Sniffing Out Parabens: Understanding Fragrance Ingredients

Fragrances often contain parabens, but manufacturers are not required to individually label the ingredients that make up a fragrance, since fragrance recipes are considered to be trade secrets. Labels must contain the word fragrance but not the details as to what that fragrance contains. Parabens are used as a preservative and are rapidly absorbed through the skin and enter the blood stream and organs without first being broken down by the body. They are in many products, from shampoos, moisturisers, deodorant, shaving gels, cosmetics, perfume and even baby wipes. You can avoid parabens by looking for products that are labelled paraben-free, or by choosing products that contain essential oils, which are paraben-free.

Fragrance ingredients are not always listed on the label

If you want to avoid parabens, you can look for products that are labelled "paraben-free". These products will often contain essential oils, which are natural oils and natural scents from plants. They are clean, fresh, wonderfully natural, and they don't contain parabens. You can also look for products that explicitly state that they are paraben-free, or search for companies that offer paraben-free fragrances.

If you are looking at an ingredients list, you can spot parabens because they all end in '...paraben'. Derivatives to avoid include methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben.

Parabens are used as preservatives

It can be difficult to tell if a fragrance contains parabens, as manufacturers are not required to individually label the ingredients that make up a fragrance. However, there are a few things you can do to try and identify if a product contains parabens. Firstly, check the ingredients list for any words ending in '...paraben', such as methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben or propylparaben. If you see any of these words, the product definitely contains parabens. Another way to avoid parabens is to look for products that are explicitly labelled as 'paraben-free'. These products often contain essential oils, natural essences and plant extracts, which are gentle on the skin and less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. Parabens are used as preservatives in a wide variety of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, including shampoos, moisturisers, deodorants, shaving gels, cosmetics, perfumes and even baby wipes. They are rapidly absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream and organs without being broken down by the body.

Derivatives of parabens to look out for

Unfortunately, manufacturers are not required to individually label the ingredients that make up a fragrance, since fragrance recipes are considered to be "trade secrets". Labels must contain the word "fragrance" but not the details as to what that fragrance contains.

However, if a label does not designate that the product is free from parabens, sulfates and other harmful chemicals, it is not. Derivatives of parabens to look out for include:

• Methylparaben
• Ethylparaben
• Butylparaben
• Propylparaben

These are all names that end in '...paraben'.

Fragrance-free products are not necessarily paraben-free

Parabens are often found in fragrances, but manufacturers are not required to individually label the ingredients that make up a fragrance, as these recipes are considered to be "trade secrets". Labels must contain the word "fragrance" but not the details of what that fragrance contains. Therefore, it is difficult to know whether a fragrance is paraben-free unless the product explicitly states that it is paraben-free.

To avoid parabens, look for products that contain essential oils, as these are derived from natural plant extracts and do not contain parabens. Derivatives of parabens to avoid include methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben.

Paraben-free perfumes contain essential oils

It can be difficult to tell if a fragrance contains parabens, as manufacturers are not required to individually label the ingredients that make up a fragrance, since fragrance recipes are considered to be "trade secrets". Labels must contain the word "fragrance" but not the details as to what that fragrance contains. However, if you see any of the following words in your ingredients list, the product contains parabens: methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben.

Some companies are starting to pick up on the fact that consumers want less toxic products and will let you know that their products are paraben-free. They may also list what they use for fragrance, such as essential oils, so look out for those labels.

If you want to be sure that a perfume is paraben-free, you could opt for a brand that discloses all of its ingredients, empowering you to make an informed choice. You could also avoid fragrances altogether and opt for products that contain essential oils, as these do not contain parabens.

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