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It is necessary to be aware of the perfume components when buying. check out

Perfume is a product that originally contains natural aromas, that is, those coming from essential oils taken from different parts of plant species. But what then would a real natural perfume be? To compose a natural perfume, we basically need the following ingredients: alcohol, distilled water and essential oil. In these perfumes there are the so-called notes, that is, the combination of three or more types of essential oils that have different volatility points.

meaning and origin

The word perfume comes from the Latin: per means "the origin of", and fume means "smoke". We know that the use of perfume by human beings is ancient, and that it is initially related to religious rituals, in which wood and plants were burned, producing smoke with pleasant odors. But do you know how the fragrances of perfumes feel? According to a study, when we come into contact with odors, the olfactory cells present in the nose region detect the molecules that have odor in the air or water - this leads to the formation of electrical impulses which, in turn, are directed to the brain, which will detect the sensation of odor.

olfactory saturation

For those who always use the same perfume with the same odor, the so-called olfactory saturation can occur, which is a natural adaptation of the olfactory receptors. According to research, after one second of exposure to a certain odor, the receptors adapt by 50%, and in subsequent periods, the adaptation decreases and, after one minute, the odor is almost imperceptible. Then, the receivers are aware of other different odors that arise. It's important to alternate the use of fragrances to avoid olfactory saturation and not bother anyone with your overly fragrant scent.

Synthetic fragrances

Many perfumes available on the market have, in their chemical composition, synthetic fragrances that are generally derived from petroleum. This is because several species of plants or even animals, from which natural fragrances were extracted, are extinct or at risk of extinction, making the production of perfumes very expensive. An example of an endangered species is the musk deer, from which musk oil is extracted (musk in English). Currently, the trade in musk oil is limited to 300 kg per year in the world.

health risks

Several brands include in the synthetic mixture, which tries to reproduce the smell of essential oils, toxic substances that are harmful to health, which, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), are often not described on the labels, that is, the manufacturers of these perfumes insert substances that are harmful to health in the product and generalize the names by simply putting on the label the fragrance or fragrance ingredient, which is actually hiding the true names of the added toxic components. These synthetic chemicals can trigger allergies, hormonal changes that are caused by components that affect hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. By affecting estrogen, it is possible that effects such as breast cancer and precocious puberty can arise. Smell is related to the endocrine system, which is responsible for controlling hormonal processes, that is, these components present in perfumes can cause a decrease in the olfactory senses and make us use more and more perfume without realizing that we are exaggerating. According to information from the European Commission, it is also possible to find in perfumes Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs or VOCs) that are related to several harmful effects to health (learn more here).

What can we do?

Try not to use so many products with fragrances. If you like your perfume a lot, use other fragrance-free cosmetic products. Complain to cosmetic companies in order to get them to describe all the substances on the labels. Opt for perfumes without adding fragrance. But be careful, as many brands sell products as “zero fragrance”, “natural fragrance” or “no fragrance” and actually insert fragrance components into their products. It is always good to research the perfume components beforehand to know if the brand is trustworthy and to be sure of making a safe and sustainable purchase.