Perfume is a staple in many women’s morning routine. Whenever I leave the house without a quick spritz of my Marc Jacobs Daisy, I am left feeling slightly underdressed or even ‘less fresh’. For me, it is the final touch to my outfit, and signifies that I am ready to start my day.
However, have you ever stopped to wonder what is actually in your perfume? According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, there are some chemicals found within popular fragrances that have potential health risks.
“A rose may be a rose. But that rose-like fragrance in your perfume may be something else entirely, concocted from any number of the fragrance industry’s 3,100 stock chemical ingredients, the blend of which is almost always kept hidden from the consumer.”
The report tested a number of popular brands in perfumes, colognes and body sprays which market their products using terms such as “floral”, “exotic” or “musky”. However through tests it was revealed that 38 secret chemicals in the 17 name brand fragrance products tested, contained 14 “secret chemicals” not listed in the label.
Scarily, chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions were found amongst those not listed in the label and many more that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.
When sprayed or applied on the skin, many chemicals from perfumes, cosmetics and personal care products are inhaled. Others are absorbed through the skin. Either way, many of these chemicals can accumulate in the body. As a result, our bodies are polluted with multiple cosmetics ingredients. This pollution begins in the womb and continues through life.
However it is not just our perfumes that we should be inspecting, but also other cosmetic and skincare products such as soaps, shampoos, lotions even air fresheners that use the word ‘fragrance’. Often harmful chemicals are disguised behind this word, and not disclosed on product packaging.
Belle’Botanique launched their 100% natural and non-toxic range of unisex perfumes to combat the growing health concerns associated with mass market fragrances. Using a natural grape-alcohol solvent sourced from Australian vineyards, Belle’Botanique employs a proprietary manufacturing process that reduces the use of artificial preservatives in favour of safe, food-grade preservatives, and is the first company in the world to release two completely allergen-free perfume blends.
“The perfume industry has over 3,000 synthetic aroma chemicals to choose from,” said co-founder of Belle’Botanique, Manoj Jain. “What is considered limonene in perfume is the exact same ingredient as citrus oil in cleaning products and degreasers.”
Available independently via the Belle’Botanique website, the company is also running a ReadyFundGo campaign in order to raise crucial funds to conduct further skin research, source physical retailers and launch the perfume range outside of Australia. A percentage of all website sales and ReadyFundGo pledges will be donated to Belle’Botanique’s official charity partner, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, to assist with the organisation’s life-changing research programs.
So the next time you are topping up on your favourite scent, maybe just do a bit of research into what they are putting within their product, and whether they are also a culprit of masking dangerous chemicals.
SheSociety is a site for the women of Australia to share our stories, our experiences, shared learnings and opportunities to connect.
Leave a Reply