How Synthetic Fragrances Wreak Hormone Havoc

While other countries regulate these chemicals more stringently, Americans suffer in a scented chemical bath

While an ingredient list may simply list "fragrance," that substance can include dozens of different chemicals.pyrozhenka/Shutterstock

Of the five senses, the sense of smell is believed to have the most transformative power to take us back into a moment in time. Grandma’s apple pie. A summertime bonfire. An ex’s cologne.

But scents don’t merely induce a nostalgic memory; they’re not just psychologically powerful. The scents we smell also have consequential physiological effects.