Seamus Hammond
Parfum fragrances are bad for your health and the environment. The term fragrance or parfum on a cosmetic ingredients list usually represents a complex mixture of dozens of chemicals, many of which are toxic and untested. These chemicals can cause sensitization and allergies, respiratory diseases, skin irritation, and can contain carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, neurotoxic chemicals, and environmental toxicants. In addition, fragrance manufacturers and cosmetic companies are not legally required to disclose their ingredients, claiming that their formulas are confidential and maintaining their trade secrets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of chemicals used in fragrances | 3,000 |
| Toxic ingredients | BHT, styrene, acetaldehydes, ethanol, acetone, limonene, beta-pinene, alpha-pinene, parabens, phthalates, synthetic musk, chloromethane, dichloromethane, diethyl phthalate (DEP), butylphenyl methyl propionate |
| Health effects | Cancer, endocrine disruption, liver and kidney failure, skin irritation, allergies, asthma, migraines, reproductive defects, neurotoxicity, insulin resistance in men, obesity |
| Environmental effects | Ozone pollution, fine particulate matter |
| Labeling requirements | Not required to disclose ingredients, may be listed as "fragrance", "perfume", "parfum", "essential oil blend", or "aroma" |
| Regulation | FDA does not review fragrances before they hit the market, European Union has banned over 2,500 fragrance ingredients, FDA has only banned 11 |
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What You'll Learn
Parfum is a cocktail of synthetic chemicals
These undisclosed chemicals can have a range of harmful effects on human health. Many are irritants and can trigger allergies, migraines, and asthma symptoms. A survey of asthmatics found that perfume and/or colognes triggered attacks in nearly three out of four individuals. There is also evidence that exposure to perfume can exacerbate asthma and even contribute to its development in children. Synthetic musks, which mimic natural hormones, are of particular concern as they can disrupt normal endocrine and biological processes.
In addition to the health risks, fragrance chemicals are also bad for the environment. Chemical vapors in fragrances, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can cause ozone pollution and form fine particulates. Some of the most common VOCs found in fragrances include acetaldehydes, ethanol, acetone, limonene, beta-pinene, and alpha-pinene. Other common fragrance ingredients include parabens, which act as preservatives, and phthalates, which are used to make perfumes last longer.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) provide advice on safety standards for fragrances. However, the discrepancy in banned ingredients between different countries is notable. For example, the European Union has banned over 2,500 fragrance ingredients, while the US FDA has only banned 11. This discrepancy is largely due to the FDA not reviewing fragrances before they enter the market.
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The fragrance industry uses 'parfum' as a loophole to avoid listing ingredients
The term "parfum" on a cosmetic ingredient list usually represents a complex mixture of dozens of chemicals. Fragrance manufacturers and cosmetic companies are not legally required to disclose their ingredients, often claiming that their formulas are confidential and maintaining their trade secrets. This allows them to use "parfum" as a loophole to avoid listing individual ingredients.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) lists almost 3,059 different chemicals used in fragrance formulations. These include toxic ingredients like BHT and styrene, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic musks, which have been linked to adverse health effects such as endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer.
In addition to health concerns, fragrance chemicals are also bad for the environment. Chemical vapors in fragrances, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can cause ozone pollution and form fine particulates.
While some fragrance allergens will have to be disclosed under a new federal law that passed in December 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to release the list of allergens, and the requirements will not go into effect until at least 2025. In the meantime, consumers are left in the dark about the potential health and environmental implications of fragrance chemicals.
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Chemicals in parfum are linked to cancer
The use of the word "fragrance" on product labels is a loophole that allows manufacturers to avoid listing individual ingredients, keeping their formulas confidential as trade secrets. This means that consumers are often unaware of the specific chemicals present in fragranced products. According to the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP), fragrance or 'parfum' can consist of any of approximately 4,000 chemicals used by the fragrance industry to create scents for personal care products, cleaning products, perfumes, and home care products.
A study by BCPP found that 338 fragrance chemicals were present in 25 personal care products tested, with 99 of those chemicals linked to at least one health concern, and several connected to multiple health effects. In the personal care products tested, fragrance chemicals accounted for 3/4 of the chemicals linked to chronic health issues. The International Fragrance Association's (IFRA) 2011 list of 4,000 fragrance ingredients includes chemicals classified as carcinogens, such as benzophenone, methyleugenol, and styrene.
