This strikes me as slightly crazy. Among other things, fragrances are the leading cause of allergic reactions from cosmetics. Fragrances can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Many of the private chemicals in perfumes and other fragrances such as acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, limalool, methylene chloride, a-pinene, and a-terpinene, to name just the most common-can potentially cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and immune and reproductive systems. Some have been classified as neurotoxins, meaning they could cause damage to the brain and nervous systems.

What's more, virtually all fragrances are stabilized with phthalates. The indispensable phthalates used in cosmetic products are dibutyl phthalate (Dbp), dimethyl phthalate (Dmp), and diethyl phthalate (Dep). They're in nail polishes, where they keep polishes flexible; in hair sprays, where they keep your hair from stiffening too much and-more important-in the vast majority of fragrances, where they help to stabilize, or "fix" perfumes in products. They make fragrances last longer, and they're in virtually all things that has a smell.

So what? Here's what the Epa's top phthalate researcher has said: "For twenty-five years we've known that phthalates disrupt the yield of testosterone indispensable for the masculinization of the male species. Some phthalates appear to cause low sperm counts, testicular atrophy, a higher incidence of undescended testicles, and hypospadias, a condition that affects the male urethra. Is that what you want for your son? Findings like these have spurred the European Union to ban any of the most commonly used phthalates in cosmetics. But the United States has not.

There are associates that strive to make perfumes and fragrances that do not carry the risks related with the synthetic chemicals in most accepted perfumes. Here are just a couple:

ÿAveda Pure-Fumes, aveda.com

Dropwise Essentials Room and Body Spray, dropwise.com