I belong to a beauty group on Facebook, I won't name which one, but just wanted to share something that frazzled me:
One of the questions from a member was along the lines of, "what perfume would you recommend for a teenager for her first perfume?" She wanted to introduce her young daughter to the all the beautiful things about fragrance and was after something fresh and light in scent.
To my absolute horror, all the old traditional favourites were wheeled out - YSL, Ralph Lauren, Chloe, Estee Lauder - you name it, they were suggested by other group members to give to a teenager for her first perfume.
Why was I horrified?
Well, it's one thing to put all the parabens, phthalates and petroleums on your skin if you choose to, but to give them - as a thoughtful GIFT - to a teenager! Whose reproductive system is still young and tender and has just started to work properly! That's not a present. That's a crystal ball into a fraught future of ill health.
You know what reproductive systems don't need? Any endocrine disruptors to put hormones out of whack and cause systems not to work properly or not develop to the best of their ability.
Toxic
Phthalates, in particular, are the big ones to avoid. In lab experiments they’ve been known to cause developmental defects, changes in sperm counts, and liver and kidney failure. It’s also inhibited the development of male hormones in fetuses. Let me explain that in laymen's terms. If you're pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, and you've been dousing yourself in phthalates, your unborn child may not develop their male hormones properly. YES, REALLY.
Phthalates are a common ingredient in all fragrances that are not 100% natural. Just so you know. They're also persistent, which means they hang around.
So please, when you are thinking about buying gifts for teenagers and want to introduce them to the wonderful world of fragrance, think natural. Only natural.
I couldn't comment on this particular thread on that particular Facebook group because I have a natural perfume brand, so I can bet it wouldn't be taken seriously.
But whether you buy RECREATION or another natural fragrance brand, I honestly don't care. Just don't buy them traditional fragrances made with all the bad stuff. Their reproductive systems really don't need it.
Photo: @aureliestory Instagram
