Facts and Statements about Fragrances

A study by the Louisiana State Medical Center concluded that one in five asthma attacks is a result of exposure to perfume, which also causes rhinitis, sinusitis, migraine headaches, skin irritations and multiple chemical sensitivity.

Source: The Arizona Republic Mar. 28, 2001

As many as 30 percent of the public report some sensitivity to chemicals, including fragrances, according to the University of Texas Health Sciences Centre in San Antonio.

Source: The Arizona Republic Mar. 28, 2001

Most chemicals used in modern fragrances are synthesized, they are cheaper than natural fragrances.
There are over 5000 chemicals and materials used in the fragrance industry. A fragrance formula may contain 10 to several hundred different chemicals. One fragrance is reported to have 600 different ingredients.
Only about 1500 of the more than 5000 materials used in fragrances have been tested for safety. The testing that is done is generally limited to acute oral and dermal toxicity, irritation and dermal sensitization, and phototoxicity.


Exposure to fragrance chemicals may result in dangerous and painful asthma attacks in which muscle spasms, fluid and excess mucous obstruct the airways. Such attacks afflict about 14.6 million Americans and kill an estimated 5,000 each year, according to the American Lung Association.

Source: e magazine January 2000

In 1986 the National Academy of Sciences targeted fragrances as one of the six categories of chemicals that should be given high priority for neurotoxicity testing. The other groups included insecticides, heavy metals, solvents, food additives and certain air pollutants. In 1991 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analyzed the VOCs which were given off by 31 fragranced products. Their results showed that some of these compounds included linalool, toluene, xylene, methylene chloride, ethanol and limonene all of which can cause serious health problems.

They also concluded that the air in department and clothing stores, shopping malls, craft/hobby shops and potpourri shops contained more chemicals than the air in the auto part shops, tyre shops, and carpet stores. The most abundant chemical in auto parts stores and perfume sections in department stores was toluene, a chemical which can cause serious health problems.

Source: Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, (Report by the
Committee on Science &
Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Sept. 16, 1986. (Report 99-827)

1-2% of the population has skin allergies to fragrances. Fragrance is one of the most common causes of adverse reactions to cosmetics.
Source: http://www.ameliaww.com/fpin/fpin.htmAsthma rates have doubled in the past twenty years. In 1994 there were over 14 million asthmatics (in the USA). In one study 72% of asthmatics were triggered by perfumes and colognes. Each year over 35 million people suffer from sinusitis. Fragrances are general irritants that contribute to the incidence of sinus problems.

Source: http://www.ameliaww.com/fpin/fpin.htm

Complaints on health effects from fragrances reported to FDA (USA) increased from 3 in 1996 to 90 in 1999. 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.

Source:Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, Report by the Committee on Science & Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Sept. 16, 1986. (Report 99-827)

A room containing an air freshener had high levels of p-dichlorobenzene (a carcinogen) and ethanol. Source: EPA's 1991 study
Chloroform was found in tests of fabric softeners. Source: EPA's 1991 study.

Perfumes may produce toxic and, more often, allergic respiratory disorders (asthma), as well as
neurological and cutaneous disorders."

Source: French toxicology journal, Ann Dermatol Venereol, Vol. 113, ISS 1, 1986, p. 31-41

Neurotoxic properties of chemicals found in fragrances have caused testicular atrophy in lab animals as well as myelin disease. The myelin sheath protects the nerves and does not regenerate.

Source: TOXLINE database of fragrance industry and medical journals.

884 toxic substances were identified in a list (partial) of 2,983 chemicals used in the fragrance
industry. "Many of these substances are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, breathing and allergic reactions and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities." 1988 study by U.S. House Subcommittee on Business Opportunities, chaired by Ron Widen (D. OR) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. The study found 314 fragrance industry chemicals known to cause biological mutation; 218 caused reproduction problems; 778 caused acute toxicity; 146 cause tumors, and 376 caused skin and eye irritations.

7 perfumes, claimed to be compounded of natural ingredients, were analysed. In 82% (18/22) of natural ingredient based perfumes one or more of the 7 allergens mentioned above were detected.
In one case the fragrance allergen hydroxycitronellal was found in a concentration of 6%. The limit for safe use is 1% according to the industry guidelines.

