Seamus Hammond
There are a variety of non-toxic perfumes on the market, with brands striving to minimise their environmental footprint and use responsibly sourced ingredients. However, some companies are criticised for their lack of transparency regarding the ingredients in their fragrances. Lush, for example, has been criticised for not disclosing the chemicals that make up its perfumes, although it does label its natural and non-natural ingredients in green and black, respectively. While some of Lush's perfumes have been rated as having a low hazard by EWG Skin Deep®, others have been rated as a “high hazard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | EWG Skin Deep® rates Lush perfumes as having a "[l]ow hazard" and "good data availability". |
| Ingredients | Lush perfumes contain ingredients such as alcohol, fragrance, limonene, Sicilian lemon oil, water, glycerine, alpha-isomethyl ionone, green mandarin oil, rosemary oil, sage oil, citral, geraniol, and linalool. |
| Animal Testing | Lush does not conduct animal testing, according to PETA and Leaping Bunny. |
| Allergies | Some users have reported allergic reactions to Lush perfumes, such as skin rashes. However, it is important to note that allergies can be caused by both synthetic and natural ingredients, including essential oils. |
| Transparency | Lush has been criticized for not disclosing all fragrance ingredients, but they argue that it is to protect their formulas from competitors. They do provide a general indication of natural and non-natural ingredients through green and black labels, respectively. |
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What You'll Learn
Lush perfume safety concerns
While Lush has never claimed to be an all-natural brand, some users have expressed concerns about the safety of its products, including its perfumes. One concern is the use of undisclosed synthetic fragrances, which may cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in some individuals.
Lush lists "perfume" as an ingredient in most of its products, and while the company is transparent about the non-natural ingredients it uses, it does not disclose the specific chemicals that make up its fragrances. This is a common practice in the perfume industry, as companies guard their formulas as trade secrets. However, this lack of transparency can make it difficult for consumers to identify potential allergens or irritants in the products they are using.
Some of the specific ingredients in Lush perfumes that have been flagged as potential concerns include Alcohol Denat., Limonene, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Green Mandarin Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sage Oil, Citral, Geraniol, and Linalool. These ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in the product, and while they may be safe for most people, there is a risk of adverse reactions for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
Additionally, there have been concerns raised about other "secret" ingredients used in Lush products, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and EDTA. SLS has been linked to skin breakdown and is still used in some of Lush's facial soaps and shampoo bars, despite the company acknowledging that it is not a great ingredient. EDTA is used to dissolve limescale and is present in many of Lush's shower soap blends, but its potential impact on human health is unclear.
Despite these concerns, it is important to note that Lush perfumes have been rated as "LOW HAZARD" by EWG Skin Deep®, a scoring system designed to help consumers understand the safety of cosmetics and personal care products. This indicates that, based on the available data, the risk of adverse health effects from using Lush perfumes is relatively low.
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Lush's non-disclosure of perfume ingredients
Lush has a policy of full disclosure for all its ingredients. However, some sources claim that the company does not disclose the chemicals that make up its perfumes. On its website, Lush states that it refuses to disclose the makeup of its fragrances, as they are a "closely guarded secret".
Lush uses the terms "perfume" and "fragrance" as catch-all terms for combinations of ingredients, which are protected by law as a "secret formula". While the company does list all of its ingredients, it does not highlight or discuss certain ingredients in its marketing, which some consumers refer to as "secret" ingredients.
Some of these "secret" ingredients include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which has been linked to skin breakdown, and EDTA, which has been linked to respiratory illness and asthma.
Lush is transparent about what non-natural ingredients it uses, and its labels clearly differentiate between natural and non-natural ingredients, with naturals listed in green and non-naturals in black. However, the company's use of the perfume loophole means that consumers cannot be sure that its products are safe, as the specific ingredients of its fragrances are not disclosed.
While Lush does not market its products as "natural", its eco-conscious branding and claims of using safe synthetics have led to confusion and disappointment among consumers who discover that the products are not, in fact, all-natural.
