Have you ever skimmed the ingredients of your shampoo or deodorant and read "fragrance" listed there? It's very common to see this nebulous term listed as an ingredient on cosmetic, cleaning, and self-care products. Sounds harmless, right?
In reality, "fragrance" is used as a catch-all term for a cocktail of chemicals. Chemicals hidden under "fragrance" can cause a variety of health issues, including allergic reactions, asthma, headaches, contact dermatitis, hormone disruption, rhinitis, infant diarrhea and vomiting, and chest tightness. In addition to these health concerns, many chemicals in fragrance have not been adequately tested to determine their compound, long term effects on the body.
"Fragrance and flavor formulas are complex mixtures of many different natural and synthetic chemical ingredients, and they are the kinds of cosmetic components that are most likely to be 'trade secrets'. Some individuals may be allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients in cosmetics, food, or other products, even if those ingredients are safe for most people. Some components of fragrance formulas may have a potential to cause allergic reactions or sensitivities for some people. [The] FDA does not have the same legal authority to require allergen labeling for cosmetics as for food." - U.S. Food and Drug Administration
In a study of perfumes, colognes, and body sprays, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that "the average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products. According to EWG analysis, the fragrance industry has published safety assessments for only 34% of the unlabeled ingredients. The unassessed chemicals range from food additives whose safety in perfumes has not been assessed to chemicals with limited public safety data such as synthetic musk fragrances, which accumulate in the human body and may be linked to hormone disruption" (Environmental Working Group).
So what can you do?
Always read ingredients before buying a product. You can use resources like EWG's product search, the Think Dirty app, and other tools for further insight into brands and products.
Beware of phrases like "pure, natural, or organic fragrance", or even "unscented" and "fragrance-free." The product might still have hidden fragrance/undisclosed chemicals.
Reduce the amount of fragrances that you currently use in your home and on your body.
REFERENCES
Nutrition, C. for F. S. and A. (2019). Fragrances in Cosmetics. FDA. http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/fragrances-cosmetics
Sarantis, H., Naidenko, O. V., Gray, S., & Houlihan, J. (n.d.). Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance. 44.
Photo by Alex Kondratiev on Unsplash
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