Toxic Fragrances & Perfumes? How to Differentiate!

Sandalwood, amber, peach, peony and vanilla are sensuous notes that could make up a favorite perfume’s scent profile.  Perfumes and colognes may smell delightful but have you ever wondered about the ingredients in your perfumes? Designer and commercially produces perfumes and colognes often contain harmful and carcinogenic substances such as phthalates and parabens.  The ingredient list of a designer perfume may look like this:

Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum), Water\Aqua\Eau, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Linalool, Limonene, Coumarin, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Cinnamate, Citronellol, Evernia Prunastri (Oakmoss) Extract, Citral, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.

This ingredient list contains harsh synthetic ingredients, skin sensitizers, cinnamates, salicylates and the word "fragrance." Who knows what ingredients are in that "fragrance formulation?" The possibilities can be dangerous and endless!

Photo: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

What’s wrong with Phthalates?

Pthalates are a group of toxic chemicals that are hormone disrupting.  They are plasticizers and are used to make plastics more flexible. They also act as a binding agent or solvent. Research has concluded that exposure to phthalates can lead to reduction in testosterone levels and an array of male and female reproductive problems. Research has produced evidence informing how toxic Diethyl phthalate or (DEP) can be.  Exposure to phthalates can also lead to developmental disorders (especially in newborn boys) and poor lung function in humans. Phthalates can be found in PVC and vinyl products, cosmetics such as nail polish, perfumes, colognes, lotions, sanitary pads, liquid soaps and etc. They are usually inhaled, applied via direct exposure or consumed via packaging.  

Other perfume and cologne ingredient lists may just state a sole word: “fragrance” or “parfum.”  That is the keyword that individuals need to identify to be sure that they are on the safe side. The word “fragrance” and “parfum” can be very misleading to consumers as thousands of ingredients could make up the term “fragrance” or “parfum.”   Perfume manufacturers and makers are protected by “trade secret” laws that exempt them from having to state all of the ingredients used in a scent or fragrance profile so you never know what toxic ingredients you may be patting onto your clavicle, pulse points or spraying onto your body.

Physical Effects

Mass manufactured fragrances with harmful ingredients can produce physical effects upon almost immediate affect. These physical symptoms can result in headaches, respiratory problems, kidney issues, allergies, nervous and neurological conditions.

When purchasing perfumes, scented body sprays and colognes, the consumer should ensure that it is a clean and toxic free fragrance that does not consist of phthalates. The company should be able to be transparent and state that their fragrance is free of phthalates and parabens and possess clean formulations.   Perfume ingredients that should be avoided include:

• “fragrance” or “parfum” (when it is undefined and the company is not designated clean) 
• synthetic fragrance
• phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP)
• polypropyl alcohol
• isopropyl alcohol

• parabens (methy, isobutyl, propyl and others)

• stearates

• synthetic colors

• methylene chloride

• ethyl acetate

• ethanol

• camphor
• benzyl acetate

• benzyl alcohol

• benzophenone 1
• benzophenone 2
• butoxethanol
• ethanolamine (MEA/DEA/TEA)

• benzaldehyde
• methyl cellosolve
• 2-methoxyethanol

• acetone 

• acetaldehyde

• benzophenone

• styrene

• Nitro & polycyclic musks

• oxybenzone

• lilial (butylphenyl Methylpropional) 

Now, of course some people take their scents serious and do not want to go around smelling like nothing at all. Don’t worry; you don’t have to risk your health to smell good! Green News Guide has put together a conclusive list of clean, natural and organic perfume brands and perfumes that are toxin free.  The companies all produce cruelty free fragrances that aren't tested on animals. While we, don't recommend the use of synthetic aromas, few of these companies do use  safe synthetics in their fragrances and we'll be sure to make the distinction for those seeking 100% natural fragrances. 

Are you a perfume lover? Sound off in the comment section and let us know if you are aware of the harmful ingredients that can be present in perfumes and colognes.

Be sure to stay tuned for the Green News Guide’s "Guide to Clean Fragrances!"

 Dr. Mechelle Eleene