It May Smell Good, But Is It?
About 4,000 chemicals are currently used to scent products, but you won’t find any of them listed on a label. Fragrance formulations are considered a “trade secret” and therefore protected from disclosure – even to regulators or manufacturers. Instead, one word, fragrance, appears on ingredients lists for countless cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. A single scent may contain anywhere from 50 to 300 distinct chemicals. . . .
But there are resources for shoppers striving for a fragrance-free lifestyle, and the selection of unscented products continues to increase. The Environmental Working Group keeps databases on safe cleaning productsand personal care products, including fragrances. BWW offers a pocket guidefor black consumers and salon workers on top chemicals to avoid. BCPP encourages consumers to buy unscented products from companies committed to chemical disclosure, avoid products with fragrance or parfum on the label, and wear protective gear when working with fragranced cleaning products.