Styrene, a chemical commonly used in fragrances, has been identified as a human carcinogen by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Toxicology Program. This conclusion is supported by compelling evidence, suggesting that styrene should be strictly controlled as a dangerous substance. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) emphasizes the need for reform in federal law to ensure that personal care products do not contain harmful ingredients like styrene, which has been linked to cancer.
Other chemicals found in fragrances, such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), are not yet banned in the US and can be present in food and cosmetics. Additionally, fragrances may contain toxic ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and synthetic musks, which can act as preservatives, extend the life of perfumes, and mimic natural hormones, potentially disrupting normal endocrine and biological processes.
To reduce exposure to potentially harmful fragrance chemicals, consumers can opt for fragrance-free products or choose companies that commit to full fragrance ingredient disclosure. The EWG also recommends using their Healthy Living app to scan products and assess their safety ratings.
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Parfum can cause ozone pollution and fine particulate matter
The term "fragrance" on a product's ingredient list often masks a mixture of undisclosed chemicals, as companies are not legally required to disclose their ingredients, claiming formula confidentiality. These undisclosed chemicals can include VOCs, which are known to have detrimental effects on the environment and human health.
One of the main concerns with parfum and other scented products is the presence of toxic ingredients. VOCs, such as acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, and limonene, can have harmful effects on the body when inhaled. Additionally, parabens and phthalates, commonly found in perfumes, have been linked to endocrine disruption and other adverse health effects.
The impact of parfum on air quality and human health has led to increasing concerns about the regulation of fragrance chemicals. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates personal care products, but they are not required to review fragrance chemicals before they enter the market. This has resulted in a discrepancy in banned fragrance ingredients across different countries, with the European Union banning over 2,500 ingredients compared to only 11 in the US.
To address these concerns, some organizations, such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG), offer guidance on choosing safer personal care products. The EWG VERIFIED® mark indicates that a product is free from chemicals of concern and meets strict transparency and health standards. Additionally, consumers can refer to resources like EWG's Skin Deep database, which provides ratings for over 90,000 products and ingredients, helping individuals make more informed choices about the potential impact of the products they use.
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Parfum can trigger allergies, migraines and asthma symptoms
The term "fragrance" or "parfum" on a cosmetic ingredients list usually represents a complex mixture of dozens of chemicals. Some 3,000 chemicals are used as fragrances, and of these, most have not been tested for toxicity. Many of these unlisted ingredients are irritants and can trigger allergies, migraines, and asthma symptoms.
A survey of asthmatics found that perfume and/or colognes triggered attacks in nearly three out of four individuals. There is also evidence suggesting that exposure to perfume can exacerbate asthma and perhaps even contribute to its development in children. People with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) or environmentally linked illnesses are particularly vulnerable, with fragrances implicated in both the development of the condition and triggering symptoms. However, anyone might experience skin irritation or a runny nose and eyes. U.K. researchers have reported that "perfume" is the second most common cause of allergy in patients at dermatology clinics.
In addition to the health risks, fragrance chemicals are also bad for the environment. Chemical vapors in fragrance, called volatile organic compounds, can cause ozone pollution and form fine particulates, according to one study. The federal government should protect citizens from these toxic chemicals, but the FDA does not review fragrances before they hit the market.
To reduce your potential exposure, avoid products claiming to be "unscented," since the term doesn’t rule out the presence of allergenic chemicals. Products that score 1 or 2 on the Skin Deep database are less likely to contain fragrance. Look for products that bear the EWG VERIFIED mark, which means a product avoids ingredients of concern.
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Frequently asked questions
Parfum fragrances are often packed with a cocktail of synthetic chemicals, which can be detrimental to human health due to their toxic effects. These chemicals are rarely listed on the ingredients label, as companies are not legally required to disclose them, claiming that their formulas are confidential and maintaining their trade secrets.
The toxic effects of parfum fragrances on human health include skin irritation, runny eyes and nose, allergies, migraines, asthma, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer.
Toxic ingredients in parfum fragrances include butylphenyl methyl propionate, chloromethane, dichloromethane, diethyl phthalate (DEP), parabens, synthetic musks, and styrene.
To avoid the toxic effects of parfum fragrances, look for products that bear the EWG VERIFIED mark, which means they are free from toxic chemicals. You can also refer to the Skin Deep database, which contains ratings for more than 90,000 products and ingredients, or download the Healthy Living app to easily scan and check the safety of products.
Yes, there are natural alternatives to parfum fragrances, such as essential oils, which are derived from plants and do not contain synthetic chemicals. However, it is important to note that even natural fragrances can trigger allergies and sensitivities in some individuals.
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