of sources. Fragrance itself is not usually harmful but most of the exposure is from synthetic fragrances or chemically manufactured substances not found in nature. These layers upon layers of scent can badly overtax the body's respiratory system, especially in those that may be dealing with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions.
The next time you have a spare five minutes do an assessment -- list every scented product used in your home or on your family members. The following are some contenders: laundry products; hand and body soaps and washes; hair products; deodorants and antiperspirants; shaving products; feminine hygiene products; lotions, powder and skin creams; makeup and its removers; household cleaners; dishwashing detergents; floor and furniture polishes and waxes; scented candles; room fresheners, sprays and potpourri; dry cleaning scents; furniture and rug cleaning scents; and of course, fragrances that are used as fragrances. You may be astounded at the huge number of fragrance sources found in your home environment. This list will not even acknowledge all those in your work environment, on public transportation, in the homes of friends, in restaurants, theaters, churches, and stores.
If you suspect that there may be a scent overload in your living environment there are several practical actions to reduce the overload. Cleaning and laundry products are usual offenders and since the scents remain in clothing and in the air after cleaning their effect is large. Unscented and environmentally friendly products are available. Stop using air fresheners or rely on the real thing, essential oils misted with water. Air out rooms and create good ventilation in the home, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Substitute unscented candles, or better yet beeswax candles, for scented ones. Consider if all those personal care products are essential for your health and happiness. Unscented alternatives exist or live with a simpler approach. It isn't necessary or practical to give up all scent. Keep it where you feel it is essential and get rid of all the background scents that have crept in when you weren't noticing. Scent can be one of the great joys in life, keep it that way.
Anne Cain
Trained in traditional interior design, art, and Denise Linn's Interior Alignment, Anne uses a variety of techniques to help anyone create a living environment that supports their goals. She resides in Greensboro, NC and may be reached at inner life/outer home at 336-601-5420 or acain100@triad.rr.com.
