It seems so harmless, just plain flirty in fact, to dab on a little perfume behind your ears and on your decollete (that’s French for cleavage) to leave the world, and your date, with a scent to remember you by.
But a prominent environmental group says perfume makers stink when it comes to having potentially dangerous chemicals in their products. And a regulatory loophole that allows companies to use the word “fragrance” on their label to protect the fragrances as trade secrets lets them hide some of the most concerning ingredients, not even listing them on the label.
The group, Environmental Defence of Canada, along with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, commissioned a study of perfumes sold in Canada, hiring an independent laboratory in California to test 17 fragrances.
Our research shows that those conventionally produced perfumes includes big names like:
- Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce
- American Eagle Seventy Seven
- AXE Bodyspray For Men – Shock
- Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom
- Britney Spears Curious
- Calvin Klein Eternity (for men)
- Calvin Klein Eternity (for women)
- Clinique Happy
- Coco Mademoiselle Chanel
- Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue
- Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio
- Halle by Halle Berry
- Hannah Montana Secret Celebrity
- Jennifer Lopez J. Lo Glow
- Old Spice After HoursBody Spray
- Quiksilver (for men)
- Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Heavenly
Top-selling perfumes and colognes were found to contain a dozen or more “secret chemicals” not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions or disrupt hormones, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety by the beauty industry’s self-policing review panels. In summary, products contained:
- An average of 14 secret chemicals (i.e., chemicals that were not listed on labels)
- An average of 10 sensitizing chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing, headaches and contact dermatitis. All of these chemicals were listed the labels.
- A total of 12 different chemicals that can disrupt hormones, with an average of 4 chemicals per product. Some of these chemicals were listed on product labels, some were not.
Pretty scary considering all you wanted to do was smell nice.
Fortunately, the answer is pretty obvious. Skip the smelly toxins and switch to organic and all-natural fragrances and perfumes. We’ve got dozens to choose from and they’re made of things you’ve heard of and don’t need to be terrified about putting on your skin.
For example, the sultry Egyptian-nights scent of our wildly popular Jasmine Natural Essence by Shea Terra. Or the ginger, cedar, black pepper, white pepper, juniper and clove in Perfumed Wine – Rose by A Perfume Organic.
So let the perfume industry know that you’re tired of dangerous chemicals and hidden toxins in your perfume by making the switch to organic and all-natural perfume. It’s the scent-sible thing to do, and a beautiful way to do it.
As a dedicated perfume wearer since the age of 11 (yes 11), I have never needed to be convinced that personal fragrance is a necessary part of life.
