What is "Fragrance"?

Over the years I have completely eliminated the ingredient "Fragrance" from my beauty and home care routine. It started gradually, with the first step of eliminating the perfume I used. There was a time in my deep past where I absolutely loved a very popular and expensive fragrance or "Perfume" from the department stores. Through additional research and after learning that manufacturers are not required to disclose the full ingredient list that encompasses the word “fragrance/perfume” (due to the fact that is considered a trade secret) I knew there was more to the story that I was not being told. This was the beginning of my quest into a cleaner life with lest toxic exposure.

What is Fragrance?

Fragrance is a substance that conveys a scent. Fragrance can be naturally derived if it comes directly from a plant, hence, essential oils that are USDA Organic Certified are 100% plant based, with absolutely nothing synthetic or artificial. Fragrance can also be manufactured in a lab, and unfortunately, to cut costs and eliminate the inclusion of highly expensive ingredients such as plant based organic essential oils, manufacturers use 100% synthetic ingredients in the creation of their fragrance/perfume. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) declared the use of over 3,000 different synthetic fragrance ingredients.

Where is Fragrance Found?

Fragrance is found absolutely everywhere, from your makeup, body care, skincare, baby care, to your home cleaning products such as clothing detergents to dish soaps and everything else out there that might have a scent. As mentioned earlier, due to the fact that the concoction of ingredients that represent the word “fragrance” is considered a trade secret, manufacturers are not required to disclose all of the ingredients used in the formulation. When you apply a product that has the ingredient fragrance in it, you are in essence applying the list of ingredients disclosed on that label, in addition to potentially hundreds of other ingredients undisclosed on the label and masked under the single word “fragrance” or “perfume”.

What Ingredients are Found in Synthetic Fragrance?

Some of the most predominant ingredients found in manufactured fragrance/perfume are:

- Carcinogens (also known as cancer causing ingredients) such as styrene, methyl eugenol, BHA, Tonalide, Styrene, etc.

- Reproductive toxins such as phthalates, nonylphenol, parabens, ec

- Neurotoxicants such as xylenes and phenol

- Skin Allergens such as linalool, hexyl cinnamal, geraniol, HICC

- Endocrine Disruptors such as BPA, Phalates, Benzene, Alcohol denat, Naphthalene

- Respiratory Toxicants

- Developmental Toxicants

How is Fragrance Negatively Impacting our Health?

A study in Salinas, CA, where a group of 100 teen girls partnered with researched from University of California Berkley to understand how or if young girls are being exposed to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) from personal care products they use every day. The researchers took urine samples, replaced their personal care products for three days to reduce EDC exposure from those products, and then tested them again. After just three days, the levels of four hormonally active chemicals – triclosan, phthalates, oxybenzone and parabens – dropped between 25% and 45% (from Right to Know Report).

Several studies suggest considerably higher breast cancer risk among hairdressers and cosmetologist. Some studies suggest these occupations have a 3-5 times higher risk of breast cancer. Full time work as a cosmetologist may lead to slightly increased risk of miscarriage, as well as pre-term delivery and low birth weight babies. Practitioners may also be at an increased risk of asthma and other respiratory problems (from Right to Know Report),

For additional studies please feel free to check out the Right to Know Report Secret Toxic Fragrance Ingredients.

Steps in Eliminating Fragrance/Perfume:

It can feel overwhelming navigating this world, where almost everything we use for our personal/home/beauty care includes fragrance/perfume ingredients in them, that we ultimately can’t control.

What we can control is what we need to do. Simply don’t purchase a product that has “fragrance” or “perfume” in the list of ingredients. Opt for clean versions such as our USDA Organic Certified Makeup, Body Care, Skincare, and now Perfume that is 100% plant based with absolutely nothing synthetic or artificial. With Olga’s Organics you can rest assured, we do the due diligence of including ONLY the best/cleanest ingredients we can find, sourced from Organic Farmers, to provide you with the best nature can give.

Thank you for your continued trust in our company, we are here for YOU, as our ultimate goal, is to provide you with a clean alternative that you trust your skin and life with!