Fragrance allergy - a major problem by Heidi Soested, The Danish Consumer Council

the German Öko-Test magazine recently made it known that substances causing cancer or possibly liver damage are present in popular perfumes.
Fragrance allergy - a major problem by Heidi Soested, The Danish Consumer Council

Over 10,000 ingredients used in cosmetics are required by law to be listed on the label. However, some 2,600 fragrance chemicals may be listed with just the word 'perfume' even though at least 24 are known to cause allergic reactions.

Beauty at a beastly price to the environment and our health By: Martin Frid, Konsument-Forum, Swedish Consumer Coalition. Chemical the Danish Environmental Agency has now identified adverse environmental effects or health hazards in 20,000 chemical substances previously not known to be dangerous. After many years of intensive studies the Danish Environmental Agency is soon to publish a list of 20,000 chemical substances with undesired effects on environment or health. So far EU has only listed some 5,000 substances as dangerous.

20,000 chemicals deemed dangerous, Issue # 11, October 23rd 2000
"Heavy exposure to pesticides or other petrochemicals (many perfume ingredients are petrochemicals) can lead to the development of allergic reactions."

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine
In 1989 the US National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) identified 884 of 2,983 fragrance chemicals as toxic substances. Some of these were capable of causing birth defects, central nervous system disorders, cancer, eye and skin symptoms, and actually causing broad chemical sensitization (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) (8)
Wilkenfeld, I.R. Patient Education: Scents Make No Sense. The Environmental Physician. Fall,1991.

Toluene. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found 100% of perfumes it studied contained toluene.
Rogers, S. MD, Tired or Toxic. Prestige Publishing, N.Y. 1990.
"Toluene can effect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin, may cause mutations, may damage the developing fetus.

Handle with extreme caution. Exposure can irritate the skin nose, throat, and eyes. Higher levels can cause you to feel dizzy, lightheaded, and to pass out. Death can occur. Repeated exposures can damage bone marrow, causing low blood cell count. It can also damage the liver and kidneys, can cause slowed reflexes, trouble concentrating, and headaches."
New Jersey Department of Health, Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Right to Know Program. CN 368, Trenton, N.J., 08625-0368.
"Unscented", "fragrance-Free" "Hypoallergenic", "natural", "Green" "Floral", "outdoor fresh" and "Environmentally Friendly" are words that sound good but have no legal definition. They are used in industry virtually without restrictions. Buyer beware. "Scent-free" may only mean that the product has less scent than a scented version of the same product from that manufacturer. Fragranced items may have at least .15% added, but Industry Canada allows Scent-Free labelling on products which contain .06% fragrance added as a masking agent.

Industry Canada officer, April, 1997.
The emissions of five FPs produced various combinations of acute respiratory difficulty and neurotoxicity in mice. The findings provided objective evidence that some FPs produce toxic effects in at least one mammalian species. Collectively, the experimental data and chemistry predict that some humans exposed to these FPs might experience some combination of eye, nose, and/or throat irritation; respiratory difficulty; possibly bronchoconstriction or asthma-like reaction; and central nervous systems reactions (e.g., dizziness, incoordination, confusion, fatigue). The results of our study might help explain why some individuals report an intolerance to FPs and why some FPs can exacerbate airflow limitation in some asthmatics.

Archives of Environmental Health, March-April, 1998 , Acute toxic effects of fragrance products.

Author/s: Rosalind C. Anderson. Submitted for publication November 14, 1996; revised; accepted for publication May 25, 1997. Requests for reprints should be sent to Rosalind C. Anderson, Ph.D., P.O. Box 323, West Hartford, VT

A group of nine patients with respiratory symptoms after nonspecific
irritating stimuli, but without any IgE-mediated allergy or demonstrable bronchial obstruction, were referred to the asthma/allergy outpatient department for evaluation of suspected asthma. In order to find a provocation model and objectively assess these patients' symptoms in controlled studies, provocation with perfume or placebo was performed. The same patients were also subjected to perfume provocation with or without a carbon filter mask to ascertain whether breathing through a filter with active carbon could prevent the symptoms. The patients breathed through the mouth during the provocations, as they used a nasal clamp to prevent any smell of perfume.

