According to a recent
“Ecologist” article (Nov. - 2004):
“A typical perfume contains a mixture of fragrance chemicals (often between
50 and 100) mostly derived from petroleum. These include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxins
capable of causing cancer, birth defects, CNS disorders and allergic and asthmatic reactions.”
The authors
of the article broke down Calvin Klein’s Eternity as “fairly represenative of ingredients found in all modern
perfumes.”
“Of Eternity’s 41 known ingredients, 33 have no relevant safety data. Of the rest, data suggests
they are toxic, irritant, sensitising, damaging to the CNS and carcinogenic.”
These ingrediants
include:
Diethyl Phthalate, which is used as a fixative, is a oestrogen mimic, and has been linked to sperm
damage and fetal abnormalites.
Eugenol. A synthetic clove oil substitute which is also a common pesticide
and insecticide ingredient. Linked to contact dermatitis.
Galaxolide 50 and Cyclopentadecanolide. Synthetic
musks and hormone disruptors.
Benzaldehyde, 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy. Synthetic vanilla. Irritant, CNS
disruptor, linked to kidney damage.
I know nothing about perfumes and even less about toxicology. So I
hope to see a response from somebody with a little background in this stuff.
Do synthetic perfumes and
colognes pose a significant risk under normal usage? Or is this article just being alarmist?
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