Everybody loves a signature scent. However, not a lot of people know that behind that fragrant perfume could be a recipe for health disaster. Studies show that some perfumes contain chemicals that can negatively affect hormones.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted an intensive review of all kinds of cosmetic products, discovering that 70% of perfumes contain phthalates, yet such information was not listed on the perfume labels. Perfume manufacturers can hide certain chemicals under the ingredient "fragrance", as the industry allows it.
Phthalates are hormone disruptors; synthetic chemicals that act like hormones when absorbed into the body. They mimic or block the natural hormones of the body, affecting the system's normal functions. Since the body produces small amounts of hormones every day, the slightest hormone level variation can result to problems like metabolic issues, infertility, breast cancer, diabetes, birth defects, and many more. A study conducted by Brigham and Women's Hospital found a link between phthalates and increased risk for preterm birth
Perfume not only affects the user; it has also been found that even the people around you are susceptible to health risks due to exposure to the chemicals. A study by Kay, Bloom, and Foster found that more exposure to phthalate is linked to infertility and decreased sperm count among men. Children are also at a disadvantage, as phthalates are associated with asthma, behavioral problems, obesity, genital changes in boys, and early puberty in girls.
It seems that the best solution to decrease phthalate exposure, not only for perfume users but for the people indirectly affected, is to simply avoid using perfume. This was the recommendation by a study conducted in 2013, which found that women who used perfume had phthalate concentrations 167 percent higher than non-users.
Consumers are strongly advised to read the label, and veer away from anything with "fragrance" listed in the ingredients.