We found that the patients' earlier symptoms could be verified by perfume provocation. Breathing through the carbon filter had no protective effect. The conclusion is that symptoms suggesting hyperreactivity of the respiratory tract and asthma can be provoked by perfume without the presence of bronchial obstruction, and that using a carbon filter mask has no preventive effect. The symptoms are not transmitted via the olfactory nerve, since the patients could not smell the perfume, but they may have been induced by a trigeminal reflex via the respiratory tract or by the eyes.
Allergy 1996 Jun;51(6):434-9 Placebo-controlled challenges with perfume in patients with asthma-like symptoms. Millqvist E, Lowhagen O.
Asthma and Allergy Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
It has been found that inhalation of some fragrance materials alter the immune response of the skin. Interestingly it was found that application of the materials to the skin did not have this same effect.

Hosoi J, Tsuchiya T. Regulation of cutaneous allergic reaction by odorant inhalation. Invest DermatoI. 2000 Mar; 114(3):541 -4.
Fragrance can induce or worsen respiratory problems. There are increasing anecdotal and clinical accounts of fragrance triggering and exacerbating respiratory problems. Fragrances are thought to trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions due to their irritant effect.

Those with asthma, allergies, sinus problems, rhinitis and other such conditions are more susceptible to the effects of irritants, often at levels that are many times lower than what would cause problems in the general population.

Fragrance chemicals are known to act as haptens in the skin and bind with body proteins to form allergens. This same mechanism is thought to be involved in development of respiratory sensitization to chemicals. Several fragrance materials are known to have the potential to cause respiratory sensitization. When limonene, a common terpene used in fragrances and cleaners, oxidizes, it forms substances that can sensitize both the lungs and the skin.

Weibel H, Hansen J. Interaction of cinnamaldehyde (a sensitizer in fragrance) with protein. Contact Dermatitis. 1989 Mar;20(3): 161-6.
The conclusion was respiratory symptoms can be triggered by exposure via sensory pathways and further study was needed on the role of the sensory nervous system.

Millqvist E, Bengtsson U, Lowhagen O. Provocations with perfume in the eyes induce symptoms in patients with sensory hyperreactivity. Allergy, 1999 May;54(5): 495-9.
The study found exposure to five commercially available fragrances for one hour caused pulmonary irritation and decreases in airflow velocity in mice.

Anderson RC, Anderson JH. Acute toxic effects of fragrance products. Arch Environ Health. 1998 Mar-Apr;53(2):138-46.
Fragrance can impact the brain and nervous system. Some of these effects are immediate and transitory while others can be long term. Olfactory pathways provide the most direct connection to the brain of any senses and also provide a means of toxic materials entering the brain. The olfactory epithelium also contains receptors for the trigeminal nerve. While olfactory receptors are only located in the nose, trigeminal receptors are located in the eyes, nose, mouth, face, scalp, and airways.

About 70% of odorants stimulate the trigeminal nerve to one degree or another. Trigeminal nerve stimulation is responsible for cold, hot, tingling, or irritating sensations. Materials that stimulate the trigeminal nerve can cause tearing in the eyes, as well as irritation of the nose and airways. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) parameters were measured during inhalation exposures to two forms of limonene and carvone. Subjective assessments of mood and alertness were also gathered.

Inhalation of (+)-limonene caused an increase in systolic blood pressure and reports of alertness and restlessness. (-)-limonene caused an increase in systolic blood pressure, but no mood alteration. (-)- carvone caused increases in pulse, diastolic blood pressure and restlessness. (+)-carvone caused increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is suggested that prolonged inhalation of these materials affect both ANS parameters and mental and emotional status. The differences in response to varying forms of the same chemicals indicate the chirality of the material is an important
factor in the biological effects of the materials.

Heuberger E, Hongratanaworakit T, Bohm C, Weber R, Buchbauer G. Effects of chiral fragrances on human autonomic nervous system parameters and self-evaluation. Chern Senses. 2001 Apr;26(3):28 1 -92.
An examination of scented products by the EPA concluded that scented products contained some materials that were of toxicological significance at low levels; further work and study were needed in this area. Benzaldehyde and toluene were some of the materials found.
S. D. COOPER, J.H. RA YMER, E. D. PELLIZZARI, K. W. THOMAS, N. P. CASTILLO, AND S. MAEWALL RTI/4948-3IA-OIFR: JUNE 19, 1992: POLAR ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN FRAGRANCES OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS.