New Scented Yarn is a Baaaaad Idea

An open letter to Lily Sugar'n Cream upon learning about their new line of fragranced Sugar'n Cream yarn:

"Introducing Lily Sugar'n Cream Scents. Your favorite yarn, now available in your favorite scents! As you knit and crochet with the yarn. the scent of your choice is gently released. Lily Sugar'n Cream Scents is created using micro-encapsulated essential oils, which are thought to reinforce harmony and well-being of body, mind, and spirit. From Vanilla, to Lavender, to Camomile, the capsules release gradually - as you knit and crochet, and later after your project is complete. adding a pleasant aroma in your space. Lily Sugar'n Cream Scents are perfect for scented sachets, gifts and special treats for yourself."


Dear Lily,

I just found out about your Sugar'n Cream Scented yarn.

This is a spectacularly BAD idea. There are more people in this country who are chemically sensitive to fragrances than there are people with diabetes! For all of us who are knitters and crocheters, you've just made it that much more difficult to go shopping in stores or even buy by mail or over the Interet, as the latter two purchases, though nothing scented was purchased, the yarns will have absorbed fragrance from being stored in the same rack--even just in the same room--as the fragranced yarn.

You should have done your research first and not jumped on the Glade-Febreeze "everything's got to be perfumed or there's something wrong with you" bandwagon.

Not So Sexy: Hidden Chemical in Perfumes and Colognes

What's That Smell? Hidden Fragrance Found in Cleaning Products

EPA Design for the Environment Program Criteria for Fragrances

Navigating through life is already hard enough for chemically sensitive people. You've just made it increasingly unsafe for people like me--knitters and the people we knit for.

Melissa Kaplan

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If you'd like to write your own letter to Lily, here's the link to their Contact Us page.