You Ditched Fragrance, So Why Does It Bother You More Now?
When you stop using synthetic fragrance, your sensitivity to it increases due to a process called sensory adaptation.
I talk to so many women who experience this. Women who now get instant headaches walking into department stores, past Lush or Mecca, and can’t even wander down the cleaning product aisle of the supermarket!
Is that you too? Let’s take a look at what’s going on.
sensory adaptation
When you're continuously exposed to a particular stimulus, your sensory receptors become less responsive to it over time. In the case of fragrance, if you use it regularly, your olfactory receptors become less sensitive to its presence. This can lead to a decreased perception of the fragrance.
BUT, when you STOP using fragrance, your olfactory receptors have a chance to "reset" and regain sensitivity. As a result, when you're exposed to it again, you may perceive it more intensely than before.
In essence, when you stop using fragrance, your body has an opportunity to reset and regain sensitivity to it. This can lead to a heightened perception of fragrance when you encounter it again, like at the department store or supermarket aisle.
I am in awe of what our bodies are capable of
I sprayed toxic endocrine disruptive, carcinogenic perfume on my body for YEARS!
My sensory receptors did an amazing job, through various mechanisms, at making my body less responsive to the onslaught of these chemicals daily.
BUT this is not normal. Our bodies were not designed to cope with this level of toxicity indefinitely and function optimally. This cumulative toxic burden is causing us harm. We do not need to live like this.
Symptoms you experience when exposed to fragrance after detoxing is our bodies NORMAL response to synthetic fragrance!
As a society we’ve just become desensitised.
my favourite clean perfume brands
doTERRA pure essential oil blends: I customise my own fragrance daily using: rose, jasmine, magnolia, osmanthus, vanilla or pre-made blends eg. Whipser (musky), Passion (sexy/spicy), Cheer (sweet, cinnamony). 25% off through link here.
One Seed Perfumes: all-natural ingredients with at least 80% organic content. Code: NICKYSKINNER for 20% off.
Esas Beauty: Founded by chemists who worked in the fragrance industry 25+ years.
