A lady wielding an ugly bottle of cologne attacked me at the mall. She was attempting to lure me into purchasing some awful smelling men’s fragrance. If I really want to saturate myself with cologne at the mall, all I really need to do is visit one of those in-fashion unisex stores that seem to pipe in gallons of it through their air-conditioning vents.

eco-Buyer beware — many fragrances (for both men and women) use scents derived from flowers, plants, and trees that are susceptible to overharvesting. For example, the Brazilian Rosewood tree is a rare find in the wild due to humans harvesting it for just such a purpose.

I decided to conduct my own unscientific poll. I spoke to a sales person at a specialty store. Yes, only one person, but they have observed many folks. They said more people are taking a harder look at the ingredients to ensure the fragrances use sustainably harvested essential oils and botanicals (or are synthetic). Good job people!

Want another nudge towards earth-friendly scents… as much as 95% of the chemicals used to make some cologne and perfume are petroleum based. And, may include some chemicals known to cause cancer, affect nerves, cause allergies, etc. That’s enough for me to steer clear.

While you are taking those steps, also consider purchasing…

  • bling-bling that’s not made from turtle shells, coral, or other animals
  • furniture or other wood products made from sustainably harvested woods
  • house plants/flowers that are grown locally versus those that are wild
  • books/magazines printed with sustainable resources and soy ink
  • food that is locally grown

Okay, I will stop here. But, I know you can think of a lot more.