Mmmm....What are you wearing?

I'm wearing a rare blend of berries and flowers, with a distinctive tone of strawberries and almond, giving an impression of vanilla -better known as Hanae Mori -- named after the designer herself ~the great lady of Japanese fashion and Parisian haute couture. At first I was attracted by its packaging. The bottle's top is made from glass and it resembles a beautiful and delicate butterfly with folded wings.

My love for butterflies always seem to do the trick for me in anything I see on the market...I'm just drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Then I went on to spray some on my wrist....ahhh that scent, so captivating, so alluring -- I was in love! I'm a fragrance lover- it's a part of me. I need to smell good ALL THE TIME, so of course I have a fragrance to go with different places and different moods.

I always was on the search of a perfume that would represent me ~my signature fragance if you may. On my vanity table, you may find all my favorites: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Chanel Allure, Gucci Rush and Hanae Mori. All of them parfums, not Eau de Toilette. My PH seems to favor stronger essences, so parfums seem to linger way longer on me. While finding that signature scent may be important so is knowing about the ingredients that go into making that great scent. I always preferred fragrances that are woodsy, musky, not too fruity for a night out and for day time or summertime I opted for more fresh, citrusy scents.

My other requisite to find the right scent was to get the most oil and less alcohol in it---therefore perfume seemed to be the smart choice. Never stopped to think what other ingredients in that $100 per ounce bottle would contain -that intentionally are not labeled. How about coal-tar and petrochemical? That of course, is omitted I've been in cosmetics overload my whole life. Brought up by a cosmetologist mother who would bring the playpen to the salon to take care of me while she worked. There I was not only surrounded by friendly customers who would come and greet me but by the not so friendly harsh fumes typical in a beauty salon: hairspray, perm solution, hair relaxer, hair dye, perfumes,...well, you get the idea!

Being around cosmetics during my upbringing was as strong influence in my career choice as the way I carry myself. I knew I wanted to do something bigger than being a beauty salon owner (because that's what my mother taught me) and although I went to college and got my bachelors degree in communications, I kept going back to my playpen years where I would see my mom style these women and make them look gorgeous. The transformations were so amazing. I was mesmerized not only by the beauty of the makeovers but mostly by the effect it made on these women. I saw how their attitudes will immediately change, their faces were glowing in delight and they came out with higher spirits and higher morale; with great confidence in themselves. They felt how they looked!

The word "linda" (pretty) was probably one of the first words I said when I was little. I'd say all of my first words had something to do with the beauty business. That was all I knew. I would give beauty advice to my school peers and of course my favorite game was to play makeup. How would you ever question something that gives you so much satisfaction....that has made you feel so good throughout your whole life? Only when you get sick and you begin to put 2 and 2 together.

This wakeup call has come in my late 30's when I've been hit with a chronic illness that has no known cure: Fibromyalgia. Fibro....what? I know, I said the same thing when I first heard it. But what does this has anything to do with perfumes? Us Latin women are known to be dramatic, so of course I had to take you back to my roots to give you a bit of an insight. But, back to perfume and its toxic ingredients. Toxic? No one thinks about that when bathing in this luxurious elixirs. When I came to the US, I thought it was pretty funny when I first heard the expression "I'm going to give myself a Puerto Rican bath". It seemed that we're known to skip a shower and bathe ourselves in perfume! I thought this was hilarious but interestingly true. I don't think only Puerto Ricans do it -haha!

Smelling good has not only been associated with hygiene but also it gives a sense of identity. I remember once I was at a lounge bar, and the bartender sniffed me all the way from his corner and yelled out:"Who's wearing Gucci Rush?"; from the look on his face, I wasn't sure to admit I was wearing it! He said: "Ugh, it reminds me of my ex!" I have to admit that I can't help myself from identifying scents with people, places...I think we all do that. Our sensory memory at its best! After finding out that one of the theories attributed to the causes of fibromyalgia is chemical toxicity overload, I began paying more attention to what I put in my body. I realized that my beauty regimen was filled with toxic products. I strive to wear the "best" brands on the market -- the ones I thought would be of better quality, top notch, highly demanded products in the beauty industry.

