According to the International Fragrance Association, there are more than 3,500 fragrance chemicals in use today. And exposure to some of these substances can lead to a wide range of health problems.
But companies aren’t required to disclose the individual ingredients that make up a product's particular fragrance concoction.
Some of the scents in these products originated in nature. But most are the result of a combination of synthetic chemicals, sometimes hundreds of them.
These chemicals are rarely, if ever, listed on the ingredients label. Companies aren’t required to list them, because they’re considered a trade secret. Instead, they’re simply grouped under the umbrella words “fragrance,” “perfume” or “parfum,” or “aroma,” among others.
A couple of web pages:
What is fragrance?
3,163 ingredients hide behind the word "fragrance"
But companies aren’t required to disclose the individual ingredients that make up a product's particular fragrance concoction.
Some of the scents in these products originated in nature. But most are the result of a combination of synthetic chemicals, sometimes hundreds of them.
These chemicals are rarely, if ever, listed on the ingredients label. Companies aren’t required to list them, because they’re considered a trade secret. Instead, they’re simply grouped under the umbrella words “fragrance,” “perfume” or “parfum,” or “aroma,” among others.
A couple of web pages:
What is fragrance?
3,163 ingredients hide behind the word "fragrance"