Why I Ditched High-End Perfume for Hormone-Safe Scents (and What I Use Instead)

For years, I wore the prettiest, most luxurious scents. Soft florals, sweet vanillas, warm musks. Some of them were gifted, others I saved up for. They felt like little expressions of self-love. But once I began healing my cycle and learning more about hormone health, I started to connect the dots.

Headaches. Mood swings. Spotting. A sense of disconnection from my body around my cycle.

I looked deeper into what was actually in my beloved perfumes, and what I found honestly shocked me.

What’s Hiding in Mainstream Perfumes?

1. Phthalates: Used to make scent last longer — the reason perfumes seem to "stick." These chemicals mimic estrogen and disrupt the endocrine system, especially over time.

   • Linked to:

     • Irregular or painful cycles

     • Infertility

     • Early puberty in girls

     • Increased risk of breast cancer

       And here’s the kicker: phthalates are rarely listed. They’re hidden under the umbrella term “fragrance.”

2. Synthetic Musks: Often petroleum-derived and used to give perfumes that warm, sensual depth. The problem? They bioaccumulate — meaning they store in your fat cells and build up in your breast tissue over time.

   • Linked to:

     • Hormone disruption

     • Liver and kidney toxicity

     • Long-term fertility issues

3. Parabens: Used to preserve the shelf life of perfumes. Parabens have estrogenic effects, meaning they mimic your natural hormones and can confuse your body’s delicate hormonal balance. Found in the bloodstream just hours after topical use.

   • Linked to:

     • Hormonal acne

     • Irregular cycles

     • Reproductive harm

4. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): This includes acetone, benzaldehyde, ethanol, linalool, and other chemical solvents. These airborne toxins affect your lungs, skin, and nervous system.

   • Linked to:

     • Headaches

     • Dizziness

     • Skin inflammation or rashes

     • Increased sensitivity around your period

5. “Fragrance” (aka Parfum): This single word on a label can legally contain over 100 undisclosed chemicals. Protected under trade secret laws — so brands don’t have to tell you what’s inside. Many of these chemicals are unregulated, untested, or outright toxic to the endocrine system.

Important Note: This doesn’t mean everything synthetic is harmful. Not all synthetics disrupt hormones. But for me, as someone deeply connected to my cycle and nervous system, it's become essential to limit my exposure where I can. Especially when it comes to products I wear on my body every day, I want my scent to support my well-being, not interfere with it.

The Real Issue

Your skin is your largest organ. Whatever you spray on your neck, wrists, or chest gets absorbed. And when it includes hormone-disrupting chemicals? Your womb, liver, and hormonal systems end up carrying the burden.

What I Use Instead

I didn’t stop loving scent — I just became intentional about what I wear. I now make my own natural perfumes and body sprays using essential oils, safe synthetics, and herbal powders. I layer them based on mood, season, or menstrual phase. They smell divine — and don’t mess with my cycle.

Here are a few of my signature handmade blends:

Lazy Witch

Smells like soft skin, fresh sheets, and feminine mystery
Notes: Amber, Peach, Plumeria, Fresh Linen, Violet essential oil

Think: Sunday morning, no bra, sunlight on your thighs. Cozy, soft and feminine.
I layer this with:

• Phlur – Missing Person

• Phlur — Vanilla Skin Body Spray

Oh But Orange

A bright, spicy citrus that feels like sunrise on the skin
Notes: Orange, Frankincense, Myrrh, Rain accord

Think: spicy orange peels, golden light, sacred citrus. I layer this with:

• Phlur – Father Figure

• Phlur — Vanilla Skin Body Spray

• Nemat — Egyptian Musk

Moon Child

Ethereal, grounded, and deeply feminine
Notes: Gardenia, Peony, Fresh Cotton, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Night Air

This one feels like mist, moonlight, and barefoot prayers.
I pair it with:

• Phlur – Golden Rule

• Phlur — Vanilla Skin Body Spray

• Nemat — Egyptian Musk

My Scent Ritual

I don’t just spray and go. I layer my scents intentionally:

• Start with a homemade body powder to create a base

• Add a light mist or oil blend on pulse points

• Finish with a light spritz of a clean perfume for longevity

If You’re Not Ready to DIY

Start small. Look for:

• Essential oil-based blends

• Clean fragrance brands with full transparency (like Phlur, Nemat, Henry Rose)

• Safe synthetics that are cycle-safe and non-estrogenic

• Simple jojoba oil + essential oil roller blends

Every scent you wear is a frequency. Let it be something that loves your body back. Not a fragrance made in a lab to disrupt your hormones. Your cycle is sacred. Your scent should be too.