My search was never specifically about the ingredients but mostly of their overall performance...highly pigmented eye shadows, highly concentrated perfumes, highly concealing powders and foundations formulations, highly infused shampoos and conditioners, highly absorbent deodorant, high shine - anti-freeze hairspray, highly pigmented, long lasting lipsticks ....etc. Never did I stop and think that these products were also HIGHLY loaded with chemicals that are not only harmful to my system but also to the environment. Now I look at my 3 tiers makeup train case that I have invested thousand of dollars in, or my dressing table filled with cosmetics -perfumes that cost me a fortune and it's so hard to even think about tossing them.

Of course giving them away is out of the question -that would be very irresponsible from my part- knowing these products are harmful. Should I just ditched them? Making these changes is hard, especially if I'm still on the search of products to substitute them. Now every time I put on these products I am conscious about the harm it does to my body, and feel guilty that I continue to use them. Which takes me to the point where I am now. Slow transition, introducing new organic products that will eventually replace all toxic ones. That's what I would advise everyone to do. This is not just for people like me that suffer from an illness but everyone! I wish someone would had made me aware of how harmful these products were and what it would cause to my body after years of exposure. But it's never too late to start making changes in your life.

I'd like to send this message to young girls who are at their most impressionable phase of their lives, to start making more conscientious choices. Had I known this sooner in my life, I'd probably wouldn't be struggling with so many symptoms. If I can get younger generation's attention and help them see that they still could get same high fashion looks with healthier products, then I think we're onto something special. Prevention is key. I believe we're in an era where more attention is being payed to products, unfortunately we cannot trust every label we see on the shelves. As they say, all that glitters is not gold.

The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate cosmetic products or how they are advertised; companies do not have to prove claims of scientific testing. If only companies would step up to the plate and agree to really look at the ingredients, to get rid of the known hazardous chemicals and to come up with a plan that ensures they're only using safe and tested ingredients, then we would be able to see a vast improvement in the cosmetic industries---we would feel more confident about what we're putting in our bodies. We are so attracted to these harmful products despite their side effects, but we just don't care --- or do we? When you're young, you don't think about the outcome of your actions, you don't think of potential illness or death - you think you're invincible and dying is way far from your thoughts.

So that hot new lipstick from "ABC" is by far more attractive and worth buying than thinking of the possibilities of lead content. The FDA conducted an analysis and found in all 20 lipsticks tested that lead levels were consistently higher in brands made by three manufactures: Procter &Gamble (Cover Girl brand), L'Oreal (L'Oreal, Body Shop and Maybelline brands) and Revlon. The most lead - contaminated brand in study is Cover Girl Incrediful Lip Color, had a lead level of 3.06 ppm - more than 30 times higher than the least contaminated brand. Same goes with artificial bronzers and tanning beds....who's thinking about cancer?! A dark tan is seen as a sign of exuberance and health. But this is another subject...

The media of course is partly responsible for our perception of beauty and the extremes we go to acquire it. If we begin to pay close attention to the ingredients in the products we use and opt for healthier choices, then I believe we could send a strong message to the industry, the demand for more natural, organic products will be so high that cosmetic companies will start making changes.

Already we're seeing cosmetic companies around the world seeking to describe their products as organic, yet there is no international certification standard to back their claims. But fortunately, efforts by different organizations are being made to create a transnational label and certification for organic and natural cosmetics that is internationally recognized. Before the rise of synthetic fragrances and trade secrets, natural materials like musk and rare botanicals were used to create alluring scents. Now, manufacturers have a choice: to go with cheap synthetics or more expensive natural ingredients. It is no surprise that they will opt for the cheapest.

That of course puts us consumers at a disadvantage.... don't you think? I'd say I rather go without, but my inner diva wants to smell delicious all the time! So what's a cosmetic addict ought to do? Try eliminating other fragranced products from your collection. The less harmful chemicals you exposed your body to the better! There are so many different organic fragrances out there in the market. I'm so excited to find out these natural oils and botanicals'scents are HIGHLY concentrated since they're coming straight from the flower, fruit or plant -- the pure essence of it...and they last longer!

