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Fragrance-Free

"We share air! Air comes into you and out of you and into me. Air makes up part of who we are. There is no greater lesson that We Are One!"
RIMC yogi


Fragrance-Free Meditating

As our community gathers to meditate, please be aware that we share the air.

Some of our sangha members are strongly affected by the fragrances we use on our body and in our clothes. Reactions to fragrances vary but can include difficulty breathing, coughing, sneezing, itching, headache, nausea, anxiety, and/or insomnia.
 
Here are some tips for becoming as fragrance-free as possible for indoor sangha meditation:


  1. Please refrain from wearing any perfumes, colognes, essential oils, aromatherapies, or fragranced deodorant, antiperspirant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or beauty products.

  2. If in your every day life you wear fragrances or use regularly scented body and laundry products, please consider putting aside a set of clothing specifically for fragrance-free meditating. You can eliminate fragrances/scents in those clothes by washing with 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar per load. After a few washes in vinegar, your clothes will be naturally soft and you won't need a fabric softener.

  3. Consider using vinegar, soda, or salt for body cleansing, or perhaps buy a small supply of "fragrance-free" body products (some suggestions listed below).

  4. Where possible, choose a "fragrance-free" label over a "scent-free" label at the store. Some scent-free products contain a chemical to mask natural odours in the product. Please smell the product before you buy it even if it says fragrance-free.

  5. Some flowers (Asiatic lilies, stock, etc.), incense, and new materials indoors can be troublesome for fragrance sensitivities.
This article is offered to RIMC for distribution, written by one who has sensitivities to chemicals, scents, and fragrances. Further questions? Email: sagisam4@gmail.com, Subject: Frag-Free

Thank you so much for your compassionate contribution to a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Fragrance Free Products

HAIR PRODUCTS
Prairie Naturals, Arctic Sun, hypoallergenic, shampoo and conditioner, fragrance free; petroleum, DEA and paraben free
Nature Clean, pure - sensitive, shampoo and conditioner, unscented and hypo-allergenic for sensitive skin
Dippity-Do Gel, unscented, sport ultimate hold
Alberto European® Extra Hold Unscented Hair Spray

HAND AND BODY SOAP
Nature Clean, unscented dermatologist tested, liquid soap
Vegetable Glycerin Bar, (Old Fashion Foods)
The Guelph Soap Co. Pure & Natural Soap Bar
Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap

HAND LOTIONS
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Fragrance-Free Lotion
Jergens® Ultra Care Fragrance Free Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer
Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion fragrance free

SKIN RELIEF
President's Choice 98% pure aloe vera gel, fragrance free
Uremol 10 20 30 Skin Relief Moisturizing Cream
Well Skin, Glaxal-base Moisturizing Lotion with Vitamin E
Olay (TM) Moisturizing Lotion or Cream for sensitive skin
Unscented Baby Oil

DEODORANTS
Pure and Natural Crystal Deodorant Stone, hypoallergenic
Pure and Natural Deodorant Mist, non-aerosol
Tom's Original Deodorant Antiperspirant, unscented
Dry Idea Antiperspirant and Deodorant Roll-on, unscented

SUNSCREEN LOTIONS
Neutrogena Pure & Free SPF 50 Sunblock, fragrance free
Banana Boat® Baby Tear Free Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60

CLEANING PRODUCTS
Vinegar
Baking soda
Seventh Generation products (e.g. natural dish liquid, laundry, cleaning)
Greenworks products (e.g. dish, laundry, cleaning), free and clear
Nature Clean products, unscented, 99.9% natural, pure - sensitive
Eco Max by EcoLogo, ultra dish wash - 100% Botanical Actives with Aloe Vera, hypoallergenic

ALTERNATIVES
If you don't have products or time to shop, you could experiment with using a vinegar rinse to wash your body and hair; baking soda or salt to scrub your feet; and baking soda as a deodorant after you are dry.
 
Products can be purchased at stores such as Old Fashioned Foods, Dad's Organics, Eat Healthy Foods, or Nature's Best. Some department and drug stores carry a few fragrance free items (e.g. Shoppers and London Drugs.) Email sagisam4@gmail.com for current product location.

There are also many books available on how to make your own natural products, (e.g. flax seed to make hair gel, lemon juice and water for hair spray, natural soap, natural hair rinses, etc.)