Why More Women Just Say No To Fragrance

Like red roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, perfume has traditionally been one of the fail-safe offerings of Valentine's Day. But this year, as couples sit down to romantic dinners, a small but growing cohort of American women will emit scents that are more corporal and less Chanel. At a time when the number of perfumes on shelves has dramatically increased, consumption of fragrances is declining, industry analysts said. Last year, department stores carried 1,160 different fragrances for women compared with 756 in 2002, according to NPD Group, a market research firm that tracks consumer product sales.

Yet, last year in the United States, spending on upscale women's fragrances declined, as part of a multiyear trend. The group said $1.97 billion was spent, down from $2 billion in 2002.

Read entire story here.

Comments

[waitng]

I also believe that the natural scent of a woman is much better than perfume. I have been assaulted in the work place and other places I have to frequent by people who seemingly bath in either perfume or cologne and it reeks havoc with my sinuses, creates running freely nose and my eyes water as if I am crying about having lost a loved one. The stuff are dangerous.
Ever noticed that because the makers of this crap hid behind 'trade secrets' that ingedients are not listed on the containers? That is because they don't want you to know what you are taking into your lungs. So, scents such as these are just another insidious product that has no real business being on the market. But just like steroid use by the pros and their up and coming fans it is a 'legitimate' product that makes mucho money for people that could give a rat's ass about a person's health. So it becomes an 'important' part of the false economy. But hopefully, the decline in sales is and indication of peolpe smarting up.
And, it is just not the perfumes and colognes, there are all sorts of hand creams and skin lotions that are so loud they should be considered an unnatural hazardous waste site.

[ldelp84227]

It sure is good to see all these comments. I have suffered for 10 years also. I wish I could work but there is no place where you aren't constantly exposed to these perfumes, etc. and they aren't even safe. I have researched for years. It sure doesn't seem fair that our lives have been altered just for the sake of companies making so much money at our expense. I also get migraines and sometimes have vomited for 12 hours after being around the stuff. If only our government would regulate these chemicals in these products--they haven't even been tested for safety. Baby lotions etc are also not safe. I use to use all the stuff, even washed my delicates in Ivory snow for years, can't get near that product anymore. Linda

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Instead of those horrible artificial perfumes, I recommend placing chunks of freshly baked bread in your pockets and purses. Yummm, that'll snap my head in your direction and get me droolin.' (which is really endearing).

[NanMichiganwomyn]

When a person wears perfume molecules of the substance become airborne. A womyn walking nearby a perfumed person is likely to inhale those molecules involuntarily as she breathes.


What do we call forcing something into womyn's bodies when they do not want it?


We call it rape.


Perfume is rape!

[DavidMG]

Perfume in excess is an assault.

[CintiBlue]

We've OD'd.

The best statement in the article is "the sheer abundance" of fragrance on the market - and, I might add, spraying it from head to toe.

It used to be a special dab behind the ears, maybe with a touch at the wrist.

Thanks to the posters looking out for other people. I'm not really sensitive to stuff, but there is someone in my vicinity at the ballet who makes my eyes itch.

Less is best. Buy the best and you just need a touch.

[JScott]

Perhaps we should get back to the roots of it all-plant scented flowers and plants. I would plant Sonia Roses, Citrus Trees and Jasmine etc. around windows, so you have lightly scented breezes when you open the window.

[Silverstar]

And then there was the idiot woman who decided to spray her perfume all over herself on the bus!!! Boy did she hear from me. I told her she was incredibly rude and that some people were allergic. It's bad enough having to sit next to them, let alone having them spraying the stuff all over.

[loril]

I have one or two favorites and I used to wear them fairly regularly. However, items like this were the first to go in our new budget reality. Have to spend that perfume money on milk, gas and the utilities now.

The trend toward simplification and less gratuitious spending interests me; I have seen a few posts lately that point to the fact that more people are giving up their little luxuries. And, from the tone of the other people posting here, it looks like perfume won't be missed by the general public!

[zizyphus]

I used to buy very expensive perfumes. Now I make my own perfumes from pure, natural essential oils of flowers and other plant parts. Not only do the synthetics make people sneeze, the synthetic musk they put in everything these days causes endocrine disruption in marine creatures. Who knows what all it does to people. Synthetic fragrance is a form of chemical warfare.

[67bug]

I'm a big fan of perfume and I love musk and patchouli oils. I only wear them if I know I won't be out and around a lot of people because I know that many are asthmatic or allergic! I'm looking out for you all.....

[Owlygirl]

And I thank you for it too! ;D

Seriously, I've spent the past 10 years overcoming a toxic overload from inhaling all the chemicals we're inundated with everyday. These chemicals came in many forms, including most common household cleaners as well as perfumes. The first four years I was misdiagnosed and the following six years were spent altering my lifestyle and detoxing. It was hell and has been a very long battle. The good news is I have noticed that less woman are wearing perfume and I could not be happier! Now I know I can walk around and not worry about getting a 6 to 10 hour migraine from some random person next to me. Plus it's also healthy decision anyway for people who aren't necessarily sick because those fumes are dangerous. Let's get wise and make healthier decisions for everyone like our thoughtful 67bug. It truly makes a difference.

[NYCBear]

A lot of perfumes make me sneeze uncontrollably. They're like tear gas, so far as I'm concerned.

[aigeanta]

Not to mention that perfumes often contain potentially toxic ingredients.

http://www.ourlittleplace.com/chemicals.html

[wm1066]

Man I hope this is true.
Long ago before, I realized I was perfume sensitive, I had a girl friend who wore a perfume that curled my nose. Being young I wasn't all that tactful about it and I inadvertantly insulted her beyond redemtion.
I hate perfume!
A woman who is clean can have her own natural smell that goes right to my secret pheromone place. ohhh! And the perfume masks that.

[clocknova]

Good. I've never met a woman who smelled better with perfume than without.

[geobushono]

Women smell great.....I still haven't decided if *that's* how they smell or it's soap or powder or perfume..........I think it's a natural *something* we men are programmed to recognize.....men don't smell anything like women.
...and there's a lot of it around, and it's all different.

[angryoldman]

HOO...HA!