I recently came across an organic perfume by Acorelle. The brand has different fragrances varying in flowers, herbs, spices and fruits scents. I specifically tried one that I fell in love with the crispiness and cleanliness scent to it. It smells very exotic, with its stimulating aroma of lemon, lavender, mint, and patchouli. It's only $49, way less than what I normally pay for other designer fragrances. And of course, we all know there's no price on health. Knowing I'm making conscious choices about what I put in my body, makes me feel optimistic about my health recovery.

In my research, I've encountered many little boutiques that offer the possibility of creating your very own frargance. Not only is this a fascinating experience, but it is a smart way to produce a product that you know exactly what ingredients are being poured into that bottle. I've provided a link below of one of the stores that shares the same concept:

http://www.spire.com/s-file/le-labo-a-stylish-perfume-boutiq...

http://www.spire.com/s-file/le-labo-a-stylish-perfume-boutiq...

Below is a recipe I found on About.com if you feel in the mood to be creative and prepare your own perfume: Perfume consists of a mixture of essential oils in a base oil, together with alcohol and water. 1/2 ounce jojoba oil or sweet almond oil 2-1/2 ounces ethanol (e.g. vodka) 2 tablespoons spring water or distilled water (not tap water) coffee filter dark-colored glass bottle 25 drops essential oils (buy them at a health store or online -or better yet distill your own) 7 drops base note essential oils 7 drops middle note essential oils 6-7 drops top note essential oils couple of drops of bridge notes (optional)

The essential oils that you use form the basis of your perfume. These essential oils are called the 'notes' of the perfume. The base notes are the part of the perfume that lasts the longest on your skin. The middle notes evaporate a little more quickly. The top notes are the most volatile and disperse first. Bridge notes have intermediate evaporation rates and serve to tie a scent together. Sometimes other substances are added to a perfume, such as sea salt (ocean scent), black pepper (spicy), camphor, and vetiver.

Since the essential oils evaporate at different rates, the way a perfume smells changes over time as you wear it. Here are some examples of common base, middle, top and bridge notes: base notes: cedarwood, cinnamon, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, moss, lichen, fern middle notes: clove, geranium, lemongrass, neroli, nutmeg, ylang-ylang top notes: bergamont, jasmine, lavender, lemon, lime, neroli, orchid, rose bridge: vanilla, lavender The order in which you mix your ingredients is important, since it will affect the scent. If you change the procedure, record what you did in case you want to do it again.

Create your perfume: Add the jojoba oil or sweet almond oil to the bottle. Add the essential oils in the following order: the base notes, followed by the middle notes, then finally the top notes. Add a couple of drops of bridge notes, if desired. Add 2 1/2 ounces of alcohol (vodka) Shake the bottle for a couple of minutes then let it sit for 48 hours to 6 weeks. The scent will change over time, becoming strongest around 6 weeks. When the scent is where you want it to be, add 2 tablespoons of spring water to the perfume. Shake the bottle to mix the perfume, then filter it through a coffee filter and pour it into its final bottle. Ideally, this will be a dark bottle with minimal airspace since light and exposure to air degrade many essential oils. You can pour a little perfume into a decorative bottle, but in general, store your perfume in a dark sealed bottle, away from heat and light. Label your creation. It's a good idea to record how you made the perfume, in case you want to duplicate it.

Perfumery Notes: It takes experimentation to get the scent you want, but you can get started in the right direction by keeping in mind the type of scent associated with essential oils:

Earthy: patchouli, vetiver

Floral: geranium, jasmine, neroli, rose, violet, ylang-ylang

Fruity: bergamont, grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass, lime, peppermint, rosemary

Sea: sea salt

Spicy: black pepper, cardamon, clove, coriander, ginger, juniper, nutmeg

Woodsy: cassia, cedar, cypress, pine, sandalwood

If the perfume is too strong, you can dilute it with more water. If you want your perfume to retain its scent longer, add a tablespoon of glycerin to the perfume mixture. Recipe written by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. for About.com I think it's pretty exciting to be able to customize your fragrance, knowing EXACTLY what's in the bottle. If you're in a creative mood and would like to unleash your inner Martha Stewart...how about creating your own perfume at home? Hope this article has allured you as much as any of the enticing fragrances on your dressing table. Would you look at your perfume bottle the same now?

I hope I've made you rethink things a bit and you retain or restore your health!

Mari