The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) researchers found more than 75 percent of products listing the ingredient “fragrance” contained phthalates, which have been shown to disrupt hormone activity, reduce sperm counts, cause reproductive malformation, and have been linked to liver and breast cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, studies by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan of the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center link fetal exposure with autism, ADHD, and neurological disorders (1). The Environmental Working Group explains:

“When you see ‘fragrance’ on a personal care product’s label, read it as ‘hidden chemicals.’ A major loophole in FDA’s federal law lets manufacturers of products like shampoo, lotion, and body wash include nearly any ingredient in their products under the name ‘fragrance’ without actually listing the chemical.

Companies that manufacture personal care products are required by law to list the ingredients they use, but fragrances and trade-secret formulas are exempt (2).”

Laboratory tests commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and analyzed by EWG found a total of 38 chemicals not listed on the labels in 17 name-brand fragrances (i.e., Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Bath & Body Works, Old Spice, Calvin Klein, etc.). The average fragrance product contained 14 chemicals not disclosed on the label and another 15 listed! The report noted:

“Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products (3).”

According to HuffPost’s article titled Five ‘Must-Knows’ on the Dangers of Synthetic Fragrance:

“More than 95 percent of the chemicals in synthetic fragrances are derived from petrochemicals. These chemicals include: benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, and a slew of other known toxins that are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, nervous-system disorders and allergies–some of which are cited on the EPA’s hazardous waste list (4).”

Ingredients in Fragrance

There’s a dirty little secret the fragrance industry would rather you did not know. When you purchase a product with fragrance, it could contain any number of the 3,100 or so stock chemical ingredients used by the fragrance industry (5). Thankfully, the International Fragrance Association has a “transparency” list dedicated to the thousands of ingredients allowed to be labeled as a fragrance. On this list, you’ll find some pretty nasty ingredients, including but not limited to:

• Citric acid, which naturally occurs in oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits, is perfectly safe. Contrarily, citric acid is often mass-produced from Aspergillus niger (black mold) and is associated with health problems like respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and inflamed lungs (6,7).
• Corn oil is typically made using genetically modified (GMO) corn. In 2010, about 90 percent of corn grown in the United States was genetically modified (8). Additionally, about 10 million Americans are allergic to corn (9).
• Formaldehyde can cause watery eyes and burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat. Short-term exposure can cause coughing, wheezing, skin irritation, and nausea. Long-term, they aren’t too sure but believe it may increase the risk of cancer (10). Check out my post, The Truth About Formaldehyde, to learn more.
• Hydroxy steroids are derived from, you guessed it, steroids, but with hydroxy replacing the hydrogen. Steroid use has been linked to liver problems, heart problems, stroke, blood clots, and even cancer (11).
• Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum, coal, and shared oil. This wax has been found to contain known carcinogens, including acetone, benzene, and toluene (12). Exposure to carcinogens like this may cause headaches, kidney damage, congenital disabilities, bone marrow damage, respiratory issues, nausea, and cancer (13).

• Peanut oil is prone to oxidation. Oxidation may result in the formation of free radicals, damaging the body, known as oxidative stress. This damage may lead to premature aging, certain cancers, and heart disease (14,15,16). Additionally, peanuts are one of the top allergens in America, with 1 in 50 children being allergic (17). We can’t bring peanut butter and jelly to some schools but can douse ourselves in peanut oil fragrance.
• Silica dust particles are so small that you cannot see them. Inhaling silica dust can trap particles in lung tissue, causing inflammation, scarring, and a reduction in the lungs’ ability to breathe oxygen. Silica dust inhalation can also cause lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, and autoimmune disease (18).
• Soybean oil is usually brimming with GMOs, causing less nutritional value and more toxic effects due to the chemicals involved in the genetic modification process. GMOs aside, if you read my post, Should You Consume Soy Products, you know soybeans contain compounds like phytate, which may interfere with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals.
• Tobacco extract is usually used as a cigarette flavor enhancer. Although tobacco is natural, the entire plant naturally contains harmful chemicals, even when grown without pesticides (19). Of course, tobacco contains nicotine, which is quite toxic. Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is an occupational poisoning that affects workers who cultivate and harvest tobacco upon skin contact with the leaves of the mature tobacco plant (20). A
• Turpentine oil is best known as paint thinner. It is also used in the chemical industry as a raw material to make resins, insecticides, oil additives, synthetic pine oil, and camphor (21). Turpentine oil can cause serious side effects, including headaches, sleeplessness, coughing, lung bleeding, vomiting, kidney damage, brain damage, coma, and death (22).

View the International Fragrance Association’s full transparency list here.

Risks of Fragrance

Aside from the risks associated with the thousands of ingredients labeled as fragrance, there are many other risks, including but not limited to:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Studies have found phthalates (which are in 95% of fragrances) increase psychological disorders, specifically attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and have even found phthalates in urine samples of adolescents with ADHD (23,24). Another study found prenatal exposure to phthalates nearly triples the risk of ADHD (25). Additionally, the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio mentions avoiding fragrance exposure as it releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which could be linked to autism and ADHD (26).

Diabetes

We fall right back to phthalates (I think I need to write a post dedicated to phthalates; what do you think?). Anyways, phthalates may increase your risk of diabetes. Better yet, those with higher phthalate levels have double the risk of type 2 diabetes (27). According to Prevention.com:

“Researchers analyzed the blood of more than 1,000 70-year-old adults in India and found that the more phthalates they had in their bloodstreams, the higher their blood sugars were. Why? Phthalates are believed to disrupt hormones in the body, and diabetes is a hormonal disease—so it follows that the more hormone-disrupting chemicals you have, the more likely you are to get diabetes (28).”

