High concernFragrance
Synthetic Fragrance
Endocrine disruptorAllergenSkin irritant
What it is
An umbrella label that can mask dozens to hundreds of undisclosed ingredients, including phthalate solvents, synthetic musks, aldehydes, and sensitising allergens.
What it does
Adds scent to personal care, cleaning, and home fragrance products.
Why it’s a concern
A fragrance listing can represent a mixture whose individual ingredients are not all disclosed. Product testing and human biomonitoring show that some fragranced personal-care products are important sources of DEP exposure. This does not mean every synthetic fragrance contains DEP or that urinary detection proves harm.
Also known as
fragranceparfumperfumearoma
Commonly found in
perfumelotionshampoolaundry detergentcleaning productscandles
Safer alternatives
- fragrance-free products
- products disclosing all fragrance components
- single-source essential oils
Related chemical families
Sources
- EWG Not So Sexy Report 2010
- IFRA Transparency List