Many candles and cosmetic products on the market contain gorgeous and luxurious scents that whisk us away into another dimension in our mind and body. As we know, and in our previous blog, we discuss the link between mind, body and spirit when the olfactory system is stimulated (sense of smell).
There is however, one thing we noticed when investigating ingredients is the way in which synthetic fragrances are made. We wanted to understand on a deeper level how on earth these scent magicians manage to create such tantalizing and mesmerizing scents for us all to enjoy. We came across one we liked and saw a declaration on their label with the word 'Phthalate'.
There is a HUGE percentage of scented candles and cosmetics currently on the market that contain phthalates, which is a chemical used to boost the scent and make it last longer. It is also used to strengthen plastic products for a more durable finish. There is evidence that Phthalates are linked to health detriments, hormone imbalance, poor mental health, sensory loss and infertility. But, many companies still use this in their fragrance oil and even more so, it is being used by those who make cosmetics or bath and body products without even knowing (because they don't research).
The issue with this chemical in products is that as the candle burns, the phthalates enters the air and can interfere with mental function and actually impact your health. It can trigger asthma and sinus irritation as well as allergies. If used in cosmetic products, it is absorbed into the skin.
For those who use fragrance oils, ask your scent provider if the fragrance you choose contains phthalates. Hopefully they have this mentioned on their website or product labels already but if not a simple email or call to their head office will be an easy way to find out.
For those who buy scented products, you can ask the manufacturer, hopefully they already have the answer from stringent research before making and selling that product.
Believe it or not, one whiff of a strong candle can send you backwards in mental health, emotions, motivation and mood, it can induce migraines and issues with your vision and can even impact how you taste food and fluid…. Can you imagine what it's doing to your body when it is applied to your skin??? See links below!!
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Link: Phthalates and human health- https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/5/603
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Link: International Fragrance Association- https://ifrafragrance.org/about-ifra/introduction
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Link: Centers for Disease control and Prevention- https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html
- Link: Screening for biomarkers- infertility and phthalates exposure. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-022-00517-7#:~:text=In%20couples%20attempting%20to%20conceive,1%20year)%20%5B12%5D.
- Link: Australia Bans Phthalates in children's products- https://www.productsafety.gov.au/product-safety-laws/safety-standards-bans/product-bans/dehp-in-childrens-plastic-items#:~:text=Items%20containing%20more%20than%201,phthalate%20(DEHP)%20are%20banned.