Fragrance: The Sweet Smell of Death

Fall candles. Perfumes. Bath products. What makes them so attractive? Their scents, of course! But what if many of the products that smell so good are toxic? The truth is, fragrance is killing you.

What exactly is “Fragrance?”

According to the FDA, “fragrance” is a combination of chemicals that gives each perfume or cologne its distinct scent. Fragrance ingredients can be derived from petroleum or natural raw materials. 

Perfumes and colognes also contain solvents, stabilizers, UV-absorbers, preservatives, and dyes.

These additives are not always, listed on product labels. The chemical components in fragrance are described on the label as “fragrance” or “parfum.” 

Fragrance is found in most personal care products including:

• Sunscreen
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Body Wash
• Deodorant
• Body Lotion
• Makeup
• Facial Cream
• Skin Toner
• Serums
• Exfoliating Scrubs
• Perfumes and Colognes

Fragrance is Killing You

Under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1967, companies must list the ingredients they use in their products.

Fragrances are considered “trade secrets.” As a result, fragrances are exempt from this law. Fragrances can be made up of many—and sometimes hundreds—of undisclosed ingredients. 

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) released testing results that revealed the presence of harmful fragrance chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive harm and respiratory toxicity in many household products.

“Our results found that three out of four of the toxic chemicals in the beauty and personal care products we tested were fragrance chemicals,” said Connie Engel, Ph.D., BCPP Senior Manager of Science Translation. “And most of these toxic chemicals were not found on the product label.”

According to The International Fragrance Association, 3,059 materials are used in fragrance compounds. Some of these ingredients have evidence linking them to health effects including cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies, and sensitivities.

Additionally, a 2016 study assessed self-reported health effects from fragrance. This survey found that 99.1% of participants were exposed to fragranced products at least once a week.

Also, the participants reported an extensive list of health effects when exposed to fragrance. These effects ranged from migraines and asthma to gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular problems.

A high percentage of the participants did not know about the chemicals included in fragrance and would not continue to use a fragranced product if they had previously known it emitted pollutants.[1]

In short, some could argue that the only benefit to using products containing “fragrance” is that they have a pleasant scent.

Is risking your health worth a sweet-smelling, toxic scent? Fragrance is killing you.

How Do I Find a Fragrance-Free Product?

Fragrance-free products do exist, but they are more difficult to find.

Always check the label on any product you purchase to ensure “fragrance” or “perfum” is not an ingredient. 

Many products claim to be “natural” but list “fragrance” or “perfum” as an ingredient without disclosing what the actual ingredients are. 

Essential oils can be an acceptable use of fragrance. It’s important to make sure the the specific oils used are disclosed. Additionally, they should be sourced from a trustworthy company.

Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming post detailing some specific fragrance-free products that you can have peace about using. 

And the next time you walk past that sweet-smelling candle shop in the mall, run the other way—your health depends on it.

1. _{Steinemann A. Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects from emissions. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. 2016:1-6}