Fragrance Free Policy

To ensure a safe and effective session for everyone, my studio space is 100% fragrance-free. 

Please refrain from using perfumes or any other scented products when coming to your session.

Sensitive noses and immune systems appreciate your thoughtfulness!

What does this mean? 

This means on the day of your session, please ensure that none of the products you are wearing (including laundry detergent and other laundry products) contain the ingredient “fragrance” or “parfum”. 

Fragranced products include: deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfumes, colognes, insect repellents, and laundry detergents. Basically, any product you put on your body—or that comes into contact with your clothes—needs to be fragrance-free.

A quick rule of thumb: If a product isn't labeled "fragrance-free," it almost certainly contains "fragrance" or "parfum” and is not safe to use.

Please use the checklist below to help you assess how to arrive fragrance-free.

Thank you for helping keep this space safe for everyone.

Fragrance-Free Checklist before coming to your session: 

For each of the following products, ask: “Are they explicitly labeled “fragrance-free”? If not, can I skip using them on the day of my session or wash them off before arriving?”

☐ Shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products

☐ Lotion (face, hand, or body lotion)

☐ Deodorant

☐ Perfumes and colognes (skip entirely)

☐ Laundry Detergent

☐ Laundry products (rinse aid, dryer sheets, color brighteners)

☐ Insect repellent

Please wear clothes that were washed in fragrance-free laundry detergent without fabric softener, have not been dried with scented dryer sheets, and have not come into contact with any fragranced personal care products. Fragrance-free laundry detergent is easy to find—look for "free and clear" labels, usually right next to the scented stuff, often for the same price.

Note: Even products with no noticeable aroma to you can contain these chemicals. Even if you use just one product that is not fragrance-free, it will be detectable by and impact those of us who have health issues affected by fragrances.

If you are unsure about a product you use, or if you are unable to secure fragrance-free items for your appointment, please contact me before your session. We can discuss it!

How to tell if products are Fragrance-Free or not? 

Almost all products are scented and include the ingredients "fragrance" or "parfum" unless they are specifically labeled "Fragrance-Free." Look for the words “Fragrance-Free” on the container. Laundry detergents, and other cleaning products, will also often have the label “Free and Clear” which means it is fragrance-free.

Some products are marketed as “natural”, “organic”, “paraben and sulfate free”. Note that this does not mean that they are “fragrance-free.” Also, many products will also include “fragrance*” as an ingredient with an asterisk next to it, and the asterisk will denote: “ * plant derived fragrance, natural essential oil derived fragrance, or 100% natural fragrance.” None of these labels can ensure that harmful chemical fragrances have not been included in the product. If the word “fragrance” is used at all, even if described as “plant derived and natural”, it is a no-go.

How to find Fragrance-Free products? 

I understand that finding fragrance-free products can be a big adjustment. But if you’re interested in switching any of your own products to fragrance-free versions, you’ll likely find that it’s easier than you think!

Most stores carry fragrance free options for all personal care and laundry products, and they can often be found for the same price you were paying before. Many more fragrance-free options for all kinds of products are available online. 

If you would like to switch to a fragrance free version of a product you currently use and would like support in finding an alternative that is the same price or less as what you currently use, let me know and I will help research an alternative.

Myths

Myth: “Natural”, “organic”, “paraben and sulfate free” on the label means it is okay, or fragrance-free

Truth:There are many products that use the above terms that still contain synthetic fragrances. Unless the product is specifically labeled “fragrance-free”, it 99% of the time contains chemical fragrances, which you can confirm by reading the ingredient list.

Myth: “Fresh Scent”, “Lemon Scent”, “Lavender Scent”, etc. on products means neutral, or fragrance-free, or not harmful

Truth: Thousands of chemicals are hidden behind the ingredient “fragrance”, and companies are not required to disclose what they are. Regardless of the type of scent, if the product contains the ingredient “fragrance”, “perfume”, or “parfum”, it likely contains chemicals that are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and allergens.

Myth: “unscented” means fragrance free

Truth: The term “unscented” is often used on products where there are fragrance ingredients and then masking agents on top of the fragranced ingredients. So do not rely on “unscented” alone to find a fragrance-free product. Read the product label ingredients to ensure the word “fragrance” and “parfum” are not included at all.

