The hidden health risks of fragrance

Image credit: wattersonboi via Unsplash

Many perfumes, colognes, and scented products contain chemicals that make us smell good but may have unseen effects on health. A single scent may contain anywhere from 50 to 300 distinct chemicals, some of which include phthalates and synthetic musks that can act as hormone disruptors or trigger allergies and asthma in sensitive individuals. While enjoying fragrances isn’t necessarily dangerous, being aware of the potential risks can help you make safer choices, like opting for natural or fragrance-free alternatives.

Source

Kazemi Z, Aboutaleb E, Shahsavani A, Kermani M, Kazemi Z. Evaluation of pollutants in perfumes, colognes and health effects on the consumer: a systematic review. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2022 Feb 3;20(1):589-598. doi: 10.1007/s40201-021-00783-x. PMID: 35669814; PMCID: PMC9163252.

Additional Reading

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/23/fragrance-perfume-personal-cleaning-products-health-issues

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/its-official-fragrance-is-bad-for-health-and-business-183127958.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMbCvLgquAzCnx1bOTNGZ82-GNihNX9w826LcTo4efZMOfBHFxqGFtS6dNlxrOQnciXKl3JokBCsdW5UJpaGALDN2sHKXbuAOATI5qkwnUQDoTUsVQ2kv4xrN3lKj_MLGFyhC9_IFtalTi_sKjGKru6QxtVnboaxq-E0geox51G_

https://www.ibtimes.com/why-smelling-good-comes-price-experts-reveal-2794418