Facts on Fragrance

Why is fragrance a problem?

Fragrance can contain undisclosed chemicals of concern which can harm health. There are over 3,000 fragrance ingredients declared by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) to be currently in use in fragrance. [1] This list includes:

• Carcinogens such as styrene, methyl eugenol, pyridine and BHA,
• Reproductive toxins such as phthalates, lilial and nonylphenol,
• Neurotoxicants such as xylenes and phenol,
• Skin allergens such as linalool, hexyl cinnamal, geraniol, and HICC.

These fragrance ingredients and numerous others have been detected in testing of fragranced household cleaning and personal care products, but the vast majority are not disclosed on the product label. [2] [3] 

Growing use of fragrance worldwide has led to global environmental contamination by certain fragrance ingredients:

Persistent and bioaccumulative fragrance ingredients such as synthetic musks have been detected in rivers and lakes [17], drinking water [18], sediment [19], air [20], and all kinds of wildlife from fish [21] to birds to harbor seals. [22] Musks are also commonly found in human blood [23], fat tissue [24] and breastmilk. [25]

Fragrance exposure is ubiquitous:

There is ubiquitous use of “fragrance” in household products, such as personal care products and cleaners and data reflect that use of fragrance has been increasing over time. Indeed, for some product categories fragrance-free products can be especially difficult to find. For example, ninety-six percent of shampoos, 98% of conditioners and 97% of hair styling products contain fragrance. [26] Ninety-one percent of antiperspirants, 95% of shaving products, 83% of moisturizers, and 63% of sunscreens contain fragrance. [27] [28] Ninety-one percent of lip moisturizers, 71% of lipsticks, 50% of foundations, and 1/3 of all blushes and eyeliners contain fragrance. [29] [30] This makes fragrance exposure impossible to completely avoid.

Industry Secrecy Hampers Health and Restricts Consumer Right to Know

Most often, manufacturers of fragranced products do not disclose the individual ingredients that make up their scents. The failure of manufacturers to disclose fragrance ingredient information to their customers, results in many people suffering from unnecessary exposures. Millions of people are affected by fragrance, suffering rashes or breathing problems unnecessarily with limited ability to prevent or avoid their symptoms. Disclosure of fragrance ingredients in household products could alleviate this problem significantly by giving patients and their doctors the information they need to better identify and avoid exposure to problematic ingredients.

Industry self-regulation leads to inadequate safety assessment, continued use of unsafe ingredients

The safety of fragrance chemicals is not determined, monitored or safe-guarded by any governmental agency globally in any comprehensive fashion. Instead, the fragrance industry has been trusted to self-regulate and to establish its own safety guidelines for the use of fragrance chemicals through the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and its research arm, the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM). Significant problems with the industry self-regulated safety program include:

• An inherent conflict of interest that arises when an industry self-regulates the very products from which it derives profits.
• The majority of safety studies on fragrance ingredients are unpublished research papers conducted by the major fragrance manufacturers. [31]
• RIFM’s “independent” Expert Panel is handpicked by the industry and reviews safety data on fragrance ingredients that has been fully compiled and curated by RIFM staff. [32]
• IFRA does publish Standards which implement bans and restrictions on over one hundred different fragrance ingredients. However, there are no Standards published for the most controversial and problematic fragrance ingredients. And the Standards are purely voluntary, with little to no compliance verification required. [33]
• IFRA standards establishing “safe” levels of skin sensitizers have largely failed, resulting in no reduction in the prevalence of fragrance sensitization. In some studies, the rates of fragrance allergy have increased in recent decades. [34] [35]

Solutions and Recommendations