
Environmental and air pollution are increasing, but did you know your choice of perfume, cologne, or fragrance might contribute to that pollution? Fragrance manufacturers are not obligated to disclose the ingredients of their products under FDA regulations. This allows them to conceal numerous harmful chemicals under the general label of 'fragrance' or 'parfum'. These 'fragrances' could be a mix of thousands of substances, many of which are hormone disruptors, carcinogens, and other harmful toxins that pose risks to human health.
Opting to go unscented in your daily life is the best way to limit or eliminate toxic fragrances in your environment. You might find that by cutting out fragranced products such as soaps, candles, diffusers, perfumes, and detergents, your body begins to detoxify, and your sense of smell becomes sharper and less overwhelmed by constant exposure to scents.
However, if and when you decide to use fragrances, choose non-toxic and eco-friendly perfumes that are better for your health and the planet, as they don't contain many of the harsh and often petroleum-based chemicals found in conventional fragrances that can cause harmful effects like cancer, endocrine disruption, lung injury, or skin irritation.
The best approach for selecting clean and non-toxic perfumes is to buy your preferred scent from a brand that discloses all its ingredients for your safety. Additionally, look for fragrances that minimize or avoid synthetic substances, opting instead for those derived from plants.
A list of chemicals to avoid when searching for a clean and non-toxic perfume
Research studies suggest that the combination or individual consumption of these ingredients could cause severe health problems, such as damage to many of our bodily systems, potentially leading to nervous system toxicity, respiratory impairment, kidney damage, ataxia, intestinal inflammation, and other miscellaneous symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness. Considering that many of us use perfumes and fragrances on a daily basis, consistent exposure to these chemicals should be limited and or avoided whenever possible.
Fragrance (parfum) - a blanket name that can be used to cover up to 4000 chemicals that are predominantly petroleum derived and are not required to be disclosed in order to protect the company's proprietary blend.
Parabens - endocrine disruptors, skin irritation
Phthalates (DnBP, DEHP, DEP, DiBP, DMP) - endocrine disruptors that are included to extend the longevity of fragrances
Beta-myrcene - carcinogen
-oxyethanol - endocrine disruptors
Estragole - carcinogen
Phantolide (AHDI) - carcinogen, skin irritation
Naphthalene - carcinogene
Cashmeran (DPMI) - carcinogene
Celestolide (ABDI) - carcinogene
Galaxolide (HHCB) - carcinogene
Lilial - endocrine disruptor
Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) - carcinogene
Methyl-N-methylanthranilate - carcinogene
Musk - carcinogene
Pulegone - carcinogene
Pyridine - carcinogene
Toxalide (AHTN) - carcinogene
Traseolide (ATII) - carcinogene
Ingredients of lesser concern - may cause allergies and skin sensitization
Linalool
Limonene
Coumarin
Cinnamal
Bisabolol
Citral
Citronellal
Decanal
Eugenol
Farnesol
Furanone
Geraniol
Ionone
Vanillin
Choosing the right Eco-friendly perfume & fragrance
If you're looking for a perfume, it's best to go with one that uses natural ingredients like essential oils and plant-based alcohol bases. Many conventional perfumes are made using ethanol; ethanol production causes air, water, and land pollution among many other environmental issues.
Choose perfumes that are packaged in sustainable materials such as glass, metal, and bamboo. Avoid plastic packaging due to its harmful and pollutive effects on our environment and bodies.
Seek companies that demonstrate a desire for climate-safe practices and use sustainably-sourced natural compounds in the composition of their products.
Safer fragrances:
The fragrances listed below are companies that list all the ingredients in their products, rather than using the blanket term 'fragrance' or 'parfum'.
Scent: made with entirely natural ingredients and devoid of the synthetic chemicals prevalent in the conventional fragrance industry. They substitute synthetic fillers with coconut-derived glycerin, antioxidant-rich grape leaf extract, and Certified Organic Alcohol
Sustainability: utilization of refillable glass bottles with aluminum caps, 100% recyclable boxes with no added plastic lamination, compostable mailers and non-toxic ink in their fliers.
Scent: Handcrafted fragrances composed from organic essential oils and organic grapeseed oil with no synthetic fragrances or alcohol
Sustainability: packaged in glass roller bottles; some products have aluminum covers, while others have plastic covers.
Scent: they utilize a few simple ingredients sourced from organic essential oils
Sustainability: products packaged in glass with metal covers.
Scent: scents formulated with organic and plant-derived ingredients which are grown & harvested by local and indigenous people in the Amazon.
Sustainability: their perfume bottle is packaged with a roller ball, eliminating the need for a plastic spray tube.
Scent: a Hawaii-based company that offers fragrances derived from plant-based oils and discloses their ingredients.
Sustainability: all products are shipped in recyclable packaging, and seeks to limit wasteful practices.
Scent: made from scratch and by hand in the Pacific Northwest, using only fair trade and organic, food grade ingredients.
Sustainability: ship 100% plastic free with naturally biodegradable shipping boxes and a recyclable shipping label
In conclusion
As with most things, finding sustainable and non-toxic perfumes isn't as easy as choosing among the more abundant harmful alternatives. However, as shown above, there are options that will suit many people. Choosing non-toxic and sustainable beauty and wellness products helps you stay safe, while also reducing the massive amounts of pollution that the fragrance industry inflicts on the planet every day.
Remember, the goal is not perfection, just little changes that will later snowball into big changes. Do the very best that you can, whenever you can, and encourage others to do the same; that's how we make positive changes for our bodies and for our planet.
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