Alchemy is Fragrance Free - Why?

Alchemy is Fragrance Free and we want to explain this, because it isn't a random rule, there are many good reasons for our policy. To honor it, we ask that you refrain from applying scented products such as perfume, aftershave, hairspray, strongly fragranced soaps and lotions.

We do make one exception, we have an add-in of hot towels and aromatherapy available and will add carefully chosen organic oils to your massage or reflexology session by request.

Now on to the Why:

1. We work with many clients who have challenged immune systems, and chemical sensitivities. Perfume, essential oils, and fragrances from laundry and personal care products make people sick. They trigger headaches and migraines, they can induce nausea, hives, asthma and can make an auto-immune flare so much worse.
2. It isn't good for you or us. Most fragrances added to products, even expensive ones, are petrochemicals. They act as endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, carcinogens and none of us really don't need to be breathing that into our bodies.
3. Even all natural essential oils can overwhelm a sensitive system.
4. Labels are not required to reveal contents of these products, because they are not food.
5. Alchemy's point of view is that it is more important to care for everyone, even if it means we must ask some to limit their self-expression through scents. We want everyone to be able to access massage and bodywork, and for those who literally suffer from scents, we hold a tighter line for us all.
6. We also want you to consider whether you need all those products in your life. We know too many clients with multiple challenges who use a lot of these products. When a body is already overloaded, why add an extra assault?
7. Beyond all of your personal care products and actual perfumes, what about the Febreeze, Tide, Airwick, Glade, the plug-ins, car fresheners, and all the cleaning products? These products are some of the worst, because they use a lot of low grade scents. Smelling perfumed is not clean, it is perfume.
   
8. Finally, we are a scent free business because they give Amelia a splitting headache. She and some of our other therapists are highly sensitive.
   

Another detail, nose blindness - you may not even be aware of how much scent you have on and around you. Our noses become immune to the scents of things, and we can't accurately smell them anymore. If that might be the case for you, please consider removing scents from your life for awhile and see how much more sensitive your nose becomes again.
oh, and those candles... yes, most are full of artificial fragrances...
Here are some links and resources:

• Scientific American - Scent of Danger: Are There Toxic Ingredients in Perfumes and Colognes?
• Sensitive to Smells - Marie Claire Magazine
• Smells Make Some People Sick? - Science Daily

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