What is in fragrance?

Fragrance or ‘parfum’ can consist of any of approximately 4,000 chemicals used by the fragrance industry to formulate scents for use in personal care products, cleaning products, perfumes, and home care products. Many fragrance chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, and other chronic health problems.

Who is more vulnerable to fragrance?

Kids, women of color, janitors, housekeepers, and beauty professionals are among the groups that face the greatest risks and exposure. When companies don’t fully disclose their ingredients, these communities are left without the means to steer clear of harmful chemicals.

Are “natural” fragrance and essential oils safe?

Just because something is labeled as “natural” doesn’t automatically make it safe. Some natural fragrance components can actually be harmful, containing things like endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and allergens.

Essential oils are natural blends that can vary a lot in their chemical makeup based on where they come from, how they’re extracted, the time of year they’re harvested, and other biological factors. Some of the natural components might cause allergies and sensitivities. Research has shown that lavender and tea tree essential oils can act like estrogen, which is a female hormone, and can also reduce the effects of androgens, the male hormones. One study even suggested that prolonged use of lavender and tea tree oils on the skin might be connected to breast development in boys who haven’t gone through puberty yet.

More information is available here Fragrance – Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP); Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ®) – PDQ Cancer Information Summaries – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)