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Lush's use of potentially harmful ingredients
Lush is a cosmetics company that markets its products as “fresh” and “handmade”. The company claims to use ingredients that are "safe" and “tried and proven”. However, there are concerns about some of the ingredients used in their products, particularly their fragrances, which some claim may contain potentially harmful chemicals.
One of the main concerns is the use of synthetic fragrances in Lush products. While the company argues that listing the specific chemicals used in their fragrances would give away their trade secrets, some customers are disappointed by the lack of transparency. This is especially concerning to those with allergies or sensitive skin, as it can be difficult to know which products might cause a reaction.
Some specific ingredients that have been flagged as potentially harmful include Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is still used in some of Lush's products despite the company acknowledging that it is "not a great ingredient". According to the International Journal of Toxicology, SLS "had a degenerative effect on cell membranes", indicating it can cause skin breakdown. Triethanolamine, used in liquid lotions, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), which may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, linked to cancer, are also flagged as potentially harmful ingredients.
Another concern is the presence of parabens in Lush products. Parabens are preservatives that have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive problems. They are considered endocrine disruptors, which can affect the growth of tumours.
While Lush claims to use safe and natural ingredients, the company's lack of transparency about the specific chemicals in their fragrances and the presence of potentially harmful ingredients in some of their products have raised concerns among some consumers. It is important for individuals to research the ingredients in any cosmetic product they use and make informed decisions about what they are comfortable using.
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Lush's animal testing policy
Lush has had a non-animal testing policy in place since the company's inception in 1995, and fighting animal testing is a core part of its philosophy and public messaging. The company has stated that it is possible to invent, manufacture and bring to the market an entire range of products without any involvement in animal testing.
Lush has engaged the Ethical Consumer Research Association (Ethical Consumer) to conduct annual audits of its supply chain in the UK and globally for compliance with its non-animal testing policy. Ethical Consumer has full access to Lush's list of ingredient and packaging suppliers and purchasing history, and they follow up with suppliers to verify records and ensure the supply chain understands the requirements of the policy.
Lush's commitment to fighting animal testing means that the company will never conduct animal tests on finished products and will only purchase ingredients from companies that do not test on animals. Lush also lobbies against animal testing, educates about the issues, and joins with animal campaign groups to publicise the issue.
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Lush solid perfumes rated as high hazard
While Lush does not market its products as "natural", the company has been criticized for a lack of transparency regarding the ingredients in its fragrances. The company has been accused of using the "'perfume loophole', where an ingredient is listed as 'perfume' without disclosing the chemicals that make up that perfume. This secrecy may be to protect their formulations from other companies, rather than to hide information from customers.
Lush solid perfumes have been rated as "high hazard" by EWG Skin Deep. The EWG gives a two-part score to every product and ingredient—one for hazard and one for data availability. The hazard score reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients and is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients. The data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.
The following Lush solid perfumes have been rated as "high hazard":
- Alina
- Rose Jam
- Pansy
- Lust
- Junk
It is important to note that the safety of a product depends on a variety of factors, including an individual's skin sensitivity and the concentration of potentially harmful ingredients. While some people may have reactions to certain Lush products, others may not experience any issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Lush perfumes are not marketed as non-toxic. However, some of their perfumes have a low hazard rating on the EWG Skin Deep scoring system.
The EWG Skin Deep scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a cosmetic product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern. The system gives each product and ingredient a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability.
Avoid perfumes with an ethanol base, as ethanol production causes many environmental issues. Other harmful chemicals to avoid include phthalates, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).
Some non-toxic perfume brands include Skylar, Dedcool, and Leahlani. These brands use plant-based alcohol bases, organic ingredients, and essential oils to create their fragrances.
Lush perfumes may not be safe for people with allergies, as the company does not disclose all of the ingredients in their fragrances. While Lush does label whether a fragrance is natural or synthetic, some people may still have reactions to natural ingredients.
