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.

Think of it as a little gift to sensitive noses, immune systems, and anyone who'd rather not get a headache before we even start.

Wait, what does "fragrance-free" actually mean? 

It means on the day of your session, please make sure that none of the products you're wearing—yes, including laundry detergent—contain the ingredient "fragrance" or "parfum."

That includes: deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfumes, colognes, insect repellents, and laundry products. Basically, anything you put on your body—or that touches your clothes—needs to be fragrance-free.

A quick rule of thumb: If a product isn't explicitly labeled "fragrance-free," it almost certainly contains "fragrance" or "parfum." (Yes, even the fancy organic ones. I know. Sorry.)

Please use the checklist below to help you arrive fragrance-free. And thank you—truly—for helping keep this space safe for everyone.

Fragrance-Free Checklist (Before Your Session)

For each product below, ask: “Is this explicitly labeled ‘fragrance-free’? If not, can I skip it today or wash it off before I come?”

☐ Shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products

☐ Lotion (face, hand, or body)

☐ Deodorant

☐ Perfumes and colognes (just skip these entirely—your natural scent is lovely)

☐ Laundry Detergent

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

☐ Insect repellent

A note on clothes: Please wear clothes that were washed in fragrance-free detergent (no fabric softener or scented dryer sheets). Fragrance-free laundry detergent is easy to find—look for "free and clear" labels, usually right next to the scented stuff, for about the same price.

One more thing: Even products with no noticeable smell can contain these chemicals. And even one non-fragrance-free product will be detectable by those of us with fragrance-related health issues.

If you're unsure or can't find fragrance-free products in time? Just reach out before your session. We'll figure it out together. No judgment, I promise.

How to Tell if a Product is Actually Fragrance Free

Look for the words "Fragrance-Free" right on the container. For laundry and cleaning products, "Free and Clear" usually means the same thing.

Heads up: "Natural," "organic," "unscented," "hypoallergenic," or "paraben and sulfate free" do not mean fragrance-free. (I know. The labeling system is a mess.)

Also, watch out for the sneaky asterisk: some products list "fragrance" and then in tiny print say "plant-derived fragrance" or "*natural essential oils." Cute, but still a no-go. If the word "fragrance" appears anywhere, skip it.

How to Find Fragrance-Free Products? 

I know this can feel like a big adjustment. But here's the good news: it's actually easier than you think.

Most stores carry fragrance-free versions of personal care and laundry products, often for the same price you're already paying. And if you can't find something locally, the internet has your back.

Want help switching a specific product? Let me know what you currently use and your budget. I genuinely enjoy researching this stuff and will happily help you find a fragrance-free alternative.

Common Myths (And Why They’re Wrong)

Myth: "Natural," "organic," or "paraben-free" means it's fine.

Truth: Nope. Those labels say nothing about fragrance. Unless it says "fragrance-free," assume it contains synthetic fragrance. (Check the ingredient list to be sure.)

Myth: "Lemon scent," "lavender scent," or "fresh scent" means it's harmless.

Truth: Thousands of chemicals hide behind the single word “fragrance.” Companies don’t have to tell you what’s in there. Regardless of the type of scent, if the ingredients include the words “fragrance”, “perfume”, or “parfum”, it contains chemicals that are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and allergens.

Myth: “Unscented” means fragrance-free.

Truth: Actually, "unscented" often means they added fragrance plus a masking agent to hide the smell. 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's not a problem."

Truth: Two things here. First, repeated exposure to fragrances can deaden your sense of smell over time (so you might not smell what others can). Second, the health effects happen whether you smell it or not. Carcinogens don't care about your nose.

Myth: "I only wear one fragranced product—just deodorant, or just shampoo. That can't be a big deal."

Truth: I hear this one a lot. And I used to think the same thing. But here's the thing: people with fragrance sensitivities will absolutely smell that one product. And the health impacts don't depend on how many products you're wearing. Those tiny chemical particles travel through the air, get inhaled, absorbed through the skin, and sometimes stick around on surfaces for hours, days, and even weeks and months. One is enough.

Myth: "I haven't washed these clothes recently and I don't smell anything, so it's fine."

Truth: Scented laundry products are some of the worst offenders. They're designed to linger. And if you don't smell anything anymore? That's probably your nose getting desensitized over time. The chemicals are still there. The good news? Fragrance-free ("free and clear") laundry detergent is everywhere and costs about the same. An easy win. (Note:“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 not-fun health effects. These chemicals impact everyone's health, whether you feel them or not. Some of us—including me and many of my clients—have significant physical reactions and have come to realize that fragrances are the cause.

These chemicals don't just stay on the person wearing them. They enter the air. They get inhaled by people nearby. They absorb through skin. The particles are tiny—they can travel dozens of feet and linger in the air and on surfaces for minutes, hours, or even weeks and months.

So while we've been taught to think that the products we use are a "personal choice" that affects just ourselves... wearing fragrances actually affects everyone and every space we enter. 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 personally? Exposure triggers headaches that make it hard to focus during your session. And more fundamentally, as a survivor of both breast cancer and uterine fibroids—conditions directly tied to hormone health—avoiding these known hormone disruptors and carcinogens is a critical part of my ongoing health.

So thank you. Really. For reading this, for caring, and for showing up in a way that helps keep this space safe and welcoming for everyone.

More Info (If You Want to Go Deeper)

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:

Although 1 in 3 people reports having a chemical fragrance sensitivity, the truth is that these chemicals negatively impact everyone's health—whether they notice it or not. They're linked to 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 in their lifetime

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

  • Endometriosis or PCOS: At least 1 in 10 people with uteruses by age 50

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

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

The chemicals hidden under "fragrance" directly contribute to all of these—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