Fragrance's musky secret
Fri, Feb 05 2010 at 2:30 PM EST
Read more: BEAUTY & FASHION, GREEN BEAUTY
Photo: Alastair Dunning/Flickr Regular MNN readers already know to avoid products with “fragrance” on the ingredient list, since that innocuous-sounding word often serves as a mask for all sorts of questionable chemicals. The perfume and beauty product industry has long hidden chemicals like phthalates — linked to birth defects, asthma, early puberty and decreased sperm counts — under the “fragrance” label, claiming industry secrets.
Now, in an about-face of sorts, the industry group International Fragrance Association’s suddenly published a long list of ingredients that go into many consumer products. Anyone can go on the association’s site to peruse the list — though with complicated-sounding items like “2-Hepten-4-one, 5-methyl-, (E)-” and “4-Methyl-8-methylenetricyclo[3.3.1.(3,7)]decan-2-yl acetate,” the average perfume wearer will be hard-pressed to figure out how safe or dangerous the ingredients are.
While the move towards transparency should be commended, the list brings up some troubling concerns. For one, the sheer number of ingredients that are allowed to hide behind the word fragrance — 3,163 by nonprofit Environmental Working Group’s count — is appalling. Not all of those ingredients are dangerous, but many are. According to EWG:
1 in 20 earned a “high” hazard score (7-10 of 10), and a full 1 in 6 rated at least a “moderate” hazard score (3-10 of 10). 26 of them scored a 10, the highest score.
Of most concern are phthalates, octoxynols and nonoxynols, and musk ambrette. According to EWG, musk ambrette is toxic to the brain, testes, and skin, is banned in the European Union, and has been fingered by the IFRA as a chemical that shouldn’t be used in products applied to the skin — though it is still used in some fragrances, by IFRA’s own admission.
How can you avoid these scary chemicals? Avoid products with “fragrance” in the ingredients. While the average drugstore is still chock full of products with fragrance, greener personal care product options have greatly expanded. If you’re looking for a better-for-you perfume, Strange Invisible Perfumes and Honore des Pres are two of a growing number of eco-minded perfume companies making green scents.
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Comments(3)
Posted By Priscilla - Sun, Feb 21 2010 at 10:34 AM ESTingredients in the word "fragrance"
I'm curious to know if Europe has prohibited these dangerous ingredient in their fragrance since they have taken steps to outlaw or ban toxic ingredient in cosmetics and skincare. Does anyone know where the European Union is on this?
Posted By Heather - Sun, Feb 21 2010 at 8:34 AM ESTNon-Toxic Skin Care & Cosmetics
Scary stuff, isn't it? When you're ready to avoid those toxins in your skin care & cosmetics check out Ava Anderson Non-Toxic products at www.NonToxicBelle.com . Every ingredient scores a ZERO on the EWG's safety database. :)
Phthalates banned in Europe 10 years ago
But, here in the U.S., we're still catching up. They were recently banned in crib mattresses (for a phthalates-free crib mattress, check www.naturpedic.com) and items young kids might put in their mouths. But only three phthalates were banned - there are several more. They're being investigated by the CPSC and the EPA. The EPA plans to add all of them to their new Chemicals of Concern list while doing further.... More