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Home » Fragrance Tips
Fragrances by DesignMaterials that quickly get into the air The use of perfumes, colognes, and products which contain fragrance have increased tremendously over the past few decades. Historically, fragrance has been for luxury and special occasion use. Since the 1970s fragrance has become a part of daily life. The use of fragrance has increased ten-fold since the 1950s. The fragrance industry doubled it size during the 1980s. Scented products are generally perceived as pleasant, a harmless means of self-expression and certainly not a significant health concern. Very little thought is given to the numerous products used a a daily basis that contain fragrance unless you happen to be one of the growing numbers of people adversely affected by scented products. The fragrance industry has traditionally been a very secretive industry. For decades secrecy was required to protect fragrance formulas from being copied by others. Fragrance formulas are considered "trade secrets" and do not have to be revealed to anyone, including regulatory agencies. On the label, only the word fragrance must appear in the list of ingredients. The secrecy of the industry has lead to tremendous problems in terms of regulation, monitoring, and impact on those that have problems from fragrance. What few laws that
are in place, are not enforced. FDA Petition #99P 1340 was filed in
1999 by the Environmental Health Network of California asked that
existing laws be enforced. The FDA has not taken any action. By
design, fragrances are composed of materials that quickly get into the
air. Once in the air, these materials poses serious health concerns for
many with asthma, allergies, migraines, chronic lung disease, and other
health conditions. Up to 72% of asthmatics report their asthma is
triggered by fragrance. Asthmatics and others that are negatively
impacted by fragrance often have difficulties working, obtaining
medical care, and going about activities of daily living because of
others' use of scented products. The
Institute of Medicine placed fragrance in the same category as second
hand smoke in triggering asthma in adults and school age children.
According to the latest information from the National Institute of
health, 26.3 million people in the US have been diagnosed with asthma.
An estimated 5.72 million in the US have skin allergy to fragrance. Fragrance is the number one cause of allergies to cosmetics and laundry products. Many other common health conditions such as allergies, sinus problems and migraine headaches may be negatively impacted by exposure to scented products as well. Fragrance is a common indoor air pollutant. A recent study found that 15% of the general population found fragrance to be a lower airway irritant. Synthetic
musk compounds accumulate in human tissue and are found in breast milk.
In animal studies they cross the placental barrier. These materials
also persist in the environment and contaminate waterways at levels as
high or higher than pesticides. Some of these materials are suspected
carcinogens or co-carcinogens. Common chemicals in fragrance are also
suspected of being hormone disruptors. Though scented products directly impact the health of many, there is very little public awareness of this impact. This lack of awareness is due to many factors. The ingredients in the fragrance portion of products do not have to be revealed. Most of the materials have not been fully tested for safety and this makes it difficult to pinpoint and monitor problematic materials. There is no one agency responsible for the regulation of scented products and generally these products are a low priority among these agencies. There is often conflict between those that use scented products and those that are adversely affected by them. Concerns related to fragrance are very complex and they are often very controversial. Frequently positions are based on lack of information or inaccurate information. In order for effective solutions to be developed, there must be a cooperative effort. There must be courtesy and a willingness to accommodate others. Those asking for accommodation need to understand these are emerging concerns that do not always have a definitive answer. Regulatory agencies need to enforce existing laws and better monitor health and environmental concerns. Most importantly, the fragrance industry, as a primarily self-regulated industry, needs to take a critical look at itself and responsibly address concerns. More Tips
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| Before You Buy Fragrance Fragrances can range from a few dollars to a few thousand and I am going to attempt to explain why that is and what you should know before purchasing your next bottle. |
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