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GREEN DAYS: THE ENVIRO-SMART MOTHER'S DAYS
FORGET PERFUME AND OTHER TRADITIONAL (READ: TOXIC) PRESENTS,
ENVIRONMENTALIST HEATHER WOLFSON GIVES YOU GOOD GREEN GIFT IDEAS
| SENSE AND SENSIBILITY When I was a kid, and my mom took my younger sister and me to the department stores, we'd delight in collecting as many free perfume samples as possible. In fact, we'd stockpile them until we could fill a shoe box and then give them to my mom for Mother’s Day. As pure as our intentions were, we didn’t know then how toxic perfume can be. Have you ever walked into an empty elevator that still smells like perfume from the occupant before? Did it ever make you sick? Did you ever wonder what made that odor linger?  Perfume today is not made from flowers but from toxic chemicals. What we smell from these petroleum-based perfumes are volatile chemicals (VOCs) that travel through the air and are quite sticky. More than 4000 chemicals are used in fragrances and of these, 95 percent are made from petroleum. Many people are bothered by perfumes and can develop headaches, sinus problems and even asthma from exposure. These chemicals go directly into the bloodstream when applied to our skin and are also absorbed into the skin from our clothing. We also inhale the chemical fumes, which then go straight to our brains where they can do major harm. Many even have a narcotic effect, which is why some people seem addicted to their perfumes. There is no regulating agency for the fragrance industry, yet perfume chemicals are as damaging to our health as tobacco smoke. What is so concerning are the new moms who continue to wear perfume during pregnancy and with their newborns. Babies and children are the most sensitive and vulnerable to these chemicals. If it gives you a headache, imagine what it’s doing to a newborn baby? Every animal in nature recognizes their mother by sense of smell, and we are no different. Most moms would be able to pick out their baby by sense of smell, as long as the baby is not doused in scented soaps or lotions. We are interfering with nature when we spray our bodies with chemical scents covering up our natural pheromones. This also goes for scented lotions and deodorants. Imagine how close a nursing baby is to your armpit and perfumed skin and clothes. In addition to being toxic to our bodies, I think that perfume is just plain offensive. I don’t care to breathe cigarette smoke or your stinky perfume! Instead of perfume this Mother’s Day, why not get something she will love and also be healthy for her and the environment? Check out these beautiful robes, made from 100 percent organic cotton terry and organic cotton velour, which can be embroidered with her initials on it. ($160 , Terry Velour Robe with hood and $148 without hood, www.twigandtwill.com) |
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A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME |
| YOU ARE MY CANDY GIRL If mom's got a sweet tooth, then organic chocolates are the way to go. Check out www.cocoavino.com for delicious—and truly original—gourmet treats. As my nanny puts it, chocolate is good for the soul. Cocoavino’s chocolates are good for the soul and the environment, too. Their chocolate bonbons and fig caramels (both $35 for a box) are to die for! And they come beautifully packaged, making for ultimate Mother's Day indulgence through and through. Remember to eat them within a couple weeks, as there are no preservatives—just fresh natural ingredients. |
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MATCH SET You can never go wrong with a beautiful earring and necklace set from designer Ivy Ciolli. Ivy is my sister and co-owner of Twig & Twill—but even if she weren't I'd highly recommend her unique and chic designs. She makes the jewelry by hand and her pieces are gold filled and lead free. One of her most popular duos is the Gold Single Earring with the Three-Piece Gold Oval Necklace ($50 and $285, respectively, www.twigandtwill.com). |
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TEES TO PLEASE If mom's more on the casual side, then gift her a 100 percent organic cotton Mother Earth t-shirt ($44.00, www.twigandtwill.com). When it comes to relaxed cool, nothing beats a great tee with an even greater message. |
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ECO-LOUNGE Help mom sleep green in these funky organic cotton short or long john sets ($34 to $60, www.hannaanderson.com). Available in multi-colored strips and in sizes for the whole family, these PJs are sure to brighten up her days and nights. |
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