Menu
FRAGRANCE
Score:
Data: Fair
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Endocrine disruption (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| shampoo | 1315 products |
| conditioner | 1236 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 931 products |
| lipstick | 776 products |
| moisturizer | 742 products |
| mask | 614 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 582 products |
| liquid hand soap | 555 products |
| foundation | 547 products |
| hair styling aide | 490 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 475 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 450 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 446 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 429 products |
| bar soap | 422 products |
| facial cleanser | 417 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 340 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 330 products |
| serums & essences | 327 products |
| lip gloss | 324 products |
| fragrance for women | 301 products |
| body firming lotion | 277 products |
| hair spray | 241 products |
| lip balm | 218 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 215 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 198 products |
| daily use with SPF | 179 products |
| hand cream | 173 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 150 products |
| fragrance for men | 146 products |
| eye shadow | 136 products |
| body spray | 132 products |
| shaving cream | 121 products |
| hand sanitizer | 115 products |
| toners/astringents | 111 products |
| makeup primer | 109 products |
| makeup remover | 106 products |
| concealer | 102 products |
| body oil | 99 products |
| baby shampoo | 92 products |
| bubble bath | 88 products |
| detangler | 83 products |
| sunless tanning | 72 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 70 products |
| baby lotion | 70 products |
| setting powder/spray | 63 products |
| baby soap | 62 products |
| anti-aging | 59 products |
| blush | 57 products |
| 57 products | |
| facial powder | 51 products |
| beard care | 51 products |
| polish remover | 47 products |
| after sun product | 42 products |
| baby sunscreen | 42 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 41 products |
| baby wipes | 41 products |
| beard oil | 40 products |
| around-eye cream | 39 products |
| foot moisturizer | 36 products |
| BB cream | 33 products |
| after shave | 31 products |
| lip plumper | 31 products |
| mascara | 31 products |
| baby oil | 30 products |
| diaper cream | 26 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 26 products |
| lip liner | 25 products |
| baby powder | 19 products |
| foot cleansing | 19 products |
| tanning oil | 18 products |
| baby bubble bath | 18 products |
| CC cream | 17 products |
| toothpaste | 16 products |
| beard cleanser | 15 products |
| eye makeup remover | 14 products |
| glitter | 14 products |
| body powder | 13 products |
| brow liner | 13 products |
| hair relaxer | 13 products |
| depilatory | 12 products |
| oil controller | 10 products |
| foot odor control | 9 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 8 products |
| nail treatment | 7 products |
| cuticle treatment | 7 products |
| eye liner | 6 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 5 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 5 products |
| nail polish | 5 products |
| pore strips | 4 products |
| mouthwash | 4 products |
| eyelash glue | 3 products |
| tooth whitening | 3 products |
| skin fading/lightener | 2 products |
| vapor rubs | 2 products |
| other eye makeup | 2 products |
| depilatory (men's) | 1 products |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Known human immune system toxicant or allergen | SCCNFP (The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers) 1999. Opinion concerning fragrance allergy in consumers. A review of the problem. Analysis of the need for appropriate consumer information and identification of consumer allergens. SCCNFP/0017/98 Final. December 1999. |
| A review article reports fragrance in cosmetics causes allergic contact dermatitis. | Tatyana Hamilton & Gillian C de Gannes. 2011. Allergic contact dermatitis to preservatives and fragrances in cosmetics. Skin therapy letter 16(4), 1-4. |
| A review article reports fragrances causes skin allergies in children. | Anne Birgitte Simonsen, Mette Deleuran, Jeanne Duus Johansen & Mette Sommerlund 2011. Contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis in children - a review of current data. Contact dermatitis 65(5), 254-65. |
Miscellaneous
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown | Open scientific literature |
Endocrine disruption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Human case studies and in vitro testing shows that lavender oil is estrogenic. | J Tyler Ramsey, Yin Li, Yukitomo Arao, Ajanta Naidu, Laurel A. Coons, Alejandro Diaz & Kenneth S. Korach. 2019. Lavender Products Associated With Premature Thelarche and Prepubertal Gynecomastia: Case Reports and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Activities. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 104(11), 5393-5405. |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A peer-reviewed study reports fragrance causes respiratory irritation in people. | J Elberling, P S. Skov, H. Mosbech, H. Holst, A. Dirksen & J. D. Johansen. 2007. Increased release of histamine in patients with respiratory symptoms related to perfume. Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology 37(11), 1676-80. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A peer-reviewed study reports fragrance exacerbates asthma. | Kumar P, Caradonna-Graham VM, Gupta S, Cai X, Rao PN, Thompson J Inhalation challenge effects of perfume scent strips in patients with asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1995 Nov;75(5):429-33. |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has high acute toxicity to aquatic life | EU Ecolabel Detergents Ingredients Database |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| 6578 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Data Sources
- SCCNFP (The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers) 1999. Opinion concerning fragrance allergy in consumers. A review of the problem. Analysis of the need for appropriate consumer information and identification of consumer allergens. SCCNFP/0017/98 Final. December 1999.
- Tatyana Hamilton & Gillian C de Gannes. 2011. Allergic contact dermatitis to preservatives and fragrances in cosmetics. Skin therapy letter 16(4), 1-4.
- Anne Birgitte Simonsen, Mette Deleuran, Jeanne Duus Johansen & Mette Sommerlund 2011. Contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis in children - a review of current data. Contact dermatitis 65(5), 254-65.
- Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
- J Tyler Ramsey, Yin Li, Yukitomo Arao, Ajanta Naidu, Laurel A. Coons, Alejandro Diaz & Kenneth S. Korach. 2019. Lavender Products Associated With Premature Thelarche and Prepubertal Gynecomastia: Case Reports and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Activities. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 104(11), 5393-5405.
- J Elberling, P S. Skov, H. Mosbech, H. Holst, A. Dirksen & J. D. Johansen. 2007. Increased release of histamine in patients with respiratory symptoms related to perfume. Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology 37(11), 1676-80.
- Kumar P, Caradonna-Graham VM, Gupta S, Cai X, Rao PN, Thompson J Inhalation challenge effects of perfume scent strips in patients with asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1995 Nov;75(5):429-33.
- EU Ecolabel Detergents Ingredients Database
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® RATINGS
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
