A few years ago we instituted a fragrance-free policy at the School for Social Work, as a part of our overall commitment to universal access. This applies to any and all SSW spaces- classrooms, lecture halls, dining, residential spaces, and Lilly Hall.
Becoming fragrance-free is a work in progress. We want to thank each of you for all the work and effort you have put into this commitment with full understanding of the significant adjustment it requires for us all.
This year, we are asking our community to deepen this commitment. We would like to take a moment to refresh us on why this is important and how to go fragrance-free.
Why we are fragrance-free
First and foremost being fragrance-free helps to ensure that our spaces are accessible and available to all members of our community—especially to those in our community who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS).
There are documented health effects of fragrances whether they come from our personal care products, air fresheners, candles, or cleaning products. They include headaches, migraines, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath and wheezing. For some people, especially those with asthma and other respiratory vulnerabilities, exposure to fragrances can trigger the need for emergency medical treatment.
Moving to use fragrance-free products and not using perfumes, colognes, room sprays is about how we acknowledge the importance of making our spaces more inclusive. Becoming fragrance-free is about how we show up for one another.
What is fragrance-free?
Being fragrance-free means arriving on campus with no fragrance on your body, hair or clothes. Many of the products we use, whether or not you can smell a perfume or not, contain added chemical-based fragrance.
Products that may contain fragrances include perfume, cologne, shampoo and other hair items, soap, lotion, aftershave, sunscreen, bug repellent, deodorant, makeup, laundry detergent, drier sheets, etc.
Truly natural fragrances are less harmful than chemical fragrances, but can still cause illness for some people and also should be avoided. Even if a product says it is natural, it may not be. The safest choice is to use products marked Fragrance Free.
To learn more about how to become fragrance-free, please check out this site!
Please note: we cannot eliminate all fragrances as members of the public also enter our buildings and outdoor common areas.