Eco-Friendly Perfume: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding a Sustainable Scent

When it comes to establishing a “natural” skincare routine there are a few relatively simple swaps you can make: shampoo, skincare, deodorant, makeup and makeup remover — but, there’s one category that most people tend to struggle with and that’s non-toxic and eco-friendly perfume.

In this post, Madeleine of The Wise Consumer dives into what fragrance really is, if we should avoid all perfumed products, and how one goes about selecting an eco-conscious and natural perfume!

What is Fragrance Anyway?

For years I avoided any kind of perfume, eau de toilet, or spray — not because I didn’t love these kinds of products but because I was intentionally trying to avoid anything fragranced. And perfume is, in a word, just that — fragrance.

But what is “fragrance” actually?

As you’re most likely aware, fragrance is used to make things smell better, to mask unwanted odors, or to give something a more pleasant smell. According to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), “fragrance is a chemical mixture that has a smell or odor…The mixtures that make a fragrance may include natural aromatic raw materials, obtained from plants using distillation, expression, and extraction, or synthetic materials.”

And, fragrance is everywhere!

It’s in our shampoo, our deodorant, candles, cleaning products, laundry detergents, and even in certain menstrual hygiene products. Sometimes, even “unscented” products can contain fragrance. As the FDA explains, this is because the manufacturer may add just enough fragrance to mask the unpleasant smell of other ingredients, without giving the product a noticeable scent. Like, I said, it’s everywhere.

As a whole, the concept of fragrance isn’t bad. In fact, could you imagine how dull life would be without scents? I am the first to admit that I love soaking in a warm eucalyptus or lavender-scented bubble bath. But, as a conscious consumer, I also like to know what ingredients are in my lavender-scented bubble bath, or any cosmetic product I use for that matter.

Unfortunately, when it comes to fragranced products it’s not always clear what chemical mixtures and ingredients go into making these scented products, even “naturally” fragranced products don’t always disclose their ingredients.

Why is the Ingredient “Fragrance” So Opaque?

Generally speaking, any cosmetic product sold to a consumer must display a list of ingredients. But according to the FDA, “under U.S. regulations, fragrance and flavor ingredients can be listed simply as “Fragrance” or “Flavor.”

This is because “fragrance and flavor formulas are complex mixtures of many different natural and synthetic chemical ingredients, and they are the kinds of cosmetic components that are most likely to be ‘trade secrets’”.

In a way, this makes sense. If a company spends hours of research, time, and money formulating the perfect fragrance for their product, they’re not going to want to disclose the list of ingredients that went into making that product.

But, this can be especially problematic for people with skin sensitivities and/or allergies.

If you’re allergic to a certain ingredient being used in the fragranced product but that ingredient isn’t disclosed, then it’s going to be much harder to know which products to avoid.

In these cases, the FDA recommends that you choose products that are fragrance-free, and check the ingredient list carefully.

Easier said than done seeing that, as I mentioned above, even unscented products can contain small amounts of fragrance to mask unpleasant odors!

As Made Safe shares, “without information about what ingredients actually make up a fragrance, it is difficult to understand the true extent to which our health is compromised by fragrance ingredients.”

This can get even more challenging if you’re extremely sensitive to certain fragranced products and their scents. Products such as laundry detergents, shampoos, cleaners, and body splashes make me nauseated and give me headaches. As it turns out I am not alone.

A 2016 study found that approximately 35% of the population studied reported health problems — such as migraine headaches and respiratory difficulties — when exposed to fragranced products.

According to their research, “fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and personal care products, are a primary source of indoor air pollutants and personal exposure….even those called green and organic emitted hazardous air pollutants.”

Not to mention that over the years certain fragranced products have been found to contain ingredients such as phthalates, synthetic musks, formaldehyde, and allergens, just to name a few, that have been shown to have negative health impacts, especially on pregnant women.

Are “Natural” Fragrance and Essential Oils Non-Toxic?

