Fragrance is the only ingredient listed on a product label that is allowed to not say what it really is.
Most people want to use products with this ingredient to make them smell good.
Fragrance can be defined as the chemicals in a product that give it a certain scent. It can be natural or artificial, made up of phthalates or aldehydes. This ingredient can be in all different kinds of products, from cosmetics and cleaning products to tissues and candles.
Every single ingredient used in cosmetics or any other personal care product must be listed on the label, whereas the ingredient "fragrance" is considered a trade secret.
Kelly Hsiao, founder of Block Island Organics, said, "While the FDA requires the disclosure of ingredients on a product's label because of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, fragrance is an exception since it does not need to be listed individually."
This lack of transparency means the dozens, maybe even hundreds, of chemicals used to create scents are restricted from the people who want to know what exactly is in the products they're buying.
There are potentially some serious health risks associated with fragrance being an ingredient. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fragrance is the number one cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis, and its prevalence is on the rise.
One study, "A Whiff of Danger: Synthetic Musks May Encourage Toxic Bioaccumulation" by Cynthia Washam, found many potentially harmful chemicals hiding in fragrances, including synthetic musks that build up in our bodies and may enhance the impacts of other toxic chemicals.
Some of these musks are known to potentially disrupt hormones. Synthetic musks can also hurt the environment and contaminate rivers and wildlife. Phthalates, meant to help scent last longer, carry health risks including cancer and hormone disruption, which can affect development, reproduction and child health.
There are also volatile organic compounds classified as toxic or hazardous under the US EPA, along with neurotoxicants, chemicals that are toxic to the brain.
Products that claim to be "unscented" or "fragrance free" aren't always safe either. According to Dr. Joseph Schwarc, Director of McGill's Office for Science & Society, unscented products are formulated to have no smell. Nonetheless, these items can contain ingredients that have a smell, but the smell has been neutralized by other components.
A fragrance free product cannot contain any ingredients that have been added to impart a smell. The product may, however, contain ingredients that have a scent but are not added because of their scent, since they can serve a different purpose.
For example, if a cream is made with an oil that has a smell, it could still be labeled fragrance free because the purpose of the oil is to act as an emollient, not as a scent. It could not be labeled unscented, though.
However, if a product is formulated with lavender, for example, but some chemical is added to mask the smell, the product can be labeled "unscented." Products that have essential oils as the fragrance, or are naturally fragranced, can also trigger skin and respiratory allergies.
Overall, it's worth reading ingredient labels carefully and choosing products wisely. Some fragrance formulas may have the potential to cause allergic reactions or irritations, so it's better to opt for a different product for anyone sensitive to fragrances or looking to avoid products containing artificial chemicals.
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