Toxic Chemicals in Fragrances
Fragrances are ubiquitous in modern life, with many consumer goods offering scented iterations of their products. The word “fragrance” (aka “parfum”) is used as an umbrella term for a mix of natural essences and synthetic chemicals that make up the scent of various products. Companies are not obligated to disclose the individual ingredients of fragrance formulations as they are considered by the FDA to be “confidential business information” or “trade secrets” [1] . As companies are not required to disclose ingredients, many commonly used fragrances contain harmful ingredients without the knowledge of the consumer.
Ingredients of Concern
Some ingredients of concern that commonly show up in fragrances are:
Phthalates – Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are utilized in plastics for their ability to soften and increase the flexibility and durability of the material. They can also be used in personal care products as solvents and stabilizers. You can find phthalates in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, plastic food packaging and containers, medical devices (like IV bags), extended-release medications, and a wide variety of personal care products including fragrances [2] , tampons, air fresheners, and cosmetics.
A major concern with phthalates lies in their endocrine disrupting qualities [3][4] . Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances that mimic, block, or interfere with hormones in the body’s endocrine system, thus disrupting the fine-tuned functions of the body. Though the bio-metabolism of phthalates in the body is relatively fast—phthalate monoesters have a biologic half-life of approximately 12 hours [5] —the ubiquity of phthalates leads to near-constant opportunities for exposure. Prenatal phthalate exposure has been linked with preterm birth [6] and correlations have been observed between phthalate exposure and negative impacts on certain amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins and integral to the health of both mother and child [7] .
In children, phthalate exposure has been associated with precocious puberty [8] , respiratory problems and asthma [8][9] , and obesity [9][10] . In adults, phthalate exposure has been linked to reproductive toxicity [2][11] , with evidence that exposure negatively impacts male fertility and decreases sperm quality [12][13][14] . Certain phthalates have also been linked to increased cancer risk in humans [15][16][17] .
Styrene – Styrene is an organic derivative of benzene. It is used to make polystyrene, a plastic found in products such as Styrofoam, plastic dishware, and fragrances to enhance and extend the life of the scent. Styrene is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen [18][19] with limited evidence from human studies and sufficient evidence from animal studies to inform this categorization [20][21] . The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified styrene as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) [22] . Chronic styrene exposure in humans is also associated with fatigue, depression, central nervous system dysfunction, hearing loss, and more [23] . Acute exposure to styrene is known to cause skin and eye irritation, and poses toxicity concerns when ingested or inhaled [19][23] .
Parabens – Parabens are a group of chemicals frequently used in scented products for their role as a preservative and to prevent growth of bacteria and mold. They are routinely added to personal care products such as fragrances, shampoos, lotions, and facial cleansers. Parabens demonstrate endocrine disrupting activity [24][25][26] and several common parabens (including methylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben) have been identified as potential endocrine disruptors by The Endocrine Disruption Exchange [27] . Some animal studies also indicate a correlation between paraben exposure and reproductive harm [25] .
Tips for Choosing Better Fragrances
- Shop certified fragrances .
- Avoid products that list “fragrance” or “parfum” as an ingredient as this could represent hundreds of unknown ingredients.
- Look for products that disclose all of their ingredients and/or find a third-party certification (like MADE SAFE) that requires full ingredient disclosure for the certification process. Fragrance formulations are often protected as trade secrets [1] . Due to this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require the disclosure of trade secret ingredients. The result is that the many—sometimes upwards of one hundred—ingredients that make up the formulation are hidden from the consumer. While some of the ingredients may be safe, it is impossible to avoid any ingredients of concern when the ingredient list is a mystery.
- Read labels when shopping and look for products that are labeled “phthalate-free” or “paraben-free.” In many cases it is possible to identify phthalates and parabens by ingredient names containing the suffix “-phthalate” or “-paraben.” Common examples of phthalates and parabens that might be listed are:
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
- Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP)
- Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
- Ethylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Go fragrance free on some or all of your household and personal care products.
