Read the back of virtually any bottle in your bathroom, and we're betting you'll find the word "fragrance" or "perfume" listed as one of the ingredients on just about all of them; the blanket term is ubiquitous in most personal care products. The problem? Companies have no legal obligation to disclose the exact combination of ingredients included, as it's considered proprietary information.
Of the possible 2,947 ingredients listed by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), fragrance mixtures typically contain several hundred chemicals, most of them synthetic. According to a 2018 study, they also emit the same amount of chemical vapors as petroleum emissions from cars. These vapors (also known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs) react with proteins in our body which can result in physical immune responses—including breathing problems, migraines, hormone disruption, skin irritation, and more—which can compound into damaging health effects in the long run.
What makes a fragrance formula clean?
Quality, plant-based essential oils used as fragrance can be extremely beneficial for your skin, but they can also be irritants—and therefore considered toxic—at certain levels. How the essential oil is processed also matters. A number of beauty retailers, like Follain, Credo, and Sephora monitor the levels and quality of essential oils in the beauty products they stock to ensure safety, but it is important for consumers to know the risks when buying direct from independent or conventional essential oil brands.
How to ensure you're using a clean, non-toxic perfume
Take a closer look the list of ingredients used in your favorite fragrances, along with the sourcing process of any essential oils that are included in their formulas. Are the blends considered natural and organic? Were the listed ingredients farmed responsibly? It can also be helpful to cross reference primary ingredients found in perfumes with a reputable third party, like the Environmental Working Group.
To save you time and effort while you're in search of a new go-to fragrance, we've pulled together a few editor- and shopper-beloved fragrances below. From those that are 100 percent natural and organic to some slightly cleaner than you have now, these coveted picks are breaking boundaries by offering total ingredient transparency.
If you're a fan of sensual, skin-like, airy fragrances, you'll love this salty, slightly masculine take on a classic beachy scent. And while you'll definitely live in it all summer long, the alluring and subtle scent is ideal year-round.
While some natural fragrances have a rep for smelling a little too earthy, Madie By Rose Jane reminds us of all the best parts of a beautiful summer day, bottled. The fresh floral notes make its blend light and easy to wear.
Bond No. 9's Scent of Peace is one of our favorite fragrances of all time, and it's now offered in a gorgeous all-natural version. The perfume itself is crafted with natural and vegan essential oils, plus, the bottle is 100 percent recyclable.
This vegan perfume is described as "charisma in a bottle," and contains herbaceous notes of apricot, clementine, and iris that leave behind a clean scent that's perfect for everyday wear.
Featuring subtle hints of CBD, Heretic's Midnight Toker perfume also contains notes of nutmeg, vanilla, amber, and black pepper that are suitable for anyone looking for a warm signature scent.
Good Chemistry is one of the cleanest fragrance lines you'll find at a drugstore, since the Target-exclusive brand only creates formulas that are free of ingredients like proplyene glycol, parabens, and phthalates. Their Queen Bee perfume smells bright flowery (but not overly so), with notes of black currant, amber, and peony.
This popular fragrance is hypoallergenic, and made with a combination of organic sugar cane alcohol and essential oils. As a bonus, the company helps provide education and healthcare to a sustainable cooperative in Madagascar. Plus, the bottle is just really, really pretty.
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer's non-toxic fragrance brand Henry Rose is consistently vetted by the Environmental Working Group and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Henry Rose perfumes, like this popular scent, use a blend of synthetic and plant-based oils, and are available in full-size and travel-friendly versions.
Each of Skylar's fragrances are non-toxic, clean, and hypoallergenic. Feeling non-committal? This sample box of five individual scents makes it easy to test out each of the best-sellers.
After just a single sniff, you'll probably ask yourself why it took so long to add this popular perfume oil to your beauty rotation. Stash it in a purse of gym bag and reapply whenever you're in need of a pick-me-up.
One satisfied Sephora customer writes that this culty oil from Maison Louis Marie is, "My absolute favorite scent ever! Better than any perfume! It's easy to apply to the back of my ears and it lasts all day. People are complementing me non-stop."
This black violet, saffron, and rose-scented perfume is a robust fragrance with plenty of depth, and uses earth-friendly packing to minimize its environmental impact.
For a daily perfume that's not overpowering, consider this inexpensive (but high quality) option from Pacifica. It's formulated in small batches using natural, corn-based alcohol, and is available to shop in up to 10 different scent options.
Also made with organic corn alcohol, this formula also features an all-natural essential oil blend. It's meant to evoke the jasmine and magnolia tree-lined streets of L.A.'s Los Feliz neighborhood, and also has a hint of sweet honey.
Yuzu, ginger, and sandalwood combine to give this perfume oil an earthy—and almost spicy—scent. And because it's a travel-size rollerball, the perfume is ideal for quick refreshes throughout the day.
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