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This smells incredible! Debunking the myth that "fresh scent" means your home, clothes, and products are fresh and clean.

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This smells incredible! Debunking the myth that "fresh scent" means your home, clothes, and products Megan Mikkelsen, MPH - Detox Living Strategist, Non-Toxic Makeup Mentor

Oh my gosh, this smells so good! 

Have these words come out of your mouth before? I’ve definitely said them. But we really don’t need scents - I'm going to be debunking the myth that you need a scent for things to be clean.


This Smells Incredible! Debunking the Myth That “Fresh Scent” Means your Home, Clothes and Products are Fresh and Clean

I was definitely into all the pretty smells and scents before. Scents and smells have been marketed to us for so long that we believe a smell tells us when things are clean. But this really isn't true. It’s really just marketing.

If laundry detergent companies didn't come out with new scents, then they wouldn't be selling new products. People would be using the same product they've been using for years. By diversifying their product and creating a new scent, that increases interest and makes you want to buy it. 

Remember being a teen and getting so excited about the new Bath and Body Works scent you just had to have? That’s marketing. New scents keep you coming back.

It smells good so how can it be bad?

Fragrance. You will find it listed on products everywhere. Even “natural fragrance” is a proprietary term in the US. Our regulations make it so that that term “fragrance” or “natural fragrance” can be used and companies don’t have to disclose the actual ingredients that are in within the natural or regular fragrance. When you read an ingredient label, you will see all of the ingredients on the label and then you'll see the term fragrance. But we really don't know what is in that fragrance. One study from the Environmental Working Group found that over 3000 different chemicals can be found within the term fragrance. If you’ve been listening for a while, you know that there are often a lot of phthalates, parabens, and a lot of other allergens that just aren't good for us within “fragrance”. Many are often linked with hormone disrupting chemicals. If you want to learn more about the dangers of fragrance, check out this past episode Ditch Harmful Home Fragrance.


Ok, so we should just look for the fragrance free or unscented label?

Not so fast. Anything on a label can potentially be just a marketing ploy. If you “fragrance free” on a label, there might still be “fragrance” listed on the ingredient label! You need to turn the package around and read the label. 

Unscented is a better option but again, using that term on packaging isn’t regulated in the United States, so you still need to read the ingredient label.

I know this can seem overwhelming. Which is why I created my online course, Detox By Design:The Home Method; which you can find by clicking on “The Course” at www.detox.design

Not ready to dive into The Home Method? I have some really exciting news to share. For the first time ever I am doing a super fun LIVE masterclass! All online and it's called The Three Home Detox Secrets For Beginners. I have three different sessions that you can choose from. And the best thing about this masterclass is at the end of it, you’ll have the chance to ask me any question you have right there live. I have never done this before and it is going to be super fun. 

In this masterclass, I'm going to be going over what you need to watch out for when you're shopping, and how you can shift your mindset to start taking action and detoxing your home. I'm also going to be talking about the essential knowledge that you need to know about the products that you're bringing into your home. It's going to be super fast and simple yet give you all the info you need to get started. If you've never done something like this, it is super simple. You will simply sign up, you will get an email that reminds you about the time and then you just click on the link in your email and you'll be directed to a website where you will see all of the info, and you will get to submit your questions and get them answered right then and there. So if you're ready, go to <<CLICK HERE>> to reserve your seat!


Really what you want is no smell at all

Think about it. An absence of smell means you’ve cleaned away whatever is causing the smell. If a clothing item doesn't have a smell, that's when we know it's clean, right? It doesn't smell like dirt, it doesn't smell like body odor. It doesn't smell like dog.

The thing is, those scented products just cover up the actual smell. 

The perfect example for this is a bathroom smell. Like a bathroom aerosol can. Isn't that the worst when there's a nasty smell in the bathroom and then there's this super potent perfumey spray over the top of that nasty bathroom smell? It’s definitely gross and not what one aims for when trying to have a clean house. 

The best way to get those smells out is to clean with effective products. Learn to read labels so you know which products are safe for your home. Or if you just don’t have the time and you just want to shop, I have researched and personally tested all of the products in my online store https://www.detox.design/thebox. They’re safe and they work!

One easy trick I learned is to vacuum with baking soda. I put baking soda on my rugs and fabric furniture, let it sit to absorb the odors (instead of just covering them up) and then vacuum up the baking soda. It’s cheap, easy and effective.

Our family also just bought an air purifier. Another great way to clean your air, not just for cleanliness but it’s also great for your health!


Don’t forget to sign up for the Masterclass, 3 Home Detox Secrets for Beginners. Just <<CLICK HERE>> to reserve your seat!