It can be challenging finding a fragrance that isn't full of toxic chemicals.
Thankfully, there are some good alternatives so you can still smell fresh and clean without worrying about any of the not so clean health concerns most fragrances contain.
Identifying
First let's be aware of how to identify and why it's important to be cautious of conventional fragrances.
Perfumes and colognes are one of the most common causes of daily fragrance exposures but surprisingly some of the biggest hormone disrupting perpetrators
could equally be from other products you're using everyday. They can be found in a wide variety of items including:
Scented soaps
Shampoos/Conditioners
Deodorants
Face/Body lotions
Scented feminine hygiene products
Aftershave
Makeup
Nail polish
Hair spray
Sunscreen
Facial Cream
Exfoliating Scrubs
Toners
Serums
Scented candles
Scented garbage bags
Air fresheners
Fabric softeners
Dryer sheets
Laundry detergents
Cleaning products
Oral hygiene products
...and more.
To identify the specific ingredients to look out for, check if the label contains any of the following:
Fragrance
Natural Fragrance
Natural Ingredients
Aroma
Perfume
Parfum
Essential oil blend
Essential Oils:
Even essential oils that are marketed under the blanket term as being 'natural' are far from being safe.
Essential oils can only be considered safe if they are certified USDA Organic and every ingredient is fully clearly disclosed.
CAUTION: if you are pregnant or trying to conceive even these essential oil or fragrances may not be considered safe, because additionally you need to look out for herbs/ingredients that are 'Emmenagogues'.
Emmenagogues:
Emmenagogues are uterine stimulants and can cause reproductive harm. They can be found in certain herbs/foods/other compounds in ingredients.
These are not clearly listed on ingredients as being this term, so it's vital to look up each ingredient specifically and search if they are an emmenagogue.
If you are interested more in pregnancy safe alternatives, there will be an article coming soon with a helpful list/guide coming soon.
This article will be updated with a link when it is posted. (Source 1)*
What These False 'Fragrances' Really Are:
Unfortunately, the FDA allows these ambiguous blanket terms masking the true ingredients to be listed. (Source 2)
It can be any combination of synthetic compounds/chemicals used to create a desired smell without regard to health hazards.
Here are the true unlisted chemicals behind most of these ingredients:
Acetaldehyde
Benzophenone
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Benzyl Salicylate
Benzyl Benzoate
Butoxyethanol
Butylphenyl methylpropional
Chloromethane (methyl chloride)
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
Eugenyl methyl ether (Methyleugenol)
Formaldehyde
MEA, DEA, TEA – ethanolamines
Methanol
Oxybenzone (BP-3)
Propyl paraben (Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate)
Resorcinol
Styrene
Synthetic Musks (Tonalide , Galaxolide, Musk Ketone, Musk Xylene)
Titanium dioxide (TiO2)
1,4-Dioxane
Ethylbenzene
Vinyl acetate
For another extremely helpful article that gives a closer look at the direct effects of every single one of these ingredients, check out this incredible website where they have
done a complete and thorough investigation. (Source 3)
Phthalates
The overall thing you need to know is, the majority of these are considered 'Phthalates'.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are also used in the making of many plastics including Vinyl and PVC. (Yes, even in flooring sadly but there's more on solutions to that below).
They are typically odorless themselves and do not evaporate easily (and can linger in your lungs/respiratory tract) thus wreaking havoc on your health.
They are also easily absorbed through the skin.
The skin is an organ, and thus it affects multiple other organs in your body as well.
Here are just a few of the multitude of issues phthalates can cause:
Reproductive harm/Fertility Issues in Women and Men
Hormone issues
Allergies
Respiratory problems
Skin irritation
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Seizures
Cardiovascular issues
Neurological problems
Mood Swings
Weight Gain
Erectile Dysfunction
Diabetes
Cancer
For more information on the issues they can cause, there is a helpful article here (Source 4).
Environment:
If any of that wasn't concerning enough, they also contain harmful chemical vapors, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause ozone pollution and form fine particulates
in the air that don't dissolve easily. These can also get into water systems and damages aquatic life and the surrounding ecosystems. So imagine what it's doing to you bodies ecosystem as it enters your organs and bloodstream.
Flooring:
You may be concerned about phthalates in your flooring. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council(2), as of 2015 Home Depot and Lowe's got rid of almost all phthalate sources found in their vinyl flooring.
For a complete list of phthalate free vinyl flooring brands, we will have a list of safe brands and flooring guide available soon. With other healthy alternatives as well if you'd rather explore those.
This article will be updated with a link to it when we have it available. (Source 5)*
Alternatives:
Healthy alternatives are organic essential oils (and only emmenagogue free ones for those trying to conceive or getting pregnant) or simply just purchasing fragrance free options.
To find a list of fragrances/products we've approved that are safe for everyday use, check out our list:
We are also currently in the process of studying essential oils and how to make our own fresh clean and healthy organic fragrances coming soon to Botanic Beauty Co.
Instead of sacrificing your health, we want you to gain health benefits from your fragrance, just as with our makeup. Your health is our priority.
Check back for more info here soon. (Source 6)
If you are interested in taking action against these issues, we also highly recommend checking out this website. They are a fantastic resource with simple options on how to do so:
More Helpful Resources:
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Resources
1) Coming soon
4) https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/07/what-fragrance#:~:text=Effect%20on%20health%20and%20the,particulates%2C%20according%20to%20one%20study.
5)Coming soon
6)Coming soon
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