Why Is Fragrance Oil Toxic?
- Fragrance oils come mainly from petroleum products.oil storage tank 44 image by Jim Parkin from Fotolia.com
Fragrance oils are synthetic versions of essential oils and are used in place of them. While essential oils are natural secretions from plants that are free of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, fragrance oils mainly come from petroleum products. Both fragrance oils and essential oils are used in aromatherapy and in soaps, cosmetics, candles and other products - Benzene, toluene and formaldehyde are among the petroleum products used to make fragrance oils. Many of these petroleum products have been linked to cancer, nervous system disorders and birth defects.
- Some of the petroleum products used in fragrance oils can cause allergic reactions and thyroid disorders as well as skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Fragrance oil use also may lead to respiratory problems. Long-term environmental effects are under study.