Additionally, researchers have linked phthalates to an array of medical issues. Some of those include asthma, breast cancer, obesity, low IQ, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders, and more (29).

Endocrine Disruption

Studies have found that fragrance constituents are linked to endocrine (hormone) disruption, and exposure can cause pivotal stressors, estrogen hyperproduction, aromatase upregulation, and more (30). According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, synthetic chemicals like fragrance can mimic, interfere with, and disrupt hormones, especially when exposed during phases of accelerated development, like in utero and during childhood/adolescence (31).

Of course, there are rumors that lavender and tea tree essential oils cause endocrine disruption. This claim is based on a 2007 study that examined three boys (and three boys alone). The study found that the boys were using various products containing lavender and/or tea tree ingredients and experienced gynecomastia (an increase in breast gland tissue). When they stopped using the products, the condition resolved (32).

Of course, no attempt was made to look for other potential causes, and they didn’t test any other product ingredients. Plenty of other ingredients cause endocrine disruption, such as fragrance, which was in said products (33). Additionally, the boys had typical hormone profiles. So, even if the essential oils were related in these cases, this sample size is too small to extend caution for the entire population. The boys could have had early life exposure or genetic differences that caused them to be extra sensitive to certain chemical constituents.

Reduced Sperm Count & Premature Formation

One article discusses a common fragrance substance linked to reduced sperm count and premature formation, and to no surprise, it’s a phthalate, specifically diethyl phthalate. Diethyl phthalate has been linked to premature breast formation in developing baby girls and abnormal sexual development in male fetuses, including cryptorchidism. A study concluded:

“Despite the well established documentation on the effect of fragrance materials on human health, there is a need for further investigations in humans to determine its safety margin as far as fertility is concerned (34).”

But the lavender and tea tree essential oil was definitely the problem in the study with the three boys, right?

Reproductive Malformation

Aside from the reduced sperm count, early breast formation in baby girls, and sexual development in the fetus, studies have found a link between fragrance and genital abnormalities. This leads us back to phthalates, which seem to alter the reproductive organs of baby boys (35). Additionally, researchers have found the same risk for embryos, resulting in subtle changes in the size and anatomy of genitals (36).

Cancer

Several cancer organizations claim there’s no evidence associated with fragranced products and cancer risk, which isn’t quite true. Petroleum is the culprit this time, and the European Union classifies it as a carcinogen and restricts its use in cosmetics (37). Petroleum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also associated with cancer (38). Additionally, petroleum has been linked to estrogen dominance, a common condition in which sufferers have a high ratio of estrogen with little to no progesterone to balance its effects in the body (39). That’s not counting common fragrance ingredients like benzene, silica, formaldehyde, and others, all deemed carcinogenic by the CDC (40).

Tips for Avoiding Fragrance

Whether you’re looking for your home to smell fresh and clean or yourself to smell delicious, candles, room sprays, fragranced cleaning supplies, body sprays, scented shampoos, conditioners, and anything else that smells good may have lurking chemicals. As mentioned above, most mainstream scented items are manufactured using artificial fragrance ingredients. Instead, try one of these natural alternatives.

Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils is an easy and cost-effective way to scent your home (and get therapeutic benefits, too). A diffuser also allows you to use essential oils without the oils physically touching your skin, so it’s generally safe. These small appliances work by creating steam mixed with essential oils and water. The oils then disperse into the air in tiny doses. You can even use essential oils to make homemade nature perfumes and to scent your cleaning products.

I trust, use, and recommend Plant Therapy essential oils. Plant Therapy’s Kid-Safe Essential Oils are specifically formulated for children ages two and up. Although I’ve never used them, I’ve also heard great things about Simply Earth Essential Oils.

If you’re looking for more essential oil resources (or a dilution chart), read my post, How to Practice Essential Oil Safety. Then check out some of my essential oil-specific posts, like Essential Oils for Skin Health and Essential Oils for Cleaning.

Simmer Pots

Simmer pots, sometimes called stovetop potpourri, are simple combinations of everyday kitchen ingredients added to a pot of water. Simply bring the water to a boil before reducing it to a low simmer, and as the water evaporates, the ingredients slowly cook in it, naturally aromatizing your home. These are especially fun to utilize the spicy scents of the fall and winter seasons. Keep an eye out because I will add DIYs for simmer pots soon!

General Tips

Essential oils and simmer pots are great fragrance swaps, but it’s still important to know how to minimize exposure. Some basic tips to minimize general fragrance exposure include:

• Avoid labels that say “perfume,” “parfum,” or “fragrance,” as these are the most common names for synthetic fragrances.
• Look for labels that say “fragrance-free” and add your own essential oils to the product.
• Look for labels that say “natural fragrance” or “essential oils,” as these are much safer than synthetic fragrances.
• Stick with all-natural products; they will use essential oils for any scents if they’re genuinely all-natural.
• If you aren’t confident as to whether a product contains synthetic fragrances, research the ingredients.
• Stop using mainstream body sprays, perfumes, and aftershave; they almost always have synthetic fragrances. Try making your own fragrance-free products or looking for all-natural products instead.
• Stop using mainstream cleaning products, including candles. Check out my 10 Swaps Towards Toxin-Free Cleaning post for DIYs and premade alternatives.

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