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?