As I take a walk around my neighborhood one thing is abundantly clear. The makers of laundry dryer sheets have done an amazing job of convincing everyone that their laundry should smell like a bouquet of fake flowers. 

Unfortunately for me, that means my leisurely walk around my neighborhood turns into a panicked exit back to my safe fragrance-free zone. 

But this isn’t where it ends. 

I no longer enjoy shopping in department stores or beauty stores because the fragrance aisle penetrates the entire store. 

These places can easily be avoided, but what happens when you get a seat next to a perfume user on an airplane for 5 hours? That’s where I find myself currently, head pounding, as I use my frustration for good to write this email. 

What's funny to me is that we’ve suppressed our biological instincts so far that we actually seek out toxins. 

I used to be the same. I used Bath and Body Works' heavily fragranced soaps and lotions and burned their candles endlessly. 

I used scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets, sniffing my "fresh” laundry after I pulled it out of the dryer. (Now I triple-wash everything I buy at Goodwill just to get rid of that smell!!)

In naturopathic school, I was taught about environmental toxicity and how synthetic fragrances disrupt our hormone pathways and create a toxic burden on our bodies that can increase the risk of many diseases. 

Along with most of my colleagues who still used fragrances at the time, we all swapped out our fake fragrances for essential oils instead, fearing the horror of having a scentless life and what that might mean for our social lives. 

What I didn’t expect to happen was the re-sensitization of my body to these toxic substances. 

It turns out my body did recognize these things as toxins and had tried to warn me..but gave up after years of being ignored. 

Now I get the warning loud and clear in the form of a pounding headache at the first sniff of one of these toxic intruders, so I remember to avoid them at all costs. 

I truly appreciate this warning, most of the time. 

But in the unfortunate situation where I am stuck sitting next to a scent-bather (which always seems to happen when I fly), I am reminded of what it is like to live in my privileged world of health and awareness. 

Which is what brings me to write this message- please, if not for yourself, then for your fellow neighbor, please stop using toxic synthetic fragrances-at least when spending time in close quarters with strangers! 

The benefits to your health just might amaze you (and your chemically sensitive neighbor will thank you)!

In the meantime, grab some wool dryer balls and a bottle of your favorite essential oil. Drop 3-5 drops of oil on your dryer ball and viola! Clean, fresh and non-toxic laundry! Plus the dryer balls make your laundry dry more evenly, reducing drying time. Its a win-win!

If you would like to learn more about what other toxins are lurking in your home and workplace (and how to get rid of them), check out my Detox Masterclass HERE.