References
[1] Office of the Commissioner. (2024, March 26). “Trade secret” Ingredients. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling/trade-secret-ingredients
[2] Patel, S. (2017). Fragrance compounds: The wolves in sheep’s clothings. Medical Hypotheses, 102, 106–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2017.03.025
[3] Shanna H Swan: Environmental exposure to chemicals and their consequences for human fertility. (2025). Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 103(4), 236–237. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.25.030425
[4] Arrigo, F., Impellitteri, F., Piccione, G., & Faggio, C. (2023). Phthalates and their effects on human health: Focus on erythrocytes and the reproductive system. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 270, 109645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109645
[5] Hoppin, J. A., Brock, J. W., Davis, B. J., & Baird, D. D. (2002). Reproducibility of urinary phthalate metabolites in first morning urine samples. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(5), 515–518. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110515
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[11] Hlisníková, H., Petrovičová, I., Kolena, B., Šidlovská, M., & Sirotkin, A. (2020). Effects and Mechanisms of Phthalates’ Action on Reproductive Processes and Reproductive Health: A Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6811. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186811
[12] Kamrin, M. A. (2009). Phthalate risks, phthalate regulation, and public health: A review. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews, 12(2), 157–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10937400902729226
[13] Duty, S. M., Silva, M. J., Barr, D. B., Brock, J. W., Ryan, L., Chen, Z., Herrick, R. F., Christiani, D. C., & Hauser, R. (2003). Phthalate exposure and human semen parameters. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.), 14(3), 269–277.
[14] Hauser, R., Meeker, J. D., Singh, N. P., Silva, M. J., Ryan, L., Duty, S., & Calafat, A. M. (2007). DNA damage in human sperm is related to urinary levels of phthalate monoester and oxidative metabolites. Human Reproduction, 22(3), 688–695. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/del428
[15] Hsieh, T.-H., Tsai, C.-F., Hsu, C.-Y., Kuo, P.-L., Lee, J.-N., Chai, C.-Y., Wang, S.-C., & Tsai, E.-M. (2012). Phthalates induce proliferation and invasiveness of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer through the AhR/HDAC6/c-Myc signaling pathway. FASEB Journal: Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 26(2), 778–787. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.11-191742
[16] Wu, A. H., Franke, A. A., Wilkens, L. R., Tseng, C., Conroy, S. M., Li, Y., Polfus, L. M., De Rouen, M., Caberto, C., Haiman, C., Stram, D. O., Le Marchand, L., & Cheng, I. (2021). Urinary phthalate exposures and risk of breast cancer: The Multiethnic Cohort study. Breast Cancer Research, 23(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-021-01419-6
[17] López-Carrillo, L., Hernández-Ramírez, R. U., Calafat, A. M., Torres-Sánchez, L., Galván-Portillo, M., Needham, L. L., Ruiz-Ramos, R., & Cebrián, M. E. (2010). Exposure to phthalates and breast cancer risk in northern Mexico. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(4), 539–544. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0901091
[18] National Toxicology Program. (2021). Styrene. In 15th Report on Carcinogens [Internet]. National Toxicology Program. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590797/
[19] PubChem. (n.d.). Styrene. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7501
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[21] Huff, J., & Infante, P. F. (2011). Styrene exposure and risk of cancer. Mutagenesis, 26(5), 583–584. https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/ger033
[22] IARC. (n.d.). Styrene, Styrene-7,8-oxide, and Quinoline. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from http://publications.iarc.who.int/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Styrene-Styrene-7-8-oxide-And-Quinoline-2019
[23] Environmental Protection Agency. (2000, January). Styrene. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/documents/styrene_update_2a.pdf
[24] Darbre, P. D., & Harvey, P. W. (2008). Paraben esters: Review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks. Journal of Applied Toxicology: JAT, 28(5), 561–578. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.1358
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