10 Products to Change When Going Fragrance Free

There are many reasons people are starting to go fragrance free. I made the switch after I had skin allergy testing done to figure out why I was always covered in rashes and hives. Fragrance was one of my largest reactions. Fragrance can make eczema worse. It can cause migraines. Some people have chemical sensitivities resulting in a need to steer clear of synthetic fragrance. Others just hate the idea of chemicals being in their home or on their skin when they don’t need to be. Whatever the reason, it is a hard switch to make due to the fact that fragrance is hiding everywhere around us.

My biggest bit of advice is to learn to read labels, no matter what! It took me a long time to learn that fragrance is hidden in items you would never expect. It is also important to understand that “unscented” does not mean “fragrance free”. Often times, unscented items contain a masking fragrance to hide a strong odor in the product. Also understand that just because it is a natural fragrance doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t bother you. I still have to be cautious with a number of natural fragrances because they irritate my skin. My last note to mention is that if one person in your home needs to be fragrance free, it is best if the entire family goes fragrance free. Think about it, if your child needs to stay away from fragrance, but your body lotion contains it, your hugs and snuggles are leaving behind fragrance. If your husband has a sensitivity, and at night you put your fragrant hairspray on his chest when you cuddle up, you are leaving fragrance all over his skin.

So here is a list of the ten biggest changes I made in my routine to make the switch to fragrance free.

1) Laundry Detergent: Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Free & Clear

2) Dish Soap: Seventh Generation Free & Clear

3) Hand Soap: Seventh Generation Free & Clear

4) Shampoo (365 brand (unscented), I typically find this at Whole Foods)

5) Conditioner (365 brand (unscented), I typically find this at Whole Foods)

6) Body Lotion (Naked Body Food, www.gracegreenbeauty.com) We use this for everything skin care related! And all her other products are great too.

7) Body Wash: Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap Baby Unscented. This stuff has so many uses. I use it on the kids, the dog, for cleaning the house, and more.

8) Deodorant: My absolute favorite deodorant so far is by Earth Mama. I even have my sons using it now. Shop Earth Mama Deodorants Here I have also used EO Organic Deodorant Spray in Citrus or Lavender, Primal Pit Paste All Natural Orange Creamsicle Deoderant , and Kiss My Face Active Life Deoderant Stick Fragrance Free. Your body needs a month or two to detox of all the chemicals from your previous deodorant. Hang in there, natural deodorant works great if you give your body time to get used to it. I’ve been using it for over six years now, and I’m so glad I made the switch. And remember natural fragrance may still bother you, so play around with these options and switch to their fragrance free products if needed.

9) Essential Oil instead of Candles (DoTerra) Most candles are putting chemical fragrance into the air in your home. This switch can make a huge difference. Buy a few diffusers to put in different areas of your home, and play around with your favorite oils.

10) Household Cleaner: Seventh Generation Free & Clear All Purpose Cleaner. I also mix water, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon essential oil in a spray bottle and clean with that.

I linked some of my favorite products below, but have fun finding your own options too. Once you get these ten major categories accomplished in your switch to fragrance free, you can branch out. It took me a little over a year to really eliminate fragrance from my home and my routine. Good luck! You can do this!

♥,

Megan