The names may be intoxicating — Obsession, Eternity, True Love — but the ingredients are often scary. Many commercial perfumes and colognes are made of chemicals that can have long-term effects on health.

Phthalates are the number one culprit. The chemicals are used as solvents in many fragrances and personal care products and have been linked to damage of the liver, kidneys, lungs, and the reproductive system — phthalates are specifically believed to lead to genital abnormalities in newborn boys.

I stay away from commercial scents for more reasons than one (two, actually):

- I find it disconcerting to get a big whiff of my signature fragrance from the woman who just walked by me on the street. It’s the olfactory equivalent of being caught in the same dress at the party of the year.

- The availability and diversity of organic [0] essential oils makes it easier than ever to envelop yourself in an all-natural fragrance — from sandlewood to lavender, from grapefruit to rose.

Looking for a healthy, unique scent? Check out Mandrake Apothecary [1], Aveda [2], or my new favorite, Lakshmi NYC [3].

Not too Pretty [4] has the scoop on phthalates.

[via IdealBite [5]]

(Image: Aveda)