These two products make you smell good, but when it comes to investigating what's really in them, things can start to smell a little fishy. Most of today's
fragrances are crafted from combinations of hundreds of chemicals (some of which have been linked to health issues) and nearly all are derived from
petroleum, which means they not only could be harming you, but that they're not great for the environment either.
Deodorant has been widely debated for the aluminum it contains, which researchers have worried could lead to increased
cancer risks. There hasn't been a conclusive decision on whether
aluminum is as risky as some worry it is, but if you're in doubt there are plenty of options for
aluminum-free deodorant. You can try
natural crystals,
organic sprays or
standard sticks that use things like
tea tree oil and starch to keep you dry and sweetly scented. For fragrances your best bet is often to stick with
essential oils which can be blended with other oils for a moisturizing perfume (with aromatherapy benefits!).