Even “natural” extracts, such as essential oils, can trigger allergic reactions and skin sensitivities. In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group, certain essential oils, such as several citrus oil extracts or rose flower oil, which the European Commission has categorized as established allergens, “may trigger an allergic reaction after a few contacts or can cause someone to develop an allergy over a longer period of time”, EWG reports.

Additionally, a 2018 study found that essential oils, similar to certain synthetic fragrances, have also been found to emit numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

According to the report, “some of these VOCs are considered as potentially hazardous under federal regulations. However, essential oils are exempt from disclosure of their ingredients on their label. Thus, the public may lack information on emissions and potential hazards from essential oils.”

What I’ve learned over the course of my research is that sometimes a synthetic ingredient may actually contain fewer allergens than a “natural” ingredient. As discussed in a previous post about non-toxic skincare, the word natural doesn’t always mean better.

And, when it comes to fragrance, the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners shares, “It is important that companies look for safer alternatives where available and report all ingredients in their fragrances, both natural and synthetic, so that consumers are able to avoid potential allergic reactions and other health consequences.” We can all agree on that!

The good news is today more perfume brands are creating products that are not only free of potentially harmful ingredients but that are also eco-friendly, ethically manufactured, and, best of all, provide complete ingredient transparency so consumers can know what they’re buying!

How to Choose a Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Perfume

Check the brand’s website for a list of ingredients. What ingredients are being used? Are the ingredients safe? Are they phthalate-free?

If you have any concerns or doubts about a specific ingredient you can always get more information on the EWG Skin Deep Database.

If the brand doesn’t list the ingredients on their website, feel free to contact them directly and ask them to share their list of ingredients with you. If they don’t, it may be time to find an alternative brand.

Ideally, an eco-friendly perfume brand will not only be transparent about its ingredients as well as conform to IFRA guidelines but will also focus on low or zero waste packaging and ethical manufacturing.

To help save you time on your hunt for a sustainably-made non-toxic perfume, check out the brands below!

Editor’s note: this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase through these particular links. As always, all product and brand selections meet rigorous standards for sustainability and are brands we genuinely love — and that we think you’ll love too!

The Best Eco-Friendly Perfume Brands

A few more eco-friendly perfume brands:

Clean Beauty: Formulated using sustainably and ethically sourced farm-to-fragrance ingredients. Partners with companies supporting small farming communities around the world. Free of ingredients such as phthalates, acetone, synthetic colors, and more! Eco-friendly packaging.

Maison Louis Marie: This eco-friendly perfume brand does not use any toxic or environmentally harmful ingredients. They use both naturally sourced ingredients and safe synthetics so as to protect the planet from over-harvesting of endangered plants, to avoid animal products, and to protect against known allergens. Maison Louis Marie is also a member of 1% for the Planet.

Ellis Brooklyn: Ellis Brooklyn uses only clean and safe ingredients, avoiding unsafe low quality synthetics. Although the majority of their ingredients are natural Ellis Brooklyn will use synthetics when they are the safer or more sustainable option. All their fragrances are PETA-certified cruelty-free and vegan. In addition, they ship carbon neutral whenever possible and offset their carbon footprint by contributing to the Carbon Fund annually.

Sana Jardin This socially conscious fragrance brand is on a mission to harness the power of commerce for social good, using their eco-friendly perfumes as “a vehicle for social impact and the economic empowerment of women.” (Click here to read more) Fragrances are formulated using safe synthetics and natural plant essential oil and are leaping bunny certified. They are 100% free of phthalates, artificial colorants, parabens and formaldehydes.

About the Author

Madeleine is a Franco-American podcaster and blogger on a mission to inspire and empower women to live healthier, more eco-friendly, and conscious lifestyles. On her blog/podcast, The Wise Consumer, she covers topics ranging from nutrition and recipes to ethical fashion and eco living tips. When not working Madeleine is either spending time with family, developing new recipes, or running trails.

Follow Madeleine and the Wise Consumer:

Website: TheWiseConsumer.com | Podcast: The Wise Consumer Podcast

@TheWiseConsumer on Instagram | The Wise Consumer on Facebook

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Eco-Friendly Perfume: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding a Sustainable Scent

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