The time has come to question the chemical cocktails that people pour onto their dogs and into their houses. For years, people have been talking about flee bombing their homes to eradicate the little black devils known as dog fleas. A flea bomb is an aerosolized canister that spews chemicals that should kill fleas. Should being the key word here. Fleas are very resilient, and have developed a resistance to some very potent concoctions. Flea killing is a huge business. A company that sells you toxins to take out fleas really doesn't care if your house is flea free. All they care about is that your money hits the cash register so their retailers will buy more and more of their product. Flea bombing does not guarantee that your house will be rid of all its flee problems. Especially if your house has egg laying fleas in all, or multiple rooms. Then you probably have a real problem, and then you probably think, we'll now I just need to buy more chemicals to treat more fleas. But again, there exists no guarantee of total flea destruction. Prevention is the key to the flea game, and it does not require the use of toxic, carcinogenic chemicals.
Fleas are in your house because they live near you and have access to your pets. The fact that your animal has fleas does not mean you are a bad owner. Flea infestation is a naturally occurring fact of pet ownership, and the animal kingdom. Attempting to control the problem with chemicals is not good for your pet, you, or your environment. Other animals living around your dog will bring fleas to it, even if you are super careful, there is no way to control every animal that lives around your pet. You just can't do it. There are steps you can take, using natural products from the earth, that will help keep fleas at bay. What do you think people used to cut down on fleas before we had modern manipulations of chemicals? Did they just submit to all fleas, and die; I don't think so. They searched around for some leaves or branches or some other product of the earth to fight the nearly invincible little critters.
What did they find in their searches over all these centuries that helped to prevent flea infestation? Well many things that have nothing to do with modern chemical advances. The most interesting is actually the earth itself. Yes, that's right, the earth itself. Diatomaceous earth to be more precise. Diatomaceous earth is actually earth that is composed of dead fossilized particles. These particles, when they come in contact with a flea, will dry the flea's skin out, causing it to dehydrate and die. Pretty interesting stuff. You can buy this product in various forms, make sure you find some that is ok for use on your pets. So what other types of naturally occurring substances can help keep fleas away? Well, there is cedar, which fleas do not like. So you could find a cedar shampoo and use it on your dogs. Or you may be able to fill a dog bed with some cedar chips. Do not let your dog eat these chips though. Additionally, if you have a dog house, you can have it made out of cedar. Or you could choose to get cedar floors in your house as opposed to carpet. Fleas will have quite a difficult time laying eggs on a cedar floor. And I haven't even begun to discuss the various plants that can be planted around your house to keep fleas away.
Ways To Help Global Warming
First, learn about decanting. Decanting is the process of taking perfume (or cologne or eau de parfum) out of one large bottle and putting it into several smaller bottles. Most perfume-crazy people become decanters because it is about the best way to expand your collection economically. You'll need small glass bottles, an eye dropper, and a glass funnel. (Only use glass tools.) You should probably wear a mask as you decant, since the fumes can be strong. You get together with some perfume buddies, divvy up the cost of a bottle of scent, and then decant it into equal portions.
Second, buy samples. There is a fabulous new perfumer in Boston called Neil Morris who sells samples of his fragrances (http://www.neilmorris.com). Many other smaller houses will do the same. Some online perfume websites also sell smaller bottles of scent for reasonable prices. This is a bit of a hunt, since not all perfumers do this.
Third, beg samples. You need to shop for perfume faithfully at certain locations, be they websites or perfume counters. If you get well known as a frequent buyer or can strike up a rapport with a perfume salesperson, you may be able to get some samples. I'm not talking about those little pieces of paper that they spritz with scent. I mean little bottles of a new or older fragrance that you can try. Only the very lucky get samples without being established customers. But established customers should get some samples from time to time.
Fourth, look for smaller sizes or unusual packaging. Sometimes you can try a great new scent in a small purse-sized roll-on or a perfume solid. This is a great way to test drive a new scent or to add to your collection without having to spring for the giant bottle. One of the best perfume deals going is Bond No. 9's sampler box (called the Bon Bon Box), but it costs $240. This buys you 18 fairly large refillable bottles of eau de parfum.
Fifth, spritz at the counter. This is not my favorite way of trying new scents (since I generally leave the perfume counter having sprayed on five or six scents which I tend to mix up) but it can work if you're disciplined. Again, it helps if you are an established customer. Go with no scent. Try a specific scent on and wear it that day. Don't buy it that day, even if you love it. (Buy something else, if you have to.) Your job is to sample it. Quite truthfully, sometimes a sample spritz in one day will tell you all you need to know about a fragrance.
Sixth, make it well known that you are a woman of fragrance but name scents you are interested in. I'm not saying to fish for gifts. But haven't we all thought long and hard to find the perfect gift for some occasion? Women can be tough to buy for and along the way in life, you are going to be given some gifts. Whether they're thank-you gifts, birthday presents, or just little tokens along the way, perfume is a great thing to give and get. If you're a known perfume lover, some people may be intimidated to buy perfume for you. That's why you should be very clear in your hint dropping. Mention how you love Chanel No. 5 but have never owned it or say that you just love the scents from Kenzo but haven't bought them. Okay, this suggestion is not for everyone, but I've often been grateful when people have hinted at gifts they'd like.
Perfume is not cheap but perfumistas generally find a way to get the perfumes they love.
One last hint: don't buy knockoffs. Here is why I say that. Let's say you love old Frank Sinatra music. And let's say you had a chance to get some of his recordings from the 1950s. But let's also say that there was a Rich Little type of guy working in Vegas who could imitate Frank Sinatra and he had made a record of some old 1950s Sinatra songs. Would you rather have the original recordings or the imitation version?
Now what if I were to tell you that this imitator was so good, it was truly hard to tell the recording apart. Let's even go so far as to say that it fooled a few people in an independent test.
Do you want the originals or the imitations? Most music lovers would take the originals, even if they were not as good in quality! Why? Because there is something emotional about music and about the whole Frank Sinatra mystique that makes the original have a sort of "value" that is hard to quantify.
That's how I feel about real perfume. Knockoffs may be good (they often aren't). But at the end of the day, I'd rather have the real stuff. It's hard to explain why. I like to think I'd know the difference, but even if I could not pinpoint it, I can feel the difference. Perfume is like music for the nose!
Both Martha Hemblasit & Joanna Mclaughlin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Martha Hemblasit has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets. More helpful information about And read about more. Martha Hemblasit's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.
Joanna Mclaughlin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mothers Day, Perfumes and Social Issues. Can't get enough perfunme talk? Check out for tales of la vie perfumee. Joanna McLaughlin wrote this article and is a regular contribu. Joanna Mclaughlin's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
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