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Looking to spoil (or seduce) someone with a fabulous scent?

Submitted by idealbite on Thu, 01/19/2006 - 7:00pm.
The Bite:
Until we really nail down how to use pheromones correctly, choose perfume scents for yourself or your main squeeze made from all-natural, sustainably-harvested ingredients, and waft through your days like the earth god/goddess you are.
The Benefits: 
  • Avoid phthalates.  Phthalates are found in fragrances and other personal care products and are linked to genital abnormalities in baby boys (read: don’t let today’s aphrodisiac scent wreck your future kids’ chances of having the same fun…).
  • Avoid loving a scent to death. Over-harvesting of rosewood (a key Chanel No. 5 ingredient) has almost eliminated this plant from the Amazon. Look for sustainably-harvested botanicals.
  • Wear natural, cruelty-free fragrances, and rest easy knowing that no bunnies (or other critters) are being harmed.
Personally Speaking: 
Heather has had a long love affair with Aveda custom blends (although to be honest, she still can’t give up her Annick Goutal), while Jen lets her deodorant be the only scent she sports.
Wanna Try: 
  • Aveda – Try “Love,” a blend of organic ylang-ylang, jasmine and rose with sandalwood and other exotics.  The sandalwood is sustainably harvested by Australian Aboriginal communities for a fair wage, and processed without chemical solvents ($21).
  • The Body Shop – Wear any of the nine “Invent Your Scent” fragrances alone, or mix to create a signature scent ($30).
  • Aubrey Organics – 100% natural unisex colognes made from herb and flower essences, no synthetic ingredients, and vegan musk ($9.65-$19.30).
  • Mandrake Apothecary – Try a four-scent sampler of cruelty-free artisanal blends made with natural botanicals ($30).
  • Find a product list tested for phthalates at Not Too Pretty, or search the Skin Deep database to see what’s in your fave.
  • Like the smell of cruelty-free? Check out the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ fragrance guide.

Related Blog Post: How Do You Smell?

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