The Dark Side of Fragrances: Unveiling the Toxic Ingredients + Side Effects

I remember spraying Japanese Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works all over myself every day when I was in high school. In college, I upgraded to JLo’s signature perfume. The thought of it makes me cringe a little bit because now I would NEVER. Perfumes and cologne are made typically made synthetic fragrances that comes with side effects. 

I stopped wearing perfume for YEARS once I learned more about the ingredients and how toxic they are. First, let’s chat about the ingredients of most perfumes and at the end I have a super simple nontoxic swap. The ultimate nontoxic dupe to toxic perfumes. 

Fragrance Formulation: The Silent Culprit

The term "fragrance" listed on ingredient labels often acts as a blanket term, obscuring the actual substances used. Companies are not legally required to disclose the specific ingredients that make up their proprietary fragrances, making it challenging for consumers to know what they are exposed to. 

Phthalates: A Common Hazard

Phthalates are a group of chemicals widely used in perfumes to make fragrances last longer. These compounds are known to disrupt the endocrine system and have been linked to hormone imbalances, reproductive issues, and even certain types of cancer. They can also accumulate in the environment, posing a threat to aquatic life and ecosystems.

Synthetic Musks: Lingering Risks

Synthetic musks, including nitromusks and polycyclic musks, are frequently employed in perfumes to mimic natural scents. However, these substances have been found to be persistent in the environment and have been detected in human breast milk, adipose tissue, and blood. Studies suggest that synthetic musks can interfere with hormone signaling and have potential adverse effects on human health, including allergies and sensitization.

Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Invisible Threats

Formaldehyde and VOCs are common ingredients in perfumes and are used as preservatives and solvents. These chemicals are notorious for their potential to trigger respiratory issues, allergies, and skin sensitization. Additionally, when released into the air, VOCs contribute to indoor air pollution, which can have long-term health implications.

Can you see why I stopped wearing conventional perfume for so many years? Thankfully, a nontoxic brand was created. 

I love to think that the consumer can create change by simply not using products made with ingredients that are bad for us. Companies aren’t going to keep making toxic products if we’re not buying it. But that’s a different conversation for another day. 

When looking up nontoxic perfumes, I came across DIME beauty and researched a ton on their ingredients (I thought they were greenwashing, but turns out they’re actually made with great ingredients). They created a line of perfumes that smell so good and made with nontoxic ingredients - they’re even EWG certified!

All perfumes (and they also have one cologne, I got it for my fiance and I love it) are made with EWG ingredients labeled a 1, 2, or 3 … nothing higher than a 3 on their ingredient list which is incredible. The lower the numbers the cleaner the ingredients. The highest number is 10. Below is an example of the ingredients to one of my favorite scents from DIME - 7 summers!

When it comes to living a holistic lifestyle, you don’t have to uproot your whole life and cut out things that make you happy - find the balance and the nontoxic swaps. Shop Dime beauty here and save 20% with code LIVHOLISTIC20!

Chat soon, XO

Liv

**Some links in this blog are an affiliate link, meaning if you shop through the link you will save money and I will earn a small commission.