Fragrance is a combination of chemicals that gives each perfume or cologne its distinct scent. Companies that manufacture perfume or cologne purchase fragrance mixtures from fragrance houses to develop their own proprietary blends. Fragrance ingredients may be derived from petroleum or natural raw materials. In addition to “scent” chemicals that create the fragrance, perfumes and colognes also contain solvents, stabilizers, UV-absorbers, preservatives, and dyes. These additives are frequently, but not always, listed on product labels. In contrast, the chemical components in fragrance itself are protected as trade secrets and described on the label only as “fragrance”.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) is the self-regulating global representative body of the fragrance industry, meaning they set their own safety standards and regulations. In a small effort toward transparency, their website has a comprehensive list of over 3000 ingredients used as fragrance compounds. However, many of these chemicals lack substantial research and safety data, and some have been associated with serious negative health effects.
If you’re concerned about the ingredients hiding in your products, there are many beauty brands to choose from that do not use Fragrance and disclose every aspect of their product’s ingredients. However, fragrance is a common ingredient in many personal care products, so it may take some effort to find fragrance-free alternatives.
