June 23, 2025

What We Wear Matters

Conventional perfumes often contain synthetic fragrance blends made with ingredients linked to endocrine system disruption—like phthalates, parabens, synthetic musks, BHA/BHT, and benzophenones.

Let’s Get Nerdy: EDCs

EDCs, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are substances that interfere with the body’s hormonal system. In the context of fragrance, common EDCs include:

Phthalates – used to make scent last longer, but linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues.
Parabens – preservatives that can mimic estrogen and disrupt hormonal balance.
Synthetic musks – often bioaccumulative and potentially disruptive to hormonal and reproductive health.
Benzophenones – UV filters that can disrupt endocrine function and trigger allergic reactions.
BHA and BHT – synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives, both linked to hormone disruption and potential carcinogenic effects.

What makes things trickier is that fragrance formulas are often considered proprietary, meaning companies aren’t required to disclose every ingredient. “Fragrance” or “parfum” on a label can mask dozens (even hundreds) of chemicals—some of which may be harmful.

A functional medicine perspective

The endocrine system regulates everything from mood and metabolism to fertility and immune function. Repeated low-dose exposure to EDCs—especially through the skin, our largest organ—can contribute to hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, thyroid dysregulation, and even fertility challenges. These compounds can mimic or block natural hormones, interfere with detoxification pathways, and burden the body’s ability to maintain equilibrium.

That doesn’t mean one spritz of synthetic perfume causes disease—but over time, daily exposure adds up. Especially for those already navigating hormonal transitions (like puberty, pregnancy, or menopause), or dealing with stress-related adrenal issues, simplifying your inputs—like switching to a natural fragrance—can be a powerful first step in supporting long-term health.

Enter La Lyra Natural Perfume Roll Ons. The work of local favorite, Suzy Brockmann, La Lyra perfumes are all-natural, essential oil–based, and small-batch crafted with intention. These blends aren’t just safer—they’re stunning. Each one is a mood, a portal, a memory. And while they’re all easy to love, choosing the right one (or just one!) can be tough.

To help you sniff out the right match, we’ve paired each scent with a muse whose energy mirrors the blend.

Actor/Musician Sophie Thatcher radiates intuition, edge, and playful mischief. Telepathic Child is for you if you often sense what someone’s about to say—and already have a half-smile ready in response.

Poet Rupi Kaur embodies tenderness, clarity, and radical self-regard. Mystical Muse is for you if you move through the world with feeling first—and believe beauty is a form of truth.

Writer/Performer Phoebe Waller-Bridge crackles with intellect, irreverence, and meta charm. Echoes is for you if your humor is dark, your thoughts layered—and your side-eye legendary.

Essayist, cultural critic, and unsparing observer Joan Didion remains the epitome of cool. Ashes of Knowledge is for you if you seek clarity over comfort—and use language not to embellish, but to reveal truth.

Actor/Entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross moves with presence, playfulness, and self-possession. Center is for you if you’re drawn to rituals that ground you—and joy that fills the whole room.

Singer/Actor Charlotte Gainsbourg makes everything look effortless—sharp, sensual, and slightly undone. Ease is for you if your aesthetic is instinctive, where elegance lives in the details you leave out—and “frill” might as well be a four-letter word.

At Boketto, we believe scent should be a source of pleasure—not compromise. Natural perfumes like La Lyra skip these synthetics in favor of essential oils and plant-based ingredients, offering a more transparent and body-friendly alternative.