2007 Archives: Strange Invisible Perfumes: Organic, Eco-Friendly Fragrances
Ever wonder why you get a headache after reading a big ol’ glossy magazine? Or what’s the dealio with that sneezing attack you got after walking through a department store? We’ve got a simple answer for you: Perfume. According to the National Academy of Sciences, more than 95 percent of the chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including toxins that have been linked to allergic reactions, among other things.
More and more people are claiming “fragrance sensitivity” responsible for migraines, sinus attacks and more, yet since the industry is self-regulating, there’s no hard data calculating this cause-and-effect. With that said, the idea of the over 5,000 different fragrances used in household products like shampoo, laundry soap, cleaners and even foods competing for air space with our oxygen kinda makes us want to throw some bottles out the window (and straight into the recycling bin, of course).
Enter Strange Invisible Perfumes and body products. Inspired by a line from Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra,” the company is the brainchild of perfumer Alexandra Balahoutis, who works with organic (wherever possible) flowers, plants, resins and herbs to carefully extract their purest essences through a process of hydro-distillation that is gentle enough to use with plants previously considered too delicate to distill. No synthetics or toxic chemicals here, just rich and exotic fragrances culled from hibiscus, vanilla, Moroccan red rose and Sicilian lemon, among others, secured in a base of organic, food-grade grape alcohol.
Visitors to the company’s gorgeous little Venice, CA boutique can even work with Balahoutis to create a custom perfume that’s completely unique. No aspirin required!