Myth: “If I can’t smell it, it is not an issue”

Truth: Each use of scented products/essential oils/vapes/etc. further deadens olfactory receptors, and many people experience odor habituation due to chemical saturation. People who are aware of their sensitivities to fragrances can often still smell the scents that you may not. Additionally, the negative health effects caused by fragrance chemicals (which are often carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting) affect anyone who is exposed to those chemicals through inhalation and skin absorption, regardless of the person wearing the product’s ability to smell the chemical fragrance.

Myth: “I only wear one possibly fragranced product (deodorant, shampoo, etc.) - so it must not be a big deal”

Truth: People who are aware of their sensitivity to fragrances more often than not will smell and be negatively impacted by any fragranced product, even it is “just” someone’s deodorant, or “just” someone’s shampoo, or “just” someone’s laundry detergent. The health impacts can be equally as serious, regardless of the type of scent, and regardless of the number of fragranced products someone is wearing, because even just one product that contains chemical fragrances will travel through the air and affect many people besides the person wearing the product. The particles in fragrances are especially small, which means the toxic chemicals can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin second hand, and remain in the air and on surfaces for hours, days, and even weeks and months.

Myth: “I don’t use fragrance-free laundry detergent, but I didn’t wash the clothes recently and I don’t smell anything so it must be fine.”

Truth: Scented laundry detergent and other laundry products often contain some of the most toxic fragrance ingredients. They are often designed to linger for prolonged amounts of time. Often times the synthetic fragrances in laundry products are hard to remove even after washing clothes with fragrance-free detergent and natural deodorizers. If you don’t smell anything, it is likely from your olfactory receptors becoming desensitized over time. Fragrance-free laundry detergents are widely available in the same section as conventionally scented laundry detergent in any store, for the same price! Just look for “fragrance free” or “free and clear” on the label. Note that “sensitive skin” and “hypo-allergenic’ does not guarantee that it will be fragrance free.

Why is my studio strictly fragrance-free?

The unregulated chemicals hidden under the ingredient "fragrance" or "parfum" in personal care products are known to cause cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, and other adverse health effects. These chemicals impact everyone's health, whether they feel it or not. Some of us—including myself and many of my clients—have significant physical reactions and have come to understand that chemical fragrances are the cause.

These chemicals enter the air from fragranced personal care products. They can be inhaled by others nearby and absorbed through the skin. These particles are tiny and can easily travel dozens of feet away from the person wearing the product. They can linger in the air and on surfaces for minutes, hours, or even weeks or months.

So while we've been taught to think that the personal care products we use are a personal choice that affects just ourselves, wearing fragrances actually affects everyone and every space we come into contact with. That's why I'm asking you to help me keep this space fragrance-free—not just for me, but for everyone who walks through this door.

For me, exposure to these chemicals triggers headaches, which makes it hard to be fully present and focused during your session. More fundamentally, these chemicals are known carcinogens and endocrine (hormone system) disruptors. As a survivor of both breast cancer and uterine fibroids—conditions directly affected by hormone disruption—avoiding them is a critical part of my ongoing health.

More Info

Although 1 in 3 people reports having a chemical fragrance sensitivity, the truth is that fragranced chemicals negatively impact everyone's health—whether they notice it or not. These chemicals are linked to a wide range of illnesses and conditions, including cancer, endocrine disorders, neurological issues, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Consider how common these conditions have become:

  • Cancer: 1 in 3 people in the US will be diagnosed with some type of cancer in their lifetime

  • Uterine fibroids: Up to 70% of people with uteruses will develop fibroids by age 50

  • Endometriosis or PCOS: At least 1 in 10 people with uteruses will develop one of these by age 50

  • Breast cancer: 1 in 8 people with uteruses will be diagnosed in their lifetime

  • Thyroid disorders: 1 in 8 people with uteruses will be diagnosed in their lifetime

The chemicals hidden under the ingredient "fragrance" directly contribute to all of these conditions—and many more.

If you’d like to explore the science behind this, below are some of the key articles and medical studies that helped me understand the full toll fragrances take on our bodies.

Articles and Medical Studies