The

Guide to Fragrance

Environmental Defence, in partnership with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, analyzed 17 perfumes and colognes at an independent laboratory and reviewed the product labels of these products. We released the results in a report titled, Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance. Read the full report (in English or in French): http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/reports/ Just_Beautiful.html Sign the Just Beautiful petition asking the federal government for better protection from harmful substances in cosmetics and personal care products: http://petition.environmentaldefence.ca/Just_Beautiful/

Whats in my fragrance?
Top-selling perfumes and colognes were found to contain a dozen or more secret chemicals not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions or disrupt hormones, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety by the beauty industrys self-policing review panels. In summary, products contained: An average of 14 secret chemicals (i.e., chemicals that were not listed on labels) An average of 10 sensitizing chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing, headaches and contact dermatitis. All of these chemicals were listed the labels. A total of 12 different chemicals that can disrupt hormones, with an average of 4 chemicals per product. Some of these chemicals were listed on product labels, some were not.

Why the concern?

While one-time use of fragrances highlighted in this report may not cause harm, cosmetics and personal care products are used repeatedly, and in combination with other consumer products that can also contain hazardous chemicals. In fact, research by government agencies, academia and independent organizations finds widespread human exposure to multiple chemicals (CDC 2009). Given that we are all regularly exposed to various toxic chemicals from our air, water, food and household products, people can also expect to be exposed to the same chemical from multiple sources. Of greater concern, Health Canada does not require that fragrance ingredients in personal care products be systematically tested for safety. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), an industry-funded and self-policing body, has assessed only 19 of the 91 ingredients listed on labels or found in testing for the 17 products in this study. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), which develop and set voluntary standards for chemicals in the fragrance component of products, have assessed only 27 of the 91 ingredients listed on labels or found in testing for the 17 products.

How can some harmful substances still be found in fragrances?

While the Government of Canada has a list of restricted and prohibited ingredients in Canadian cosmetics that should help manufacturers make sure that they are not selling products that will cause harm (Health Canada 2009a), it is not clear how this list is enforced. Another problem is that any prohibitions do not apply to impurities or byproducts of the manufacturing process. For example, while lead is not allowed to be intentionally put in personal care products, lead can, and does, appear as an impurity. The Canadian Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist also has substantially fewer prohibited substances than the European Union where there are more than 1,000 chemicals, including carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxicants, that are legally banned in European cosmetics.

How can the substances making up fragrances be secrets?

Fragrance secrecy is legal due to a loophole in the Canadian Cosmetics Regulations which allows intentional fragrance ingredients to be lumped together and listed as parfum (or oftentimes fragrance) alone. All other intentional ingredients must be listed individually on product labels. Additionally, non-intentional ingredients (e.g., impurities or by-products) do not have to be listed on product labels. Unintentional ingredients can include hazardous substances, such as lead.

Are natural fragrances or essential oils any safer?

We dont know. Its possible that these substances may also contain added synthetic chemicals and unlisted ingredients with toxicity concerns.

What can I do?

Heres what you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones and future generations from unnecessary exposure to toxic chemicals in personal care products.

1. Help pass smarter, health-protective laws

Buying safer, fragrance-free products is a great start, but we cant just shop our way out of this problem. In order for safer products to be widely available and affordable for everyone, we must pass laws that shift the entire industry to non-toxic ingredients and safer production. Sign the Just Beautiful petition asking that Health Canada be given the authority and resources it needs to ensure the safety of cosmetics and personal care products: http://petition.environmentaldefence.ca/Just_Beautiful/

2. Choose products with no added fragrance

By choosing products without parfum or fragrance on the label, you can reduce toxic chemical exposures for yourself and your family. It is important to read ingredient labels, because even products advertised as fragrancefree may contain a masking fragrance. You can also visit Skin Deep, a database that ranks personal care products on a scale of 1-10 for safety, to help find safer products, at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

3. Less is better
If you are very attached to your fragrance, consider eliminating other fragranced products from your routine, and using fragrance less often.

4. Stay Informed
Sign up for (www.toxicnation.ca) our Toxic Nation e-newsletter to get updates on triclosan and other harmful chemicals. Go online (www.environmentaldefence.ca) or call our office at 1 (877) 3992333 or (416) 323-9521 to support our work today. Our campaign depends on your generous donations. Learn more about The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by visiting their website: http://www.safecosmetics.org/