Fragrances are a combination of chemicals that give each perfume or cologne its distinct scent. Fragrance ingredients may be derived from petroleum or natural raw materials. Companies that manufacture perfume or cologne purchase fragrance mixtures from fragrance houses to develop their own proprietary blends. 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 IFRA Transparency List is an overview of the ingredients used to create fragrance mixtures employed by consumer goods companies in personal care products, home care, and other products. There are two main types of ingredient on the List: fragrance ingredients and functional ingredients. Fragrance ingredients are substances used for odor or malodor coverage, while functional ingredients are substances that are not used to provide odor or malodor coverage, but which are essential for the functionality or durability of a fragrance compound – such as an antioxidant, preservative, diluent, solvent or color. The IFRA Transparency List is based on reporting provided by IFRA Members in the ‘Volume of Use Survey’, which is compiled approximately every five years.
Some fragrance ingredients are linked to serious health problems such as cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies, and sensitivities. For example, synthetic fragrances in personal care and household products can impact indoor air quality and pose health risks. These ingredients include alkylphenols, antimicrobials, bisphenols, cyclosiloxanes, ethanolamines, parabens, phthalates, and benzophenone. However, the safety evaluation of fragrance materials follows a systematic prioritization of data generation and analysis.
If you are 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.
