Today I’d like to discuss something that is a major problem in today’s beauty and skincare industry–artificial fragrances. Everyone likes to smell nice…or to have fresh-smelling linens, or a home that always smells like an apple pie is baking in the oven. Unfortunately, the very ingredients that create those smells may just be making you ill.
Did you know that the overwhelming majority of skincare products–from soaps to lotions to sunscreens–contain synthetic fragrance? Even the typical department store LIPSTICKS contain this ingredient. If you are looking at a product ingredients label, it may be listed as “parfum”, “fragrance”, or “fragrance oil.” They are all synonymous.
Fragrance oils simply are unhealthy and may cause health issues down the road and also can contribute to health conditions you may have now, such as asthma and allergies.
- 95% of artificial fragrances are petroleum based chemicals. (According to a report from the National Academy of Sciences in 1986; report not refuted)
- Many artificial fragrances contain Phthalates, which disrupt the endocrine system and are known carcinogens. Phthalates are banned in the EU. They can damage the reproductive system and are also harmful to the environment. (Source: Cosmetics Database)
- Artificial fragrance is a leading cause of asthma and allergies. (Source: Toxic Beauty by Samuel Epstein)
Did you know that your typical “fragrance oil” may contain over 100 different chemical compounds such as amines, ethers, ketones, lactones, terpenes and thiones. Many also contain phthalates, benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and other toxins shown to cause cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, neurological disorders, and allergic reactions. These compounds also get into the air and can have grave effects on the ecosystem. When you use a laundry detergent with artificial fragrance, it not only can affect your allergies, but harm the earth.
Did you know that waste eater facilities actually do not remove the chemicals found in artificial fragrance? They are left to linger in the environment.
Aren’t fragrance oils natural? If I am buying a rose perfume, doesn’t it always come right from rose petals? No. Fragrance oils are synthetic and have been created to mimic the aroma of scents found in nature, in foods, etc. Trade secret laws have made it so the companies do not have to disclose all of the chemical compounds found in the fragrance, so you will see “fragrance”, “parfum”, “fragrance oil”, etc. on the labels.
There is more and more evidence that fragrance is harmful, even toxic. The Skin Deep Database now ranks Fragrance a very disturbing 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. As a mom, I am troubled by the fact that nearly all products marketed to my kids are not just full of chemicals, but contain large amounts of fragrance. Of course my kids want to smell like a strawberry milkshake or a banana split, but at what cost?
We have taken the dangers of artificial fragrance into consideration very seriously. Quite simply, you will NOT find any synthetic fragrances in our products. We create NATURAL and effective skincare products that are safe for you and your family. You will notice our products are not completely unscented. Natural ingredients retain their natural aromas, so from time to time you will be able to detect the scents from organic essentials oils and other botanicals.
Here is a really helpful infographic from Women’s Voices for the Earth about artificial fragrance:
Do you have a health or skincare topic you’d like to see covered in this blog? Drop me an email at prcontact@emeraldessentials.com and I will happily